Republic F-84 Thunderjet / Thunderstreak

The Republic F-84 was one of the U.S. Air Force's first generation of jet fighters, designed at the end of World War II and serving prominently through the Korean War and into the 1950s. The original straight-wing Thunderjet was a rugged fighter-bomber that flew the bulk of low-level ground-attack and interdiction missions in Korea. The swept-wing F-84F Thunderstreak, which first flew in production form in November 1952, was effectively a new aircraft powered by the Wright J65 turbojet, a license-built version of the British Sapphire.

Built by Republic Aviation, the F-84 family was famously tough and could haul a heavy load of bombs and rockets, making it a mainstay of Tactical Air Command and the early NATO air forces. The companion RF-84F Thunderflash carried cameras in the nose for armed reconnaissance. Thousands were built, and the type long symbolized America's transition to jet-powered tactical airpower.