F-105 Thuds
Episode 3314 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature a story about how the F-105 Thuds performed in the Vietnam War. The story is titled: Thud Ridge: The Bloody Road to Hanoi. It appeared on the MigFlug website and was submitted by Joseph Duncan. .
Duncan reported in his story that the story of Thud Ridge is one of extraordinary courage, sacrifice, and determination by the U.S. Air Force’s F-105 Thunderchief pilots during the Vietnam War. Flying one of the most dangerous combat missions in aviation history, these men repeatedly attacked heavily defended targets around Hanoi through the infamous Tam Dao mountain range, forever known as Thud Ridge. Using the ridge to shield themselves from enemy radar, they descended into a deadly gauntlet of anti-aircraft artillery, SA-2 surface-to-air missiles, and hostile MiG fighters, knowing every mission could be their last.
Originally designed as a high-speed nuclear strike aircraft, the F-105 was thrust into the role of carrying massive conventional bomb loads deep into North Vietnam. Despite not being built for such a campaign, the Thunderchief became the backbone of Operation Rolling Thunder, flying roughly three-quarters of the U.S. Air Force’s strike missions against the North. The cost was staggering. Nearly half of all F-105s ever built were lost, making it one of the most heavily attrited American combat aircraft in history.
The bravery of the Thud pilots was remarkable. They flew the same hazardous routes day after day, often requiring 100 combat missions to complete a tour, even though the odds of surviving unscathed were frighteningly low. Their greatest enemy was usually the relentless wall of anti-aircraft fire rather than enemy fighters. Compounding the danger were restrictive rules of engagement that prevented them from striking key enemy airfields, allowing MiGs to launch attacks with impunity.
Colonel Jack Broughton
Colonel Jack Broughton immortalized the experiences of these aviators in his classic memoir Thud Ridge, preserving the voices and heroism of the men who risked everything over North Vietnam. Their courage was measured not only in medals, but in every bombing run they completed through overwhelming fire. The legacy of the F-105 pilots remains one of the finest examples of valor, professionalism, and unwavering dedication in American military aviation history.
Listen to episode 3314 and discover more about how how the F-105 Thuds performed in the Vietnam War.
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