The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber that became the U.S. Air Force’s primary strike aircraft during the Korean War. Entering service in 1947, despite early issues, it flew over 86,000 sorties in Korea, credited with destroying a significant percentage of ground targets and even shooting down MiG fighters. It was the first production fighter to utilize in-flight refueling and the first capable of carrying a nuclear weapon. Over half of the F-84s produced served with NATO nations, and it was the original aircraft of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team. The straight-wing Thunderjet design later evolved into the swept-wing F-84F Thunderstreak and RF-84F Thunderflash.