This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Terry Donovan-Family
to remember
Donovan, William (Gary Donovan), Lt Col USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town San Marcos
Last Address 3535 Linda Vista Dr San Marcos, CA
Date of Passing Aug 05, 2018
Location of Interment Miramar National Cemetery (VA) - San Diego, California
F-105 Pilot - This is to certify that the bearer has successfully qualified as an F-105 pilot and is hereby eligible to be The authority on supersonic fighter-bomber airplanes whenever pilots meet. 1st Lt. William G. Donovan 25 June 1963 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada - Register no. 789. Signed by Mundy I Peale, President Republic Aviation Corporation and Claude D Phillips Commander.
Department of the Air Force - Certificate of Training - This is to certify that First Lieutenant William G. Donovan, ....has satisfactorily completed the United States Air Force Operational Training Course, F-105D, Course Number 111506E given by 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing (TAC FTR), Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada 7 August 1963 - signed by Boyd Hubbard, Jr Brigadier General, USAF Commander.
The United States Air Force Certifies that 1/Lt William G. Donovan has successfully completed the F-105 Training course 111506 E Nellis AFB, Nevada and is herewith awarded this certificate of Training. Signed Thomas H. Curtis Capt USAF and Training Officer not date included.
Department of the Air Force - Certificate of Training - This is to certify that 1st Lt William G Donovan, has satisfactorily completed the OFF1115E-1 & OFF1115E-3 Aircrew Familiarization, (F105), 42 Hrs given by 907A Field Training Detachment (ATC), APO 929, San Francisco, California, on 27 May 1963.
Source: Flight Records: First flight in F-105D - TAC, Nellis AFB, NV 4523rd CCr Tng Sq - July 30 1963.
Source: Flight Records: Last flight in F-105D - 5th Air Force, 6441st TAC Ftr Wng - 35th TFSq 9 Sep 1966.
Source: Flight Records: Total hours F-105 MDS Code 113 Total Hours 663.2 Pilot 627.2 Co-Pilot 6.0
Department of the Air Force - Certificate of Training - This is to certify that First Lieutenant William G. Donovan has satisfactorily completed the United States Air Force Operational Training Course, F-105D, course number 111506E given by 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing (TAC FTR), Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada - 7 August 1963. Signed by Joe White Jr MSgt, USAF NCOIC and Walter L Dyer Major, USAF Commander.
Department of the Air Force - Certificate of Training - This is to certify that 1/Lt. William G. Donovan has satisfactorily completed the Combat Ready Phase II Training, AFM 51-105 given by 35th Tactical Fighteer Squadron 13 December 1963.
Note of interest: While stationed at Yokota Air Force Base, Japan, William G Donovan was in a four ship fly-by over Mt. Fuji that was filmed by National Geographic Magazine and appeared on the cover and as an inside story of the September 1965 issue. Capt. Donovan made notes on his original copy as follows: pilots were Ed Rock in front seat and Lee White in back seat of lead with tail # 274;tail # 288 was Ken Furth; tail # 388 was Capt. Wm G Donovan; tail # 312 was Jerry Hoblit - all of the 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron. See pages cover; 292 and 293. Page 292 "Needle-Nosed Thunderchiefs, supersonic fighters, roar past Japan's Fujiyama on the way to Yokota Air Base, one of some 65 U. S. Air Force installations overseas. These Republic F-105's belong to the Pacific Air Forces, whose outposts stretch from Hawaii to Japan and the Indian Ocean." (The photograph on pages 292 and 293 shows a complete flight of four picture.)
After retiring in 1980 to San Diego, CA the Donovan family made a trip to March Air Force Base Museum, CA. Gary saw the F-105D on display there and said he had flown that particular plane. The tail or serial number is 62-4383. The history of that particular plane includes the following:
April 1963 it was attached to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing (PACAF) at Itazuke Air Base, Japan. In May of 1964 it was attached to the 41st Air Defense Headquarters (PACAF) at Yokota Air BAse, Japan. April 1965 it was attached to the 6441st Tactical Fighter Squadron (PACAF) at Yokota Air Base, Japan. During these time periods the Donovan family lived at Itazuke, Japan for a couple of months and then the 35th TFS was moved to Yokota and the famiy lived at Johnson Air Base.
As of Records dated 25 Dec 1979 Lt. Col. William G Donovan had 633 hours in the F-105.
Image
F-105 Thunderchief (Thud) Details
Aircraft/Missile Information
Model Republic F-105D Thunderchief Length 64.24 ft | 19.58 m Width 34.94 ft | 10.65 m Height 19.59 ft | 5.97 m Engine(s) 1 x Pratt & Whitney J75-P-19W turbojet engine generating 24,500lbs of thrust with afterburn capability. Empty Weight 27,500 lbs | 12,474 kg MTOW 52,838 lbs | 23,967 kg Max Speed 1,390 mph | 2,237 km/h | 1,208 kts Max Range 920 miles | 1,480 km Ceiling 41,207 ft | 12,560 m | 7.8 miles Climb Rate 34,400 ft/min (10,485 m/min) Hardpoints 4 Armament 1 x 20mm cannon
Internal bomb load capacity of up to 8,000lbs (3,629 kg) with an overall capacity of 12,000lbs (5,442 kg) of munitions (with the inclusion of the external hardpoints).
Mission-specific armament can include AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, mine dispensers, air-to-surface missiles, rocket pods, fuel tanks, nuclear-tipped weapons and conventional dumb bombs. Accommodations 1
Major Variants
* YF-105A - Initial prototypes of which two produced; Pratt & Whitney J57-P-25 turbojet. * YF-105B - Second prototype of which four produced; J75-P-3 powerplant. * F-105 - Base model designation * F-105B - First production rate model * F-105D - All-Weather Attack Variant * F-105F - Final production designation; Two-seat conversion trainer model. * EF-105F - Wild Weasel conversion with special radar detection equipment and anti-radar air-to-surface missiles. * F-105G - Later designation of same EF-105F Wild Weasel Variant.
