Designed as a development of the F-84F Thunderstreak fighter-bomber, the RF-84F Thunderflash was a dedicated photo-reconnaissance aircraft. Outwardly it was very different to its nose-intaked forbear. New wing intakes allowed a dedicated camera nose to be added, with defensive armament moved to the lower intake leading edges. This similarity in configuration to Republic's later F-105 led to it being nicknamed Thud's Mother'. It also incorporated advanced features to ease the pilot's workload such as computerized controls to adjust camera settings for light, speed, and altitude, a periscope to give better view of the target, and a voice recorder to let the pilot save his observations. Used in quantity by the USAF, the Thunderflash also served with several NATO and European air forces for many years. Greece only retired its last examples in 1991.
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