Republic F-84

This article describes a plane to Berlin subway series F84 see BVG-F series .

Republic F-84 Thunderjet
An F-84E “Thunderjet” of the 36th FBW, 1951
Type:	Fighter bomber
Design country:	United States
Manufacturer:	Republic Aviation Company
First flight:	February 28, 1946
Commissioning:	November 1947
Production time:	1947 to 1957
Number of pieces:	7524

F-84F of the German Air Force in the Hermeskeil air show

Illustration of an RF-84F of Reconnaissance Wing 51

F-84F from Weapons School 30, around 1960

Cockpit of a US Air Force F-84F

USAF F-84E

Michigan National Guard's RF-84F

XF-84H, experimental turboprop engine

Retired F-84 in June 1980 at the Military Aircraft Storage and Disposition Center near Tucson, Arizona

Sketch of the F-84F

RF-84F at the Schleswig Air Base (formerly Jagel) with an extended and closed fuselage bow for the installation of six cameras

Martin Baker ejection seat MK.GT5, was in use in the F-84 Thunderjet from 1961 to 1976

The Republic F-84 was a single beam fighter aircraft from American production, during the early days of the Cold War was in use. It was manufactured by the Republic Aviation Company in three different versions: the F-84B / C / D / E / G Thunderjet with swept wings, the F-84F Thunderstreak with swept wings and the reconnaissance RF-84F Thunderflash .

Development and use

The Republic F-84 “Thunderjet” was designed by Alexander Kartweli and constructed towards the end of the Second World War as a jet-powered fighter for the United States Air Force, initially under the abbreviation P-84 (Pursuit, English pursuit). With the introduction of the new classification system in 1947, F-84 (fighter) was used when it was put into service . The maiden flight of the prototype took place on February 28 1946th The aircraft was produced in a number of around 4450 until 1953.

The first F-84 variants had straight wings and proved inferior to the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 fighters with their swept wings in the Korean War . With their lower air resistance at high speed, swept-back wings enable significantly better flight performance. The F-84 was therefore withdrawn from use as a fighter and only used as a fighter-bomber for attacks on enemy trains, depots, bridges, positions, troops, etc. She carried bombs (including napalm canisters) and unguided rockets. On January 21, 1951 the US pilot William E. Bertram succeeded for the first time in shooting down a North Korean MiG-15 with an F-84.

From July 16 to 17, 1952, 58 F-84s flew from Turner Air Force Base in Georgia over the Pacific with refueling on several islands to Yokota Air Base in Japan to reinforce the US Air Force in the Korean War .

The failure of the F-84 versions with straight wings in the originally planned role as a fighter later led to the development of an improved variant with swept wings. This major evolution of the original F-84 was called the F-84F Thunderstreak (although the prototype was called the YF-96 and implied a new model number). The reconnaissance aircraft (R) based on the F-84F was the RF-84F Thunderflash .

The F-84G was the first US fighter-bomber capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons . In November 1951, the 20th fighter-bomber received the first F-84G. From August 1953, several F-84G were stationed with the 3rd US Air Force in Great Britain.

The F-84 was also delivered to many friendly air forces, including from 1957 around 450 F-84F fighter-bombers and 108 RF-84F reconnaissance aircraft to the Air Force of the Federal Republic of Germany. By the mid-1960s, this gave its machines to foreign air forces in favor of the F-104 . With the Greek Air Force until 1991 three aircraft of the reconnaissance version RF-84 were in use. The US Air Force replaced the model with the F-100 Super Saber in the mid-1960s and passed the F-84 on to the National Guard . There the last machines of this type were finally taken out of service in 1971.

The F-84 was feared by pilots of the German Air Force because of its poor thrust-to-weight ratio. Extreme flight maneuvers - such as rapid pulling up - easily stalled , and because of the weak engine, especially when fully loaded, the aircraft needed a sufficiently long runway to take off. A total of 202 German F-84s, 170 of them "Thunderstreak" and 32 "Thunderflash", were recorded as total losses.

The US Air Force lost a total of 1,115 F-84s and 68 RF-84s in an accident between 1948 and 1960. In addition there were 249 operational losses in Korea, of which 153 were lost due to enemy action (mostly due to ground fire).

