Republic F-84 Thunderjet

The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an early American jet fighter that first flew as the prototype XP-84 on February 28, 1946, with Major William Lien at the controls. Powered by an Allison turbojet engine, it represented Republic Aviation's transition from the piston-engine fighters of World War II, such as the P-47 Thunderbolt, into the new jet age. The aircraft entered service in 1947.

The Thunderjet went through extensive development, producing numerous variants ranging from the early straight-wing F-84B through the swept-wing F-84F Thunderstreak and the RF-84F Thunderflash photo-reconnaissance version. In total, more than four thousand of the aircraft and its derivatives were built, making it one of the most widely produced American jets of the era.

The straight-wing Thunderjet saw heavy combat in the Korean War, where it served primarily in the ground-attack and fighter-bomber role, escorting bombers and striking targets behind enemy lines. Though outclassed in air-to-air combat by swept-wing fighters like the MiG-15, the F-84 proved a dependable workhorse and equipped numerous U.S. and allied air forces during the 1950s.