MAILBAG

THUD FANS

n the article “Thud” [January] about the Republic F-105, Stephan Wilkinson wrote, “Nobody knows for sure where the nickname comes from.” It was my understanding and personal experience that it came from the sound of the large single-stage afterburner igniting on takeoff, producing a huge “thud!” I had the pleasure to be a Cessna A-37 forward air controller during the last F-105 exercise from Hill AFB before they were retired.