F-105D Thunderchief in Vietnam
Pussy Galore I in Metal Finish

The F-105 was designed as a supersonic, single-seat, fighter-bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons or heavy bomb loads at supersonic speeds. The F-105D variant was an all-weather fighter-bomber version, fitted with mono-pulse and Doppler radar for night or bad weather operations. The original weapons bay, designed for nuclear stores, was sealed and fitted with additional fuel tanks. Bombs were carried on multiple weapons racks on the centerline of the fuselage, and on wing pylons. The aircraft was fitted with a retractable in-flight refueling probe. The first F-105D flew on 9 June 1959 and 610 F-105Ds were eventually built.

The original Pussy Galore I marking was painted in July 1965. The idea came about as an inside joke for the KC-135 tanker crews, especially the boom operators who had trouble putting the boom into the receptacle so Capt. Vizcarra painted Pussy Galore right on the nose so that her ”Strategic Part” was right over the receptacle! She was named after the female executive pilot to the evil Goldfinger in the James Bond film of the same name. The original Pussy Galore was shot down in 1967 during a dreaded trip “downtown” with the pilot missing. By that time, she had switched from a silver painted finish to the common three toned South-East Asian finish with sadly, Ms. Galore painted over.
By that time, Vic had already painted a Pussy Galore II in October 1966. This F-105D came in the standard three-toned SE camo. To get permission, Vic had to jump through three hoops in order to get permission to do Pussy Galore II. It proved just as a big hit with the tankers as Pussy Galore I.
Unfortunately, this plane also did not make it. During the bombing lull ordered by LBJ in 1968, Pussy Galore II was sent over to Taiwan for a needed major maintenance and overhaul operation. Unfortunately, she was involved in a major ground collision accident and became a total write-off.
The marking itself though didn’t last that long. It was found out by the new Wing commander three weeks after application. The commander was Robert Scott, a WW II war hero and a great pilot. He immediately went apoplectic and ordered Galore removed on the spot! Thus ending the Pussy Galore story.