Incidents involving F-84s during the Cold War

• On June 8, 1951, the Air Force pilot Luther G. Roland and the Norwegian Lieutenant Björn Johansen started with two American F-84E of the 526th Fighter Squadron from Giebelstadt Airfield south of Würzburg on a training and instruction flight for the Norwegian. At the end of the training flight, the pilots were lured to Prague by deliberately forged radio navigation signals. Four weeks after landing at the Prague-Kbely military airfield , the two pilots were released on July 4, 1951 and Czechoslovakia returned the planes - the innovative radar aiming devices were missing.
• On March 10, 1953, two American F-84G "Thunderjet" fighter planes from West Germany entered the airspace of Czechoslovakia. They were caught and pursued by two Czechoslovak MiG-15s south of Plzeň . The pilot Jaroslav Šrámek shot down one of the US planes that crashed near Falkenstein (Bavaria) . The US pilot was able to save himself with the ejection seat and was unharmed.
• On May 13, 1953, a Dutch F-84G “Thunderjet” (registration number K-116 ) from Eindhoven crashed in Bielefeld. The pilot was killed in the process. Hazy visibility conditions prevailed during the accident at low altitude.
• On October 22, 1959, two F-84Fs of Fighter-Bomber Wing 34 of the Luftwaffe crashed in Czechoslovakia (registration numbers DD + 107 and DD + 108 ). The two pilots were handed over to the German authorities at the Waidhaus border crossing on December 3, 1959 .
• One month after the Berlin Wall was built , on September 14, 1961, two F-84Fs from Luftwaffe Fighter Bomber Wing 32 flew over GDR territory due to a navigation error ; After they had been guided to West Berlin, they landed safely at Tegel Airport .

Versions

Thunderjet

XP-84

3 prototypes, General Electric J35 engine

YP-84A

15 pre-production aircraft, J-35-A-15 engine

F-84A Thunderjet

Not produced (99 aircraft were ordered)

F-84B Thunderjet

First production version, the only difference to the YP-84A were other MGs, 226 produced

F-84C Thunderjet

J-35-A-13 engine, six (instead of four) 12.7 mm machine guns, 191 produced

F-84D Thunderjet

improved F-84C with reinforced airframe and wings, 154 produced

F-84E Thunderjet

J-35-A-17 engine, lengthened and reinforced fuselage, larger additional tanks at the wing tips and as an external load, up to 2000 kg external loads, 843 produced

F-84G Thunderjet

F-84E with air refueling equipment and J-35-A-29 engine, up to 2700 kg external loads, 3025 produced

Thunderstreak and Thunderflash

YF-96A

Pre-production model of the F-84F, later converted into a Parasite Fighter and designated as YRF-84F, one copy (serial number 49-2430)

F-84F Thunderstreak

Further development based on the F-84E with the new Wright J65 engine and swept wings, 2711 produced

RF-84F Thunderflash

Reconnaissance aircraft with extended and closed fuselage bow for the installation of six cameras, Wright J65 W3 engine, produced on the basis of the F-84F, 715

XF-84H

Two converted F-84Fs for testing turboprop engines , called "Thunderscreech" because of the extreme volume during flight operations

YF-84J

An experimental F-84F with a General Electric J73 engine

RF-84K Thunderflash

Version of the RF-84F, which could be transported closer to the place of operation as an external load by a Convair B-36 , whereby it was released in flight (see photo in the article about the B-36)

production

The F-84 was built in series by Republic and General Motors. Almost 4,000 aircraft were produced for the Military Defense Aid Program (MDAP).

Acceptance of the F-84 by the USAF:

Manufacturer	version	1946	1947	1948	1949	1950	1951	1952	1953	1954	1955	1956	1957	TOTAL
Republic	XP-84	2												2
Republic	XP-84A	1												1
Republic	YP-84A		15th											15th
Republic	F-84B		91	135										226
Republic	F-84C			191										191
Republic	F-84D			37	117									154
Republic	F-84E				170	312	261							744
Republic	F-84E MDAP					25th	72	3						100
Republic	YF-84F					1	2							3
Republic	F-84F							2	280	549	426	1	1	1258
General Motors	F-84F								32	169	36			237
Republic	F-84F MDAP										286	266	300	852
General Motors	F-84F MDAP									7th	355			362
Republic	F-84G						272	392	125					789
Republic	F-84G MDAP						61	1543	632					2236
Republic	YF-84J									1				1
Republic	YRF-84F						1							1
Republic	RF-84F								2	41	234	86		363
Republic	RF-84F Ficon										25th			25th
Republic	RF-84F MDAP										124	203		327
TOTAL		3	106	363	287	338	669	1940	1071	767	1486	556	301	7887

A total of 23 RF-84F Ficon were converted to RF-84K.

