F-105F/G 63-8320 BAM-BAM/HANOI HUSTLER

[Shay]

This aircraft is on display at the NMUSAF and holds the title of being the only F-105 "Triple Mig Killer". Does anyone have an accounting for each of it's 3 kills?

I haven't been able to find anything specific with regards to the 3 kills, linking dates and crews to the airframe.

The closest I've come is this:

A note on 320 - this aircraft is the only Thud with three MiG kills (and none higher). 320 achieved all three kills while still an F-105F, carried the kills through its service as an F-105G, and still wears them today on display in the museum. Depending on who you ask, you'll hear a variety of interpretations of how those kills came about. My favorite: one kill was with a well-placed AIM-9B, the second with the 20mm cannon. The third is the most controversial, but as I understand it, 320 had a MiG-17 trapped at its six o'clock and the MiG was getting tracers close to the aircraft. The crew wasn't able to evade fast enough and the pilot pulled the emergency jettison handle to dump everything off the aircraft so he could clean up and bug out. Another F-105 was rolling in on the MiG about the time 320 punched off its externals and saw the centerline MER tumble off the underside of the scared Thud and right into the face of that MiG-17. Three kills! I don't particularly care if this is exactly accurate, but it was certainly good conversation at the Weasel bar at George AFB many moons ago...

Thanks in advance for any help.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[Shay]

BTTT w/ Pics


Taken by Bill Spidle





Bill has a bunch more walk around pics here:
http://www.primeportal.net/hangar/bill_spidle2/f-105g_63-8320/

USAF


Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[mustangdriver]

I love this aircraft, and the way they have it displayed. Very cool stuff!

[SIDSIKO]

One Mig kill for 63-8320 is
19th Dec 1967. Downed a MIG-17 with 20mm fire. Crewed by Maj. William M. Dalton and Maj. James L. Graham. With 333TFS/355FTW.

[Jeff Wilkinson]

According to USAF F-4 and F105 MiG Killers of the Vietnam War by Donald J. McCarthy, 63-8320 scored no kills during the conflict. The 19DEC1967 Dalton/Graham engagement was in 63-8329.

Also, F-105D 62-4284 was the sole Thud triple-MiG killer. Two MiG17s were downed by Brestel on 10MAR1967, and a third MiG17 was downed on 27OCT1967 by Basel. All three kills were with the 20-mm cannon. 4284 survived the war, but crashed during an air combat maneuvering training flight on 12MAR1976 near Clayton, OK. Capt. Larry L. Kline was killed in the crash.

[mustangdriver]

According to the USAF records it has 3 kills.

[hbusch105]

This is what I have-

1st Kill
Nov/Dec 1967 Maj. G. Guss while clearing the aircraft of ordnance and racks in preparation for a dogfight with a flight of 4 Mig 17s. A Mig flew straight into the ejected racks and was destroyed. Date not certain. Mig kill not officially granted.

2nd Kill
19 Dec 1967 Maj. R Huntley (Pilot) and Capt. R. Stearman (EWO) encountered several Mig 17s and fired at one hitting it. They claimed credit for a Mig kill but after a two year investigation, the claim was disallowed by Seventh Air Force's Enemy Aircraft Claims Evaluation Board.

3rd Kill
Maj. Dalton (pilot) and Maj. J. Graham (EWO) flying F-105F 63-8329 shared a Mig kill with an F-4D. Some histories erroneously credit this crew with a Mig kill while flying 63-8320.

A Mig kill was awarded to Capt. P. Drew (Pilot) and Maj. W. Wheeler (EWO) flying F-105F 63-8317.

Neither 63-8329 or 63-8317 survived the war.

Info from "F-105 Thunderchiefs A 29 Year Illustrated Operational History" by Howard Plunkett.