Introduced into service in 1946, the Republic Aviation F-84 Thunderjet continued Republic's naming convention (that started with their P-47 Thunderbolt) into the jet age. The straight-winged fighter-bomber proved to be an invaluable ground attack aircraft for US forces in the Korean War, being unable to match the swept-wing MiG-15 in combat.

In addition to being the test bed for many peculiar test aircraft, it was also revolutionary, being the first aircraft to fly with the US Air Force Thunderbirds, the first production fighter aircraft to utilize inflight refueling, and the first fighter able to carry a nuclear weapon.

The straight-wing Thunderjet was soon accompanied by the swept wing F-84F Thunderstreak in 1954, designed with the hope of replicating the performance of the F-86 Sabre, but saw little use outside of the Air National Guard due to production delays and engine problems. The Thunderflash photo-reconnaissance was subject to many of the same problems.

The F-84 Thunderjet was fully retired by the USAF in 1964 with production reaching 7,524 units, and the F-84F Thunderstreak quickly followed, being retired in the same year, with 3,428 units being produced.