Locked and Loaded

MiG-17 seen through the F-105 gunsite.

Major Ralph L. Kuster Jr. said he "noticed one MiG underneath us and another at 10 o'clock level. I got one MiG out in front of me and realized I was going to overshoot him as it looked like the MiG pulled his throttle back. It appeared I had a closure rate of about 200 knots, so I just layed down on that wonderful 20mm cannon. His left wing blew up right in front of me. I passed under the MiG within 15 to 20 feet."

The MiG rolled over and crashed into the ground 41 miles east-northeast of Hanoi -- 3 June 1967.

Source: 388th Tactical Fighter Wing and 469th Tactical Fighter Squadron official histories

Inflight refueling from a KC-135 tanker. The 315 knot refueling airspeed was uncomfortably slow for the fully loaded F-105s. Note the difference in flight attitude between the tanker and fighter aircraft. (Photo by DENNIS WEAVER)

In the early days at Takhli Air Base, Thailand, screen walled hooches were home to about eighteen fighter pilots. Wood louvers on the side of the structure deflected rain from Thailand's huge thunderstorms that seemed to pass overhead everyday. (Photo by BILL ERICKSON)