Pipe Creek Township in Grissom Air Force Base in Miami County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Republic Aviation Corporation F-105D

61-0088

— Grissom Air Museum —

Republic Aviation Corporation F-105D Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, September 5, 2026

1. Republic Aviation Corporation F-105D Marker

Inscription.

Specifications:
Manufacture: Republic Aviation Corporation
Designation: F-105D
Serial Number: 61-0088
Official name: Thundercheif
Nickname: Thud, Hog, Ultra Hog, Squash Bomber, and Lead Sled.
Initial cost: (F-105D) 2.14 million.
Function: Conceived to deliver a nuclear bomb on a single target, at supersonic speeds and at low altitude. It instead became the largest single seat, single engine Fighter/Bomber ever produced.
Crew: (F-105D) One.
Wingspan: 34ft, 11.25in
Length: 64ft, 4.75in
Height: 19ft, 8in
Power plant: (F-105D) J75-P-19W Pratt & Whitney Two Spool Axial-Flow Turbojet w/Afterburner
Thrust: 24,500lb with afterburner.
Empty weight: 27,500lb
Max T/O weight: 52,546lb
Max Speed: Mach 2.8 (1,372mph)
Service ceiling: 48,500ft
Range: 2,210 miles (Un-refueled)
Armament: 1 X 20mm M61 Vulcan 6-barreled Gatling cannon with 1,028 rounds. Also 4 underwing, and 1 centerline hardpoints for up to 14,000lbs of ordnance including conventional and nuclear bombs, and AIM-9 Sidewinder and AGM-12 Bullpup missiles. The F-105 also had an internal bomb bay, but it was almost always used to carry much needed extra fuel.
Year
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built: 1961
Year retired: February 1984 (Georgia ANG)

Mission:
The Air Force's workhorse during the Vietnam War, F-105's flew more missions, and mounted more losses than any other aircraft in the conflict. It served as the backbone of the Rolling Thunder bombing campaign between 1965, and 1968. Flying in groups of four, lead by EB-66 Jamming Aircraft, and protected by F-4 Fighters, these aircraft made up a typical strike package. F-105's flew more that 20,000 sorties. Of the 833 produced, 382 were lost during combat. F-105's scored 27 1⁄2"MiG" kills, most of them falling to the skill of an American pilot and his 20mm Gatling Cannon. F-105B's flew for a short time with the USAF's Thunderbirds. Interesting fact, the F-105D could carry more bombs than the B-17s and B-24s.

Our aircraft:
Our "D" model, was the most widely produced, and considered the definitive production model. It rolled of Republic's Farmingdale NY facility in March of 1962, and delivered to the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW). It spent time between Spangdahlem AB Germany, and Wheelus AB in Libya during 1962 and 1967. During this time "Balls 88" as she

Photographed by Craig Doda, September 5, 2026

2. Republic Aviation Corporation F-105D Marker

was known, sported a natural metal/silver color. On February 1967, she was transferred to 23rd TFW, McConnell AFB KS. Sometime during this period, she received her South East Asia (SEA) camouflaged paint scheme that would remain the rest of her career. During 1968 she was deployed to George AFB CA for air-to-air gunnery training. August 11th, 1972 saw 0088 being transfers once again, this time to the 507TH TFG (Group) Tinker AFB, OK. In July 1980 she was transferred to Hill AFB Utah where she remained until her retirement on 24 March 1982. Through countless depot maintenance programs, Balls 88 was kept as updated as any modern fighter craft of her time. She accumulated 3,909.9 flying hours, always bringing her pilots home safely, a testament to Republic Aviation's ability to build a tough, reliable fighting machine.

This exhibit is the property of the US Air Force and maintained through your participation in the Grissom Air Museum donor program.

Erected by Grissom Air Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military • War, Vietnam. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1984.

Location. 40° 40.13′ N,

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86° 7.817′ W. Marker is in Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana, in Miami County. It is in Pipe Creek Township. It is at the intersection of West Hoosier Boulevard and U.S. 31, on the right when traveling west on West Hoosier Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 W Hoosier Blvd, Peru IN 46970, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern Indiana.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (a few steps from this marker); Grumman Aircraft F-11A (a few steps from this marker); McDonnell Aviation F-4C (within shouting distance of this marker); McDonnell Aircraft F-101B (within shouting distance of this marker); Cessna T-37B (within shouting distance of this marker); Lockheed T-33A (within shouting distance of this marker); North American/Rockwell T-2C (within shouting distance of this marker); Cessna O-2A (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grissom Air Force Base.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 16, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 16, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 16, 2026, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.