Photographer: H. Barnich

Photographer: H. Barnich

For the 75th anniversary of the Dutch air force many museum aircraft were put on display. A rare occasion to see these aircraft outside.

I picked up and put back in place some inspection traps that were lying around the plane. Actually ex Portuguese AF 5216 in fake French markings.

On display at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum. The RTAF operated thirty-one F-84s from 1956-70. Thirteen came from European air forces and eighteen from the USAF. This is Ex USAF 51-10582 that served with l'Armée de l'Air before going to the RTAF. The Thunderjets were flown by No. 12 Sqn, Wing I at Don Muang. Later No. 43 Sqn, Wing IV operated these from Takhli RTAFB till both squadrons moved to the F-86 Sabre.

Author: Daniele Mattiuzzo of VMAS (Veneto Military Aviation Society). The real 53-6634 crashed on 16th July 1956 with pilot safely ejected. This airframe was built up by the front fuselage from 53-6646 50-30 (wfu 8th July 1970) and possibly tail from 53-6637 50-10 (wfu 10th August 1970). It was displayed in Vedelago initially as 51-30 and later as 51-37. It was transferred to the Museum of Cerasolo, close to Rimini, where it was restored and spotted in 1994 painted as fake 5-36591 with "Getti Tonanti" livery. Same fake serial and livery is on the F-84F 53-6988 preserved in Rivolto

A small compound near the Port of Mesolongi on the Peloponnesos held five aircraft, one of them this F-84F 52-6914. The collection moved to the airport of Mesolongi in February 2011.

Eyecatcher at the entrance of the former location of the Military Aviation Museum was this beautifully restored F-84F P-226 in the colours of 314 squadron.

The real 53-6634 crashed on 1956-07-16 with pilot safely ejected. This airframe was built up by merging the front fuselage from 53-6646 50-30 (wfu 1970-07-08) and possibly the tail from 53-6637 50-10 (wfu 1970-08-10). It was initially displayed in Vedelago as 51-30, then as 51-37. It was transferred to the Museum of Cerasolo close to Rimini, where it was restored and saw in 1994 painted as fake 5-36591 with "Getti Tonanti" livery. Same fake serial and livery is on the F-84F 53-6988 at Rivolto. Many thanks to Daniele Mattiuzzo of VMAS (Veneto Military Aviation Society) for the precious information.

Author unknown. Serial and unit codes fake because Italian F-84Fs were registered with serials in the range 51- / 53-. This aircraft was built up by merging the front part from MM 53-6659, coded 8-39 and withdrawn from use on 1970-04-13, and the rear part (or at least the tail) from an RF-84F Thunderflash, MM 52-7339 coded 3-03. This second aircraft was really assigned to 3rd Aerobrigata and the first one to 101° Gruppo / 8° Stormo (distinctive red flash). At the time of this photo the aircraft was preserved in front of Hotel Gallo, along the SP10 road, just out of Marcaria village.

Delivered in 1956 to the Italian Air Force, it operated with the 3rd Aerobrigata, that was the former 3° Stormo. Sources quote that this was the last Thunderflash that made a flight in Italy before being withdrawn from use. It was initialli preserved at Ghedi AB; then for some years in Bresso (Milano), where it was nicely restored; finally at Cameri AB.

Photo courtesy of Marcel Coekaerts (Belgium). Thundersteak built for USAF as s/n 52-6378 then transferred to Belgian AF in April 1958. It wore units' codes 8S-V and 8S-P Withdrawn from use on 1965-09-16 was then modified as a decoy to look like a Mirage.

Photo courtesy of Marcel Coekaerts. Thunderstreak built with s/n 53-6791 and transferred to Belgian AF in September 1956. It wore unit code 8S-Y and was withdrawn from use in February 1971. Then modified as a decoy to look like a Mirage and destroyed for firefighting drill.

Once preserved on Airport roof terrace. This Airframe was built and delivered to USAF with s/n 51-1733, operated by 401 FBG and 366 FBW , then transferred to Luftwaffe on march 1959. Previously coded in Germany as DE-255, DE-378, DE-126 and DE-374.

August 1953 and kids are allowed to climb on this F-84C. The Boston Daily Globe of 8 August 1953 does not confirm there was an airshow, but does carry an article on the 102nd Fighter Interceptor Wing of the Massachusetts ANG, with a photo showing probably the same F-84. The unit had been 'stripped of jets' three years earlier, because these 'early model jets were lacking in performance' and 'difficult to service, too'. Wikipedia says the wing flew F-84Bs and then Mustangs again until they were replaced by the F-94 Starfire in 1954. Photo by: Edmund Mitchell / Boston Public Library