F-105 Thunderchief - Pilot Diaries

Designed to carry a single nuclear bomb, the mighty Republic F-105 Thunderchief was suddenly plunged into the savage skies of the early Vietnam War. It quickly found a new, lethal purpose in the SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) role, where it became the only aircraft brave enough to take on the devastating SA-2 surface-to-air missile threat. These were the most dangerous assignments in aviation—missions that saved countless lives, but cost the F-105 fleet dearly. We bring these harrowing tales to life through the firsthand accounts of five highly decorated USAF airmen who flew this single-seat titan, once dubbed "the most devastating instrument of war ever operated by a single man." Featuring rare factory footage and unique film of the F-105B, D, and F models during production and testing, this is the definitive story of a legendary aircraft and the heroes who flew it.