F-84F Thunderstreak / RF-84F Thunderflash camo patterns

Like the F-86H, the swept-wing F-84s survived in service long enough to receive SEA-style camo finishes, although they were never deployed to the fighting in Vietnam. The Thunderstreaks were actually the last pre-Century series fighters to remain in US service, outlasting the last F-86Hs by a year or so.

F-84F at NMUSAF walk around

This SEA-camouflaged Thunderstreak was among the last active US F-84Fs, being retired to display at Dayton in 1970 by the Ohio Air National Guard.

1/48 Republic F-84F Bundesluftwaffe RVL04526


Italian AF F-84F walk around photos 

An impressive array of photos depicting the 1/48th scale Italeri Thunderstreak kit finished as a Turkish aircraft
 

Crash site of F-84F 52-7071

Republic RF-84F Thunderflash 3-view

The RF-84F was built to replace RF-80s and other aircraft in the tactical reconnaissance role, but like its F-84F fighter counterpart, was not ready in time for Korea. The Thunderstreak had a solid nose for a carrying an array of cameras, and thus, the intakes were moved to the wing roots. USAF RF-84Fs were replaced by RF-101s and RF-4Cs by the early 1960s, but the ANG continued to use the type until as later as 1972. The Thunderflash was widely exported to NATO, and a few foreign aircraft saw second-line use until the early 1990s.


AIRPLANE BY Alexander Kartveli


RF-84K Thunderflash at NMUSAF, July 2012

Bibilography:

Photo: YRF-84F at Edwards AFB. Aviation Week August 25, 1952  p.9

Photo: Overhead view of a flight of RF-84Fs. Air Pictorial May 1960  front cover

Photo: Color image of a US RF-84F in Southeast Asia Camouflage. Air Classics September 1972  p.58