The Fighter that was a Total Nightmare for Everyone Involved
95,629
Published 2024-04-10
With its sleek lines and straight-wings, the F-84 soared with a singular purpose: to redefine the rules of aerial engagement.
Abandoning traditional pistons for the raw power of an Allison J-35-A-13C turbojet, it shattered the national speed record, thundering through the atmosphere at a groundbreaking 607.2 miles per hour.
Yet, the Thunderjet was more than a mere speed demon; it was a symbol of a new, terrifying chapter in military strategy. As the inaugural fighter-bomber capable of wielding a nuclear weapon, it marked the onset of a fearsome chapter in global warfare.
But the journey of this pioneering aircraft was not without its turbulence. Plagued by a litany of mechanical malfunctions and daunting maintenance challenges, it earned the notorious title of "Mechanic's Nightmare."
As the clouds of the Korean War gathered on the horizon, the F-84 Thunderjet was poised to demonstrate its true mettle, proving that its legacy was not to be defined by early tribulations...
All Comments (21)
-
It's always sad when it's obvious that the narrator knows nothing about the subject. :(
-
One of my uncles was a highly decorated pilot in Korea. Before he went to Korea he flew the F-84 in the US. His concern about the F-84 was its unreliable fuel gauge. This fact almost proved fatal when he ran out of fuel over one of the western states. He looked immediately for a place to belly land and took her down in a cotton field. The jet sustained remarkably little damage and my uncle was unharmed. Needless to say his exploit made headlines. I still have the extensive story with photographs from a local newspaper.
-
I have to agree with Steve it is sad when the narrator does not know what he is talking about about. The first jet fighter for the air force was the f-80
-
Two of the eight MiGs shot down by an F-84 were shot down by the same pilot, Wally Shirra - who would go on to fly faster and higher craft.
-
As a kid, I saw a bunch of these fly over New Plymouth, New Zealand in 1955. What impressed me was that their low-level approach was silent, with a crashing roar only as they passed overhead.
-
5:18 “tandem landing gear layout” actually a tricycle.
-
Given that it marked the successful turning point from piston engine to axial flow jet it could hardly be described as a 'nightmare' especially since its basic design was maintained in the swept wing F-84F,
-
The Thunderjet served in the Royal Norwegian Airforce in the early 1950s. My older cousin flew one after having been to a flying school in Texas. Many of his fellow pupils were killed as the planes were unreliable and difficult to fly. I watched one go down in flames in a forest near my home on November 11, 1956, and the pilot was killed. It was an F-84G-31, serial no. 52-8296. I mounted my bike and rode to the crash site before any military personell had arrived, and picked up a couple of aluminium pieces. Strictly forbidden of course, but what did an eager young boy know back then? I still have those pieces. Many other Thunderjets ended like that in Norway. We had the impression that they were dumped upon us as members of NATO and had no other choice than receiving them.
-
I like the Information but the narration needs work. Mispronouncing common words, showing one aircraft while talking about another. This is amateur stuff. I want my aviation history to be better.
-
One of the most cogent and informative comments sections. Everyone is making interesting points that clearly comes from first-hand experiences. Thanks!
-
Hardly a nightmare, that's just more clickbait. After its teething problems were sorted it served well enough in combat. It then went on to become the base of a swept wing version of even higher performance.
-
Nice video on the Thunderjet (Thunder Hog to us maintenance guys, Ground Hog to the pilots). Only other comment is there was quite a few photos/videos of the F-84F Thunderstreak mixed in, pretty much a totally different aircraft. Was good to see both jets, as a Republic loving Maintenance guy, having worked the F-105G Thunderchief and the A-10 Thunderbolt II in my career.
-
The F-84F, painted a sickly blue, usually played the MiG-15 in most B Movie Korean War Films....
-
Interesting and informative video on a lesser known (to me) aircraft. The footage of the Gloster Meteor is actually showing the Gloster E. 28/39 flying in 1941. It preceded the Meteor but looks to have had a considerable influence on the design of the Thunderjet.
-
Ignored the RF-84F that was flying with the ANG into the early 1970s.
-
It is commented that the Thunderbirds were equipped with the G model while showing them flying the F. No Go! 😑
-
The Me 262 reached operational squadron service in Dec 1944 with JG 07. The RAF Meteor reaches operational squadron service in July 1944 with RAF 616 a full five months before the German jet fighter. They Jumo 004B never even went into series production until August 44. Some pre production test Jumo's were used in 262's used in combat with test and trial units in the summer of 44 but they were not operational squadrons. Also British jet engines had been test flown with jet engines producing over 5000lbs thrust during WW2. Metropolitan Vickers produced Axial flow turbojet engines which first ran in 1941 and had produced the worlds first successful turboprop engine and Turbo Fan during the war. The produced them in some numbers for use in high speed rescue launches used for rescuing downed pilots in the channel and north sea.
-
Total nightmare for everyone involved 🤣🤣 especially the guy in charge of finding appropriate footage. But loved the old Clark tugs
-
The high losses of the F-84, like the high losses of the later Republic F-105, were due to their use as ground attack fighter bombers. The tactics for hitting ground targets were not any different than that used during WWII, with both planes essentially making shallow angle dive bombing runs on the targets. This forced the planes to have to fly through walls of steel flak from AAA, which by this time were increasingly lethal. It wasn't until the high losses of the Vietnam War, as well as the poor accuracy of this type of bombing that standoff methods of bombing and smart bombs were developed.
-
my dad flew the strait wing in korea mostly in ground attack and said it was a solid gun platform for that role, and praised its ability to absorb ground fire.
