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F105 Thunderchief in Vietnam - New YouTube Series
Posted on 8/27/25 at 2:43 pm
Posted on 8/27/25 at 2:43 pm
Episode 2 is Live!
Missed Episode 1? Now's your chance to catch up before diving into Episode 2 of our F-105 series! The war in the skies over Vietnam wasn't just fought with bombs and bullets, it was fought with politics, rules, and impossible restrictions.
In Episode 2, we uncover:
Operation Steel Tiger & Rolling Thunder missions flown at the edge of survival
Ludicrous Rules of Engagement when pilots were told what they couldn't hit more often than what they could
Political Meddling from Washington bombing targets chosen in D.C. instead of the battlefield
And when a Thunderchief was fatally hit, ejection wasn't the end of the story…
…it was just the beginning.
Watch Episode 1 here:
Watch Episode 2 here:
Youtube Link
Missed Episode 1? Now's your chance to catch up before diving into Episode 2 of our F-105 series! The war in the skies over Vietnam wasn't just fought with bombs and bullets, it was fought with politics, rules, and impossible restrictions.
In Episode 2, we uncover:
Operation Steel Tiger & Rolling Thunder missions flown at the edge of survival
Ludicrous Rules of Engagement when pilots were told what they couldn't hit more often than what they could
Political Meddling from Washington bombing targets chosen in D.C. instead of the battlefield
And when a Thunderchief was fatally hit, ejection wasn't the end of the story…
…it was just the beginning.
Watch Episode 1 here:
Watch Episode 2 here:
Youtube Link
This post was edited on 8/27/25 at 3:26 pm
9
Posted on 8/27/25 at 2:57 pm to DogCo84
quote:
DogCo84
Member since Dec 2023
6 posts
Why?
Posted on 8/27/25 at 3:01 pm to DogCo84
Thanks for posting. I like this kind of documentary.
Is this part of why it’s said the F-105 underperformed? Was it ever given a fair shot?
quote:
Political Meddling from Washington bombing targets chosen in D.C. instead of the battlefield And when a Thunderchief was fatally hit, ejection wasn't the end of the story…
Is this part of why it’s said the F-105 underperformed? Was it ever given a fair shot?
Posted on 8/27/25 at 3:02 pm to Red Stick Rambler
Why post? Why not?
I've found that folks here on the Political Talk board generally like the Cold War Era video content. Feel free to disregard?
I've found that folks here on the Political Talk board generally like the Cold War Era video content. Feel free to disregard?
Posted on 8/27/25 at 3:02 pm to DogCo84
Not sure what’s political about this but those guys had balls of steel.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 3:04 pm to NineLineBind
The Thud was asked to fly into the most defended skies in the history of warfare--all the while being restricted from hitting SAM and AAA sites for fear of provoking the USSR and China. As a result, almost half of the F-105 inventory was lost during the war. This aspect is covered at length in Episode 2.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 3:06 pm to HeadCall
LBJ and McNamara ran the war based on domestic and international political drivers. The men fighting the war were not allowed to fight to win. An old story--still relevant.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 3:10 pm to NineLineBind
The Thud was designed to deliver nukes at high speeds and low level. They wound up bring used as tactical bombers, delivering conventional weapons, while also trying to dogfight with lighter, more maneuverable aircraft.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 3:13 pm to DogCo84
Had to bookmark your post so I don't forget about it later this evening. Looks to be good!
Posted on 8/27/25 at 3:13 pm to DogCo84
Years ago there was an arrival into Houston that allowed best forward speed below 10000 ft. I was flying a Falcon 100 that could fly 370 kts. To show off I pushed it up to the redline and asked my copilot if he'd ever flown that fast at 3000 ft. He said it had been awhile ago but he'd flown his F105 at 660 kts at 100 ft. over Vietnam.
I was duly humbled
I was duly humbled
Posted on 8/27/25 at 3:20 pm to FightinTigersDammit
Exactly! Part of the story in the documentary episodes. That said, they were quite capable fighter-bombers and I believe that the story would have been different using coherent, military-outcome-driven (i.e. destroy the enemy?) strategies.
It is interesting to note, that although the Thud was not known as a dogfighter, it (the pilots) is credited with 27 air to air MiG kills. Several Thud drivers had more than one MiG kill. That 20mm M61 Vulcan autocannon could apparently be quite effective in the A to A role.
It is interesting to note, that although the Thud was not known as a dogfighter, it (the pilots) is credited with 27 air to air MiG kills. Several Thud drivers had more than one MiG kill. That 20mm M61 Vulcan autocannon could apparently be quite effective in the A to A role.
This post was edited on 8/27/25 at 3:24 pm
Posted on 8/27/25 at 3:22 pm to DogCo84
No telling how much more effective the F-4 would have been with the gun before the E model.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 3:23 pm to DogCo84
I hope they have a Weasel episode.
YGBSM!
YGBSM!
Posted on 8/27/25 at 3:24 pm to NASA_ISS_Tiger
Planning for the next episode to cover what happened after shoot-down. I think Episode 4 will cover Wild Weasel ops.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 3:31 pm to DogCo84
Ed Rasimus wrote a great book about his 105 tour.
I believe it's called "When Thunder Rolled".
Also did one about his F-4 experience, "Palace Cobra"
I believe it's called "When Thunder Rolled".
Also did one about his F-4 experience, "Palace Cobra"
Posted on 8/27/25 at 4:27 pm to HeadCall
quote:
Not sure what’s political about this
The Vietnam war was made to be unwinnable. From Johnson to McNamara to below the war was a money making scheme for warhawks. Instead of bombing real targets, we had to bomb fields and rocks.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 4:32 pm to DogCo84
quote:
F105 Thunderchief in Vietnam - New YouTube Series
I've seen these F105 jets a various Air Force museums and it's crazy how clunky looking the fuselage is compared to even an F4. The F16 looks like advanced technology compared to the F105.
Posted on 8/27/25 at 4:32 pm to GatorOnAnIsland
"Suspected truck parks"
Posted on 8/27/25 at 4:49 pm to DogCo84
My father worked at the Republic 105 Farmingdale plant in the ‘50s. When I was a young kid some 105’s would come upstate to MOA’s to practice. (they broke the sound barrier all the time back in the 60’s). One day a two ship collided and blew up, it was super loud. No survivors. Ashokan Reservoir
This post was edited on 8/27/25 at 4:54 pm
Posted on 8/27/25 at 5:25 pm to GatorOnAnIsland
According to my googling nearly half of the F-105s deployed to Vietnam were shot down.
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