Two Republic F-105D "Thunderchiefs" doing their best to avoid surface to air batteries in North Vietnam circa 1965. "Jinking", abruptly changing attitude and direction of the aircraft was the method of avoiding the deadly SA-2 and SA-7 missiles at the time. The more advanced F-105 "Wild Weasel" SAM suppression platforms were not introduced into the conflict until around 1967. The Soviet supplied SAM missile batteries in North Vietnam in 1965 averaged a ratio of 17 missile launches per downed aircraft. After the introduction of the dedicated suppression "Wild Weasel" platform, the ratio dramatically changed by 1968 to 107 launches per downed aircraft. Still, it was a deadly threat to U.S. aircraft. By 1969, 372 of an existing 495 F-105D's were lost due to various incidents including SAM hits. SAM were indeed a game changer in air tactics. Republic F-105D "Thunderchief": Excellent classic, and beautiful model by AlicefromLake. Was available here at Rendo, but sadly, no more. Some texture tweaks. Models set up in PoserPro, and C4d: composed, additional set-up, texture tweaks, lighting, and rendered in Vue6Infinite; finished in PS Cs3