9781422277126

A popular nickname for the F-105 Thun- derchief was “Thud,” after a character on a kids’ TV show.

to be shot down twice and rescued only once by the time they flew their 66th mission. In other words, they had a 66 percent chance of completing the 100 sorties , or raids, they were required to fly. For some pilots, especially those permanently stationed at airbases in nearby Thailand and Laos, it could take six months to complete their assign- ment. For others, especially those coming into Vietnam from Japan, it could take two years. It was the job of Thud pilots to fly their F-105s into North Vietnam at an al- titude of 18,000 to 20,000 feet (5480 to 6090 m), blitzing across Thud Ridge. The planes paralleled the Red River southeast toward Hanoi. Much of the ride was a cakewalk performed on autopilot. There was no threat from the enemy. But once the pilots were in attack mode, they’d often come under heavy fire. When that happened, the pilots grabbed the stick and jinked, rolling one

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