F105 and Sea Vixen

It’s a well known pic, and there are others including a nice side view (http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.woolleyfamily.co.uk/Vixen_F105_.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.woolleyfamily.co.uk/Victorious2.htm&usg=__tUz1HFhymAUGhI9bYamXxD37dio=&h=716&w=950&sz=64&hl=en&start=16&zoom=1&tbnid=IbSd2G69WB-LzM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=148&ei=GExUUIOoK8Kw0AXvsYCoDA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Df-105%2Brefuelling%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1G1ACAW_ENUK473%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1).
Appears in most books on the Vixen, the most comprehensive (Tony Buttler/Air Britain) caption to the side view picture says,

“On the 5th of October 1963 Sea Vixens from No.893 Squadron, operating near Singapore, flight refuelled two USAF F-105D Thunderchiefs from the 18th Fighter Wing, which were taking part in exercise ‘Joss Stick’. Rendezvous was made using Bukit Gombak radar and this operation allowed the F-105s to fly direct to Clark AFB in the Philippines without having to refuel over Saigon in difficult weather conditions. one F-105D, 62-4217, is seen here about to take fuel from ‘461’ XN652 in a photograph taken by Lt Mark Thomson using the port side PR camera pod on Sea Vixen FAW.Mk.1 XN654.”

Further text states the Thunderchiefs were part of 64th Tactical Wing en route from Singapore to Okinawa (and Vietnam), only one of the F-105s managed to ‘plug in’.

It must have been times like that, that TAC were glad that they specified both probe/drogue, and boom/recepticle type refuelling points, the F-105 more usually receiving fuel from KC-135s via its upper nose point.

OK… so passing by Vietnam. Originating point quite a bit south, and end point quite a bit north.

http://www.hyperscale.com/2007/reviews/books/seavixenbookreviewsn_1.htm

…..November 1963. The information supplied with the photograph states that the F-105 was en route from Singapore to Okinawa

That photo has to have been taken in the Far East, either between Okinawa & Thailand or between Thailand and Vietnam. i would say the latter is more likely.

The first deployment of F-105s to Vietnam was the May-June 1964 deployment of the 36th TFS (F-105Ds) from Itazuki AFB (Japan) to RTAFB Takhli (Thailand). For the next year-plus, all F-105s in Vietnam were on rotation from various USAF bases in Japan or Okinawa*. Permanent assignments of F-105 squadrons from the US to Thailand only began in August 1965.

Being based in Thailand, they often needed refueling when flying to/from their targets, even when operating over South Vietnam.

Due to the distance, after Rolling Thunder (strikes against North Vietnam) began in March 1965 they were normally refueled over Laos by KC-135s on both the inbound and return legs.

* The 44th TFS, to which that particular F-105D belonged, was deployed from Kadena AB, Okinawa to RTAFB Korat, Thailand when 62-4217 was shot down in April 1965.

I doubt if it was taken enroute to Vietnam.
Why?
The Thunderchief would have been part of a large flight…and it would have taken many Sea Vixens to get the job done.
The amount of fuel off loaded would have been fairly small compared to a KC-135.
The request would have had to go through many, many channels…to getthe carrier and planes in the necessary spot. That would entail a lot of paperwork….it would be easier for all involved just to order a SAC/PACAF KC-135.
Political matters…would the UK want to be seen helping the Americans in the war?

Any chance it was a airshow demonstration with a USAFE-based Thunderchief pre-Vietnam?
That would be my guess.

That F-105 (62-4217) is recorded on http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1962.html as being lost to ground fire some 5 miles SW of Thanh Hoa, North Vietnam, on April 4th 1965, pilot ejected and was taken PoW.

FAA Fixed Wing Aircraft since 1946 (Air Britain) records XN652 as having carried 461/V, it was with 893 from 18-02-1963 to 20-11-1964, in that time the squadron is shown as being at Yeovilton, aboard HMS Centaur (tail code C) and HMS Victorious.

XN651 also carried 461 of 893 Sqn but with the C tail code for HMS Centaur, there is a photo of the starboard side of the a/c at Yeovilton on Pg.160.

As XN652 is the only a/c which seems to have carried 461/V i’d go for that as the a/c in the photo. It was last noted at Catterick Fire School in 1988.