Republic F-84F Thunderstreak FU-36, Belgian Air Force.

This is one of several aircraft that languished on Belgian military airfields. Most fell victim to fire brigade exercises, but luckily some have been preserved.

This aircraft is preserved at Kleine Brogel airbase

This is another of the F-84's preserved in Belgium, luckily in pristine condition

Also preserved at Kleine Brogel airbase, this shows the F-84F's first color scheme in the Belgian Air Force : all silver. Next came the grey/green/blue-grey colors followed by the Vietnam scheme of green/brown/off-white.

Republic F-84F 'Thundermirage' (FU-123 and FU-194)

After the operational career of the Belgian machines was over, several aircraft were converted into non-airworthy decoys resembling the F-84F's successor : the Mirage. The conversion consisted in removing the horizontal tail surfaces, modifying the wing surface into a delta shape and adding fake fuselage side inlets and a tapered nose. Undoubtedly, this looked quite convincingly from the air, but viewed from close range at ground level the crude work becomes apparent. It is worthy of note that some decoys even received fake Mirage serials.

... or what a fire exercise can do to an airframe ! These burnt out remains were photographed at Beauvechain airbase severel years ago.

This aircraft is now owned by the Tiger Forces Museum at Peer, Belgium and is shown while being reconverted into a genuine F-84F.

This complete example clearly shows its modifications to represent a Mirage-lookalike : pointed nose, side 'intakes', enlarged delta-like wings and removed tailplane. The enlarged fin seen on several others is missing from this example.

Republic RF-84F Thunderflash FR-32 of the Belgian Air Force - preserved at Beauvechain airbase

This was the reconnaissance variant of the F-84F. Its nose compartment taken by cameras, the engine air inlet had to be moved to the wing roots, definitely enhancing the aircraft's looks.

(photo provided by Stef De WIt)

Republic F-105G Thunderchief, 63300 of the USAF

Although a completely new aircraft, the F-105 thanked much of its characteristics to the F-84 series. Larger and heavier than its forebear, it flew in both single- and twoseat versions, one of the latter in Wild Weasel configuration being shown here.