The last F-84F Thunderflash retired from the ANG in 1971. Three Hellenic Air Force RF-84Fs that were retired in 1991 were the last operational F-84s. Communications Equipment  Richard Bach, who later wrote the bestseller "Jonathan Livingston Seagull", was an ANG F-84F pilot who was once activated for duty in Europe. His first book, "Stranger to the Ground", described in detail what it was like to fly the Thunderstreak in the course of an operational flight at night from England to France in adverse weather. F-84Fs were also used to represent North Korean MiG-15 fighters in the 1958 film version of James Salters' novel "The Hunters", because none of the Soviet fighters were available during the ongoing Cold War for filming. They were painted a flat gray with red star insignia.