At the start of Operation Rolling Thunder in 1965, the USAF did not have an all-weather precision fighter-bomber but the swing-wing F-111A provided this capability. Introduced to combat prematurely in 1968, the type later returned to play a key role in Linebacker operations over North Vietnam in 1972. This one was delivered to the 429th TFS, 474th TFW at Nellis AFB in 1969, deploying to Tahkli R Thai AB in October 1972. In 1996 it was transferred to the 389th TFS/366th TFW at Mountain AFB, ID with tail code "MO" and was ferried to the museum by mid-1992

With high accident rates when the single-seat F-100 was introduced from 1954, the F-100F two-seater evolved allowing instructor training, while retaining basic combat capabilities. As tactics developed in SE Asia, the F-100F was used for SAM suppression and high-speed Forward Air Control, known as "Misty FAC". Displayed in its 1968 colours, this one was a Misty aircraft assigned to the 37th TFW at Phu Cat AB, Vietnam, serving many Tactical Fighter and Crew Training Wings before and after. To MASDC Sep 1979, selected for QF-100 drone conversion but cancelled and to USAFM 2002

56-4362 was accepted by the USAF in 1957 as a C-123B and went to Vietnam in 1961 to fly as a low-level defoliant sprayer. In 1965, it was redesignated to UC-123B. At about the same time, it became a dedicated insecticide sprayer to control malaria-carrying mosquitoes, and in 1968 Fairchild converted it to a UC-123K. By then named "Patches" in view of almost 600 bullet hits in theatre, it returned to the US in 1972 via Afghanistan and Iran where it helped combat locust plagues. Lastly operated for AFRes as a C-123K until retirement to the museum in 1980

Having been kept in overall natural metal colours when first displayed at the USAFM (my 1973 photo here), it was restored to the earlier white-top scheme when moved into the Cold War Gallery by 1986. First serving the Military Air Transport Service's 1607th Air Transport Wing (Heavy) at Dover AFB, DE, in 1958 it set a world record for propeller-driven aircraft by lifting a cargo payload of 117,900lbs to 10,000ft. Transferred to the 436th MAW in January 1966 and remaining at Dover, it was flown from there to Wright Patterson for the museum in March 1971

Resplendent in the hi-viz colours of the 57th FIS at Keflavik, Iceland with which it operated between 1962 and 1970 often carrying out Soviet bomber intercepts, this Delta Dagger arrived at the museum in 1971

Delivered new to the 18th TRS/363rd TRW at Shaw AFB, SC in October 1957, next month it participated in Op Sun Run in which three new transcontinental speed records for the type were set. In Oct 1962 it flew low-altitude recon during the Cuban Missile Crisis and helped confirm that offensive missile sites were being dismantled. In March 1966 it went to war with the 45th TRS/460th TRW from Tan Son Nhut AB in Vietnam, seeing deployments to Misawa and Kadena in Japan, Andersen in Guam and Hickam, HI. In November 1970 it was transferred to the 153rd TRS/186rd TRG at Meridian, MS. To USAFM Oct 1978

A recent addition to the Cold War Gallery is this F-15C which achieved the type's first double MiG-29 kill while over the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during Operation Allied Force in March 1999. At the time the aircraft was assigned to the 493rd FS/48th FW at RAF Lakenheath. It ended its career with the 131st FS/104th FW MA ANG at Barnes ANGB and was ferried to the NMUSAF in April 2023

This Starfire flew with the US Air Force and Minnesota Air National Guard before retirement in 1959. Marked for preservation, the aircraft is pictured languishing at Tucson before transfer to the Pima Air and Space Museum and refurbished for display.

31 Jan '51: TOS USAF; to 3rd Strategic Support Squadron, Hunter AFB, GA. Apr '61: 305th Troop Carrier Squadron, Tinker AFB, OK. Mar'62: 442nd Troop Carrier Wing, Tinker AFB. Jul '62: 1502nd Air Transport Wing, Hickam AFB, HI. Mar '63: 1503rd Air Transport Wing, Tachikawa AB, Japan. Jul '64: Returned to 1502nd ATW. Aug '65: 916th Troop Carrier Group, Carswell AFB, TX. Jul '69: Ferry flight to 3902nd Air Base Wing (SAC), Offutt AFB, NE for transfer to SAC Museum. The only C-124A extant, oldest C-124. 1997: 2003: Flown in sections by C-5A to Dover AFB, DE for Air Mobility Museum.

Looking absolutely superb, this is a genuine Thunderbirds Super Sabre which (after operating with various TAC units from 1957) flew in the number six position for the 1968 display season. It was restored to its former glory in 1977 by team maintenance personnel at their Nellis AFB, NV home. Having last served the 175th TFS/114th TFG South Dakota ANG at Sioux Falls from 1970 to 1977, it was flown to the USAFM in July 1977 by the ANG and presented by Thunderbirds team staff

In 1965 the USAF sent its first F-4Cs to Southeast Asia, where they flew air-to-air missions against North Vietnamese fighters as well as attacking ground targets. The first USAF pilot to score four combat victories with F-4s there was Col. Robin Olds, a WWII ace. This aircraft is the one in which he and his backseat co-pilot destroyed two MiG-17s in a single day in May 1967. Last serving the 149th TFG (TX ANG) at Kelly AFB from 1983 (and briefly the CA ANG), it was ferried to the USAFM in April 1986

This Thunderchief began operational service in 1964 as a standard F-105F. In 1967 it joined the 355th TFW in Thailand, where it flew combat missions for nearly three years. During this time, it became one of a select few USAF aircraft to claim three MiG kills. In 1970 it was fitted with ECM gear and joined the 388th TFW for "Wild Weasel" duty, attacking enemy surface-to-air missile sites. Converted to full F-105G spec in 1972, it spent a further year in SE Asia before going the 35th TFW at George AFB, CA (my 1979 photo here). Ferried to the USAFM in 1980