Ellsworth Air Force Base in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
F-105B Thunderchief
Fast on the Deck
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
1. F-105B Thunderchief Marker
When pilots took off in their F-105s to bomb targets in North Vietnam in the 1960s, they faced some grim statistics: more than half the Thunderchiefs built were lost in combat in that war. Their missions—low altitude strikes on targets intensely defended by radar-guided weapons—were especially dangerous.
"She was called a lot of things, but 'Thud' stuck. She was one of a kind. She was as stable as a Swiss franc and she could hit... She could hit with bombs, lots of bombs. She had long legs at low altitude. It was very easy to go fast with her, especially on the deck. And nobody else could go that fast."
-Blake Morrison, "Requiem for a Heavyweight." USAF Fighter Weapons Review, Summer 1980
COL MARTY MARHT
In 1965, this South Dakotan's F-105 was shot down over North Vietnam, and he ejected. He came to on the ground: helmet lost, but pencils still in his flight suit pocket. His team circled above, fending off enemy MiGs until a combat rescue team hauled him up into a helicopter. Awarded a Purple Heart, Mahrt returned to combat duty, finally retiring in 1984.
After Vietnam, Mahrt was a founder of the
this page online
According to a dark joke, 'Thud' was the sound an F-105 made hitting the ground. Aircrews and ground crews embraced the nickname.
Lee Thorsness (left) attended South Dakota State College before joining the Air Force. He earned a Medal of Honor flying an F-105 in Vietnam.
Erected by South Dakota Air and Space Museum.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Cold • War, Vietnam. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota Air and Space Museum series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1980.
Location. 44° 7.999′ N, 103° 4.29′ W. Marker is in Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, in Pennington County. Marker and aircraft are on static display at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2890 Davis Drive, Ellsworth AFB SD 57706, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in West River, in the Badlands, and in Greater Rapid City. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
2. F-105B Thunderchief and Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: O-2A Skymaster (a few steps from this marker); UH-1F Iroquois (a few steps from this marker); F-84F Thunderstreak (a few steps from this marker); T-33A Shooting Star (within shouting distance of this marker); C-131D Samaritan (within shouting distance of this marker); U-3A Blue Canoe and U-8D Seminole (within shouting distance of this marker); C-47 Skytrain (within shouting distance of this marker); A-7D Corsair II (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ellsworth Air Force Base.
Regarding F-105B Thunderchief. Although an official field museum of the US Air Force Heritage Program and is adjacent to Ellsworth AFB main gate, the museum does not require access onto the base.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
3. F-105B Thunderchief
Credits. This page was last revised on October 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 7, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
