The Republic RF-84F Thunderflash was, in its time, one of the most extensively used photo-reconnaissance aircraft in NATO. With its robust construction, ability to withstand heavy stresses, long range and six exceptional cameras in the nose section it became a popular aircraft type in several countries.

The American Republic factories started to develop the F-84F Thunderstreak at the end of 1949. The third prototype YF-84F had the air intakes placed at the wing root in order to use a new radar system. The result was a loss of thrust, thus causing a lower performance, so the project was cancelled. However, the design made sense for a dedicated reconnaissance platform as the new aircraft permitted a hollowed-out nose section to be fitted to the aircraft to which camera equipment could be carried internally - all the while retaining 4 x 0.50 calibre Browning M2 heavy machines guns for combat purposes.

The resulting aircraft became the "YRF-84F" and this model appeared in February of 1952 - as the Korean War (1950-1953) was in full swing. The new aircraft sported the same all-swept-back wing surfaces as the Thunderstreak production fighters to aid in high-speed flying. The wing main planes exhibited twin boundary layer fences and blended smoothly into the wing root intake shrouds. The retractable tricycle undercarriage of the original was also retained as was the pilot's placement near the front of the aircraft.



Internally, the camera equipment was assisted through an early-form digital arrangement to take into account the aircraft's speed and operating altitude as well as current lighting conditions to provide for a more accurate picture.

A large amount of different cameras was available, for several heights and also for day and night.
A maximum of fifteen different types could be used, to know: six forward looking cameras, one ‘TriMetrogen’ camera, eight ‘oblique’ and vertical cameras.
These were of the type Fairchild K-17C, K-22 A, KA-2, T-11, K-38; each could be equipped with lenses varying from 6 to 36 inch. The Fairchild K-37 night camera to be used with flash-flares had a 12 inch lens. New at that time was the computerized Tri-Metrogen system, which modified the camera setting depending of speed, height and brightness.

 Innovations included computerized controls which adjusted camera settings for light, speed, and altitude, a periscope to give the pilot better visualization of the target, and a voice recorder to let the pilot narrate his observations.
The nose had several hatches, so vertical and also oblique photos could be made. These hatches could be operated hydraulically; also a recording system for the pilot was available. The pilot had also a periscope to take a vertical look by himself.

In the end, some 715 RF-84F Thunderflash aircraft were built with the series entering formal service in March of 1954.



Delivery to the Royal Netherlands Air Force

 

As part of the Mutual Defence Assistance Program, the Royal Netherlands Air Force (KLu) received twenty-four Republic RF-84F Thunderflash. The largest number where transported by sea between June 1955 and May 1957.

The CVE-58 Corregidor was the first ship to transport Republic RF-84F Thunderflash to the Netherlands it delivered the P-1 to P-4, P-12 to P-17, and P-21 to P-24.
The second ship to bring Republic RF-84F Thunderflash to Rotterdam was the CVU-64 Tripoli. Republic RF-84F Thunderflash brought in by the Tripoli are the: P-5 to the P-11.

The Republic RF-84F Thunderflash P-19 and P-20 where delivered to Rotterdam via commercial shipment. The remaining Republic RF-84F Thunderflash were flown from the United States, via Copenhagen, to the Netherlands via the so-called 'High-Flight' route.

The first two Republic RF-84F Thunderflash delivered to the Royal Netherlands Air Force where, the P-7 and the P-8, which were handed over to 306 Squadron on March 2, 1956. The first eighteen Republic RF-84F Thunderflash were silver coloured and got the code TP-1 to TP-18. The remaining aircraft got a P code instead of the TP- code and where camouflaged.



 

In service

Operational history

The first RF-84F Thunderflash went to 306 Squadron to the Royal Netherlands Air Force at Royal Air Force Laarbruch Germany to replace the existing fleet F-84E Thunderjet on 4 April 1956.

The squadron was based at Laarbruch as part of the 34 Recce Wing together with 79 and 541 squadron of the Royal Air Force. In their early days they wore a silver livery with the 306 squadron-code (TP-) on the nose this changed to only the P- code when usage of the squadron-codes system stopped .

In preparation of the new system pilots and technician where trained at the American base of Sembach where the USAF was flying the RF-84F Thunderflash. In 1957 306 squadron moved to Deelen Air base , although the accommodations at Deelen where basic the squadron kept working on the new systems. In 1958 the Dutch RF-84F Thunderflash participated for the first time in the 'Royal Flush' exercise.

This exercise, in which thirteen NATO countries competed over their photo reconnaissance skills. In the following year, 306 Squadron was already divided first, along with the English Canberras of the 2nd ATAF.

During 1963 the transition to the RF-104G Starfighter started , during this period the last operational RF-84F Thunderflash where moved to Volkel Air Base as the rest of the squadron moved to Twenthe Air base for the transition to the RF-104G Starfighter.

As the RF-84F Thunderflash of the Royal Netherlands Air Force where delivered via the Mutual Defence Assistance Program , the United States Air Force to decided that the remaining aircraft would be delivered to Turkey and Greece. The first aircraft where transferred to Turkey on October 17, 1963.

Squadrons equipped with the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash