According to some authors, the designation F-105E was applied to a projected but unbuilt two-seat combat-capable version of the F-105D all-weather strike fighter. However, other authors claim that it was to have been a two-seat advanced trainer version. The F-105E was to have been fitted with a single one-piece bubble canopy underneath which sat two crew members in tandem.
Whatever its intended mission, it was cancelled in May of 1959 to provide funds for the production of more single-seat F-105Ds.
According to William Green, a few F-105Es were actually in various stages of completion on the production line at Farmingdale when the project was cancelled in May of 1959. These aircraft did not go to waste, since they were converted to standard F-105D configuration before completion.
I have no other information on the F-105E. Can anyone help?
Sources:
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United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and
Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.
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The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.
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Fighters of the United States Air Force, Robert F. Dorr and David
Donald, Temple Press Aerospace, 1990.
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American Combat Planes, Third Enlarged Edition, Ray Wagner, Doubleday,
1982.
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The World Guide to Combat Planes, William Green, MacDonald, London,
1966
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The World’s Fighting Planes, William Green, Doubleday, 1964.
- The Thunder Factory, Joshua Stoff, Motorbooks, 1990.
