Republic F-105G-1-RE "Thunderchief"
S/N 62-4440

Crew:   Two
Engine:   One Pratt & Whitney J75-P-19W turbojet; 26,500 lbs thrust with afterburner
Wingspan:   34 ft 11 in
Length:   69 ft 7 1/3 in
Height:   20 ft 2 in
Weight:   max: 54,580 lbs
Speed:   max: 1,386 mph; cruise: 596 mph
Range:   combat: 740 miles; max: 1,500 miles
Service Ceiling:   50,000 ft
Armament:   One M61A1 20mm rotary cannon with 1,029 rounds; up to 14,000 lbs ordnance (up to 8,000 lbs ordnance in internal weapons bay; up to 6,000 lbs ordnance on external racks -- 4 underwing and 1 centerline)
Cost:   $2,240,000 (approximate)

This F-105G-1-RE, S/N 62-4440, was originally manufactured as an F-105F-1-RE by Republic Aviation Corporation in Farmingdale, New York, and delivered to the USAF on February 19, 1964. It was assigned the following month to the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina. That November it was temporarily deployed with the 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. It returned to Incirlik with the 334th TFS in April 1965.

On September 30, 1965 the aircraft was transferred from the 4th TFW to the 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing at Nellis AFB, Nevada, for use in training of aircrews for combat. The plane was again transferred on November 14, 1967, this time to the 23rd Tactical Fighter Wing at McConnell AFB, Kansas, where it continued to be used for training.

On January 27, 1968 the plane joined the 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 23rd TFW and later that year was sent to Nellis AFB for development of combat tactics in conjunction with the 4525th Fighter Weapons Wing. In March 1972 it was sent to the Sacramento Air Logistics Center for conversion to F-105G Wild Weasel configuration. It was officially redesignated as an F-105G on August 15, 1972 and returned to the 561st two weeks later.

That October it was ferried to Southeast Asia for combat duty with the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Korat Royal Thai Air Base, Thailand, undergoing maintenance at Hickam Field, Hawaii, in transit. On November 17, 1972 it was transferred to the 17th Wild Weasel Squadron of the 388th. There it was dubbed Zero and flew many Wild Weasel missions into Vietnam, even claiming three MiG kills in the process.

On October 29, 1974 the aircraft was transferred to the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing at George AFB, California. It was subsequently deployed to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany, with the 562nd TFS under "Coronet Yankee" in August 1976 and Karup Air Base, Denmark, under "Coronet Club" one year later. The aircraft also deployed to MacDill AFB and Eglin AFB, Florida, while with the 562nd.

The aircraft was assigned to the Air National Guard on October 7, 1979, flying with 116th Tactical Fighter Wing at Dobbins AFB, Georgia. In September 1980 the plane deployed with the 128th TFS of the Georgia ANG to Murted Air Base, Turkey, under "Coronet Power."

In November 1983 the aircraft was flown to Hill AFB for assignment to the 2952nd Combat Logistics Support Squadron for training personnel in aircraft battle damage repair techniques. On May 22, 1985 the aircraft was declared excess to the needs of the squadron and was allocated to the Hill AFB Heritage Committee for the base museum.

The plane officially became the responsibility of Hill Aerospace Museum on June 2, 1986 and was relocated to the museum grounds for static display. It is painted with the Wild Weasel "WW" tail code of the 35th TFW. Today, it stands as a proud and lasting tribute to the many Americans who flew and died with the F-105 Thunderchief in Vietnam.