Republic F-105G Wild Weasel #2
by Arthur Eggers
Title
Republic F-105G Wild Weasel #2
Artist
Arthur Eggers
Medium
Digital Art - Color Print
Description
Republic F-105G, �Thunderchief�, �Wild Weasel�, AF Serial No. 63-8333 of the 17th Wild Weasel Squadron, 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. In November 1970, F-105s returned to Korat when the 6010th Wild Weasel Squadron, flying specially equipped Thunderchiefs, was formed. It was redesignated the 17th Wild Weasel Squadron on 1 December 1971 and was the only permanent F-105G unit in Southeast Asia. This F-105G was flown during Operation Linebacker II--the �Twelve Days of Christmas� for the assault and bombing on Hanoi and Haiphong. The operation was conducted from 18�29 December 1972 and saw the largest heavy bomber strikes launched by the US Air Force since the end of World War II. The first three missions of the operation were flown as planned with the F-105G Wild Weasel surface-to-air (SAM) suppression missions. On the second night, although an estimated 185 SAMs were launched and a number of the bombers were damaged, none were lost on the mission. On December 20th the North Vietnamese air defense forces anticipated strike patterns and salvo launched over 300 missiles into the target area. Two days before Christmas, SAM sites and airfields were added to the target list. Sadly, 63-8333 was shot down on February 17, 1972 having been on-station about a year.
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December 14th, 2015
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