Technical data (RF-84F Thunderflash)

• Span: 10.25 m
• Length: 14.48 m
• Height: 4.76 m
• Empty weight: 6360 kg
• Take-off weight: 11,527 kg
• Propulsion: a Wright J65 -W-7 with 34.1 kN thrust
• Top speed: 1013 km / h
• Range: 1350 km on one tank of fuel
• Service ceiling at the German Air Force: 11,100 m
• Armament: four MG Browning M2 , caliber .50 BMG (12.7 × 99 mm NATO)

Technical data (F-84G)

• Span: 11.05 m
• Length: 11.71 m
• Height: 3.84 m
• Empty weight: 5203 kg
• Max. Takeoff weight: 12,701 kg
• Armament: six MG Browning M2 , caliber .50 BMG (12.7 × 99 mm NATO), eight 127 mm rockets or 2700 kg bombs
• Propulsion: an Allison J35-A-29 with 24.7 kN thrust
• Top speed: 973 km / h
• Cruising speed: 780 km / h
• Range: 1600 km on one tank of fuel; Air refueling possible
• Max. Flight altitude: 12,353 m
• Rate of climb: 19.1 m / s

Former users

•  Belgium
•  Denmark
•  Germany
•  France
•  Greece
•  Iran
•  Italy
•  Yugoslavia
•  Netherlands
•  Norway
•  Portugal
•  Thailand
•  Taiwan
•  Turkey
•  United States

Stationing locations in the Federal Republic of Germany

F-84 in the former Memmingen air base

In the early 1950s, the Americans operated two fighter-bomber squadrons, Fighter Bomber Wings (FBW), each equipped with three squadrons, Fighter Bomber Sqaudrons (FBS). Their main task, however, was not, as the name suggests, ground use, but intercepting. The Dutch Air Force and the Belgian Air Force also temporarily stationed F-84s in Germany on bases of the Royal Air Force . The F-84 was later used as a fighter-bomber and combat reconnaissance aircraft in the Luftwaffe , but the German squadrons generally consisted of only two flying squadrons.

