Home

American Combat Planes of the 20th Century is an incredible reference for anyone who is interested in any American Combat Plane History. There are 758 pages and 1700 b/w photos in this substantial labor of love by Ray Wagner, who has been passionately researching and writing about aircraft for over 50 years. Whether you are already familiar with his past works, or just discovering this accomplished author for the first time... This is the book that you've been waiting for!

If you'd like to see the book's Table of Contents ... Click here. You can also browse the entire Index Section to get an idea of the extensive amount of information that is covered within this book.

Search our site for other combat planes. A- 1 Eaton A- 4 Skyhawk A- 6 & A- 7 Air Weapons AV- 8 to A- 10 A- 20 Havoc A- 22 Martin Maryland A- 23 Martin Baltimore A- 24 Douglas A- 26 Douglas Invader Attack Planes B- 2A, F-111, F-117 Stealth B- 17 Flying Fortress B- 24 Liberator B- 25 North American B- 26 Marauder B- 29 Superfortress B- 32 Dominator B- 35 Flying Wing B- 36 B- 47 Stratojet B- 50 Boeing B- 52 Stratofortress B- 57 Canberra B- 58 Hustler Biplanes Biplanes, Army Pursuits Bombers, B- 70 to Stealth Bombers, First Big Curtiss Falcon CO- 1 DH- 4 De Havilland F3D- Douglas Skyknight F3H- McDonnell Demon F4D- 1 Skyray F4F Grumman Wildcats F- 4U Corsair F6F Grumman F7F Grumman F7U Vought F9F G. Cougar F9F G. Panther F- 16 Fighting Falcon F- 84 F- 86 Sabre F- 89 to F-94 F- 100 to F-108 First Fighters Flying Boats GAX Iraq to Afghanistan Martin Bombers Missile Era Fighters Navy Fighers Navy Flying Boats O- 2 Douglas P- 35 Seversky P- 36 to 42 Curtiss P- 38 Lightning P- 39 Airacobra P- 40 Line P- 47 Thunderbolt P- 51 Mustang Fighter P- 61 Black Widow P- 63 Kingcobra P- 79 to P-81 P- 82 Twin Mustang SB2C Helldiver TBF-TBM Avenger Thomas-Morse Torpedo Planes V- 11 Vultee XB -28 XP -48 / 77

F-84

Page 3 REPUBLIC F-84F in Netherlands

NATO received 1,305 F-84F fighter-bombers to replace the F-84Gs, beginning in June 1955 with 180 for six Dutch squadrons, 197 for Belgium’s two Wings, 328 for five French Escadres, and 150 for Italy’s three Aerbrigata. The Thunderstreak was the first combat type to go to the revived German Air Force which, beginning in November 1956, received 450 F-84Fs.

The French Thunderstreaks were the only ones to enter combat, during the Suez Crisis. Escadres based in Cyprus and Israel successfully attacked the Egyptian Air Force on the ground in November, 1956. Greece and Turkey each were supplied two wings from former German and Dutch aircraft. Republic Thunderjets served NATO until Belgium retired its last F-84F in May 1972.

Thunderflash
Republic proposed a reconnaissance version on August 15, 1949, a contract was made on June 12, 1951, and a YRF-84F flown in February 1952 had twin wing root intakes and a solid cover on the nose, resulting in a small thrust loss, but making space for cameras. While the old sliding canopy remained on that aircraft, production RF-84Fs used standard hinged covers and J65-W-3 engines on the first 11, J65-W-7s on the rest. REPUBLIC YRF-84F

The first RF-84F Thunderflash flew September 9, 1953. Up to 15 cameras could be placed in the nose, with four .50-caliber guns in the lower lips of each intake and two 450-gallon drop tanks or bombs. Dual fences on each wing were added later.

Many F-84F problems also delayed RF-84F squadron service until March 1954, and further production was halted until November 1955. Four USAF reconnaissance wings used the RF-84F. Of 715 Thunderflashes built by Republic by January 1958, 327 were built new for MDAP, plus 134 used USAF RF-84Fs also exported for MAP. REPUBLIC RF-84F

Nine NATO countries with RF-84 squadrons included Belgium, Denmark, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway, and Turkey. Germany had 108 RF-84Fs and Italy 78. Nationalist China also acquired 20 new RF-84Fs in February 1956, plus five used USAF examples in 1958, and flew them over the mainland. REPUBLIC RF-84K

The FICON (Fighter CONveyor) project was an effort to extend the range of fighter and reconnaissance jets by teaming F-84s with giant B-36s. Chapter 26 mentioned the 1953 tests of an F-84E and the YF-84F with the GRB-36F. Hoping to add 2,000 miles to the jet’s radius of action, 25 RF-84F-17s were redesignated RF-84K and completed with a retractable hook ahead of the cockpit and down turned horizontal tail fins. Equipping the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron in July 1955, they operated with SAC’s GRB-36Ds until the last launch on May 22, 1957.

Designed to explore the possibilities of a turbo-prop strike fighter, the XF-84H had an Allison XT-40-A-l with 5,332 hp for its three-bladed Aeroproducts propeller, plus added jet thrust, an anti-torque fin behind the cockpit, and a high Tee tail. Design armament included a single .60-caliber T-45 gun with 1,200 rounds and 4,000 pounds of bombs.

REPUBLIC XF-84H

The mockup inspection was in May 1952 and a contract for two prototypes was approved December 18, 1952. Only eight flights with the first prototype, and four flights with the second, were made by company test pilots at Edwards AFB from July 22, 1955, to October 9, 1956; all but one flight ending in emergency landings after engine problems.

The project was a failure, and was never flown by an Air Force pilot. One of the noisiest aircraft ever heard, it never flew more than some 520 mph of the 670-mph design speed. Originally, the Navy had been interested in the project, but development of steam catapults, angled deck and air refueling made propeller-driven substitutes for jet fighters unnecessary. As the Navy lost interest and mechanical difficulties persisted, the project was abandoned. REPUBLIC YF-84J

Two F-84F-25s were completed with the 8,920-pound General Electric YJ73-GE-7 in a deeper fuselage and designated YF-84J. First flown May 7, 1954, the type wasn’t accepted for production. The YF-84J reached Mach 1.09, but the Air Force rejected the expense involved in changing engines on the production line and canceled the second example in June and the whole F-84J program on August 31.

[ B- 24 / Home ] [Back] [Continue to F-86 Sabres]

Want information on other Combat Planes? Search the rest of our site.