The Republic F-84F Thunderstreak is a swept-wing version of the
straight-wing
F-84 Thunderjet. First flown in 1950, over 2,700
Thunderstreaks were produced.
1,300 Thunderstreaks saw service with NATO air forces. The last
F-84F in the U.S. was withdrawn from service in 1971.
In 1952, when the U.S. Air Force requested an
armed reconnaissance plane with enhanced photographic capabilities,
Republic moved the engine air intakes of the F-84F Thunderstreak to
the front of the wingroots and thereby made the entire nose section
available for up to six cameras. This version was named the RF-84F
Thunderflash.