• Force aérienne belge / Belgische Luchtmacht / Belgian Air Force
  • RAF Brüggen , 1953, F-84E / G ( 1st and 2nd Smaldeel of the 2nd Wing , 23rd and 31st Smaldeel of the 10th Wing ), while the Belgian home bases Florennes and Kleine Brogel were being repaired
  • RAF Geilenkirchen , May 1953 to 1953, F-84G (23rd and 31st Smaldeel of the 10th Wing) , temporarily while the Belgian home base Kleine Brogel was being repaired
  • RAF Wahn , 1954 to 1956, F-84E / G, RF-84F (42nd Tactische Verkenningssmalddel)
• German airforce
  • Büchel Air Base , June 1957 to around the end of 1962, F-84F, ( Luftwaffe weapons school 30 , Fighter Bomber Wing 33 )
  • Eggebek Air Base , November 1960 to October 1964, RF-84F ( Reconnaissance Wing 52 )
  • Erding Air Base , May 1958 to around the end of 1961, RF-84F ( Air Force Weapons School 50 , Reconnaissance Wing 51 and 52)
  • Hopsten Air Base , August 1962 to mid-1966, F-84F ( Jagdbombergeschwader 36 )
  • Husum Air Base , September 1959 to May 1965, F-84F ( Jagdgeschwader 35 )
  • Lechfeld Air Base , July 1958 to July 1966, F-84F ( Fighter Bomber Wing 32 )
  • Leck Air Base , October 1964 to 1965, F-84F (Reconnaissance Wing 52)
  • Manching Air Base , May 1960 to June 1965, RF-84F (Reconnaissance Wing 51)
  • Memmingen Air Base , April 1959 to May 1966, F-84F ( Jagdbombergeschwader 34 )
  • Nörvenich Air Base , January 1958 to August 1962, F-84F ( Jagdbombergeschwader 31 , Jagdbombergeschwader 36 )
• French Air Force
  • BA.136 Bremgarten , May 1957 to June 1961 (EC 2/4 "La Fayette")
  • BA.139 Lahr , August 1952 to May 1956, F-84F / G (EC 1/11 "Roussillon" , EC 2/11 "Vosges" and EC 1/9 "Limousin" ), from 19xx to 196x, RF-84F ( ER 2/33 "Savoie")
• Koninklijke Luchtmacht (the Netherlands)
  • RAF Bückeburg , September to November 1954, F-84E (306th Squadron)
  • RAF Laarbruch , November 1954 to December 1957, F-84E / RF-84F (306th Squadron) , conversion from the E to the F series in April 1956
• United States Air Forces in Europe
  • Bitburg AB , July 1952 to August 1953, F-84E / G (36th FBW with 22nd , 23rd and 53rd FBS) , the G versions were on loan from the 48th FBW in Chamont
  • Erding AB , around 1950 to 1953 (85th Air Wing)
  • Fürstenfeldbruck AB , September 1950 to November 1952, F-84E (36th FBW with 22nd , 23rd and 53rd FBS) , from November 1952 still used as a forward base, especially for alarm rotas
  • Neubiberg AB , October 1950 to November 1952, F-84E (86th FBW , 525th , 526th and 527th FBS)
  • Landstuhl AB , March 1952 to July 1953, F-84E (86th FBW , 525th , 526th and 527th FBS)

In May / June 1952 the three squadrons of the 137th FBW were briefly in Landstuhl (two squadrons) and Neubiberg (one squadron), as this squadron, which had arrived from the USA, was initially not allowed to move into Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base for French political reasons.

See also

• List of aircraft types

Web links

Commons : F-84  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

• The F84 in the USAF Museum ( Memento from January 9, 2005 in the Internet Archive )
• The F84 on Globalsecurity.org (English)
• Republic F-84F Thunderstreak on FliegerWeb.com

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Daily protocol of the Air Force inspector from March 29, 1966; based on: "The Air Force 1950 to 1970", Munich 2006, p. 614.
2. ↑ Statistical Digest of the USAF 1948 II. P. 75 ff .; 1949, p. 142 ff .; 1951–1961, table "USAF Aircraft Gains and Losses"
3. ↑ Irr-rays . In: Der Spiegel . No. 2 , 1952, pp. 12-13 ( online - January 9, 1952 ). Quote: "The communists had what they wanted: on board the two F-84s they found the Americans' newest, top-secret radar sight, one of the most important weapons in the United States."
4. ↑ Po šedesáti letech opět “přistála” ve Kbelích americká stíhačka F-84. In: Archive článků. Vojenský historický ústav Praha, accessed on March 24, 2017 (Czech, A navigation error by the pilots is reported here). 
5. ^ Czech Radio, October 4, 2004
6. ↑ accident report F-84G RNAF K-116 , Aviation Safety Network WikiBase (English), accessed on November 3 2,017th
7. ↑ Forgotten Jets on Millionmonkeytheater ( Memento from May 15, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
8. ↑ crash over enemy territory; BMVg.de
9. ↑ Beer Order 61 . In: Der Spiegel . No. 19 , 1962, pp. 26-33 ( Online - May 9, 1962 ).
10. ↑ Statistical Digest of the USAF 1947. p. 17; 1948, p. 16; 1949, p. 164 f .; 1951, p. 158; 1952, p. 158; 1953, p. 185 f .; 1954, pp. 70 f .; 1955, p. 80 f .; 1956, p. 91 f .; 1957, p. 97 f .; Marcelle Size Knaack: Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems. Volume 1. Washington DC 1978, p. 23 ff.
11. ↑ Statistical Digest of the USAF 1961. pp. 97 ff.
12. ^ Leonard Bridgman: Jane's All The World's Aircraft, 1955-56 . Sampson Low, Marston & Company, London 1956, p. 308.