Wrecks&Relics (2011-today)

This gallery features pictures of aircraft that have been disposed of or preserved in one way or another; the airframes depicted here (gate-guards, monuments, eye-catchers, etc.) are photographed in the years 2011 onward. Airframes pictured in earlier years are in a separate gallery. Note that some of the aircraft portrayed here are no longer present at the given location.

W&R portrayed in the USA are dealt with in a separate gallery (also in this album “Preserved Aircraft”).

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USAF/ANG Thunderstreaks

The United States of America had large numbers of  Thunderstreaks in its USAF and ANG service; numerous Tactical Fighter Wings (mainly U.S. based, but also in Europe) were equipped with this aircraft.

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F-84F of the Greek/Hellenic Air Force

This gallery deals with the Thunderstreaks that once flew with  the  Greek  Air Force. Most pictures were taken when Frank and Hans were invited to visit the Greek AFB Larissa to report on the Best Hit Meet in 1972: after a lot of asking we were allowed to picture some operational aircraft of 344 squadron that were based here at Larissa.

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German F-84F

No less than 450 F-84F’s were delivered to the Luftwaffe (that is to say the West German Air Force) commencing in 1956 with assignments to the Fighter Training School  and Weapons School at Fürstenfeldbrück and Erding respectively.

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Thunderstreaks of the K.Lu (in active service)

In the mid fifties the KLu (Koninklijke Luchtmacht) acquired 180 Republic F-84F Thunderstreaks, registered P-101 to P-277 and P-298 to P-300. The majority of the Streaks depicted in this album are selected out of the range P-157 to P-300, being the last of the type in operational service, flying with both 314 and 315 squadrons from Eindhoven AB. The Streak entered service in 1955 and the last ones were phased out in 1970. Last departures to other air forces (see below) took place in 1971. Read More

Belgian Thunderstreaks: Period of Active Service

We have seen the Thunderstreaks of the Belgian Air Force very frequently, both in operational conditions , in storage and/or as museum-pieces.  This post deals with pictures of Thunderstreaks  in Belgian Air Force service, while they still were operational.

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Belgian Thunderstreaks: Aircraft w.f.u.

Many Thunderstreaks of the Belgian Air Force ended their service lives at the aircraft-depot at Koksijde AB. Most of them were scrapped but some survived: at first as eye-catchers (“decoys”) – sometimes disguised as Mirages ! – and later in museums or as monuments. This gallery gives an overview on the faiths of various Belgian Thunderstreaks. Note that withdrawn a/c may not be present anymore at the given locations.

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NATO Tactical Weapons Meet ,RAF Wildenrath , Germany , June 1967 (a/c spotting)

In June 1967 Gijs and Hans went for a biking (!) -trip from Eindhoven to Brussels (Open Day , see elsewhere on the site) and via Bierset and Geilenkirchen to RAF Wildenrath , Germany . At Wildenrath the NATO Tactical … Read More

F-84Fs of the Italian Air Force

In ITALY the Thunderstreaks equipped 8 air force squadrons: 5th at Rimini, 6th at Ghedi, 8th at Cervia, 36th at Goia del Colle, 50th at Piacenza and the 51st at Istrana. Some Streaks were kept in service till 1972 when the 50th squadron at Piacenza was re-equipped with the F-104S Starfighter.

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Thunderstreaks of the KLu (out of service)

After their operational service about 30 Streaks were temporarily used as eye-catchers (“decoys”) at air-bases of the KLu: about 4 aircraft were present at each airfield. They were removed and scrapped in 1980.

In this gallery you will find a selection of the pictures we took in the course of years when specific phased out aircraft were still around.  Most aircraft have since then been removed for scrap .

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