The "D" variant was the ultimate version of the F-100 with 1,274 aircraft being produced. The production of the F-100 ended in August 1959. The F-100D arrived in Southeast Asia in 1962 with its primary mission being close air support and ground attack within South Vietnam. This role was eventually taken over by the A-7 Corsair II. The aircraft became affectionately known as “The Hun”, short for “one HUNdred”. The last F-100 left Vietnam in July 1971 but not before 242 of these aircraft was lost. The “Hun” was eventually replaced by the F-4 Phantom II and the F-105 Thunderchief.
For a short time during the Vietnam War F-100s were assigned escort duties flying Rescue Combat Air Patrol (RESCAP) and MiG Combat Air Patrol (MiGCAP) missions. The first official U.S. aerial shoot down was made on April 9, 1965 when a USN F-4B shot down a MiG-17. However during one RESCAP/MiGCAP mission Captain Donald Kilgus flying F-100D 55-2894 of the 416th TFS claimed he shot down a Chinese MiG-17 five days earlier than the F-4. Not wanting to provoke China into joining the war the claim was dismissed.