Tom Mahan

For the BUSC

5/18/12

Flying the F-104 Starfighter around the World

· The World-Wide Family of Starfighters· Brief History – Era Deterrence & Combat

· Europe, Pakistan, Taiwan & Viet Nam

· Global Operations – ’66 – ’71· Arizona – Combat Crew Training German AF

· Europe – Exchange Duty with the GAF

· Southeast Asia – Combat over NVN & Laos· Areas of Operations· Tactics

F-104 Starfighter Overview

My perspective of the F-104 –> 1966 - 1971

The World-Wide Family of Starfighters

Lockheed F-104 Starfighter

Dutch F-104G

In Service - 1958 – 2003 (45 Years)

United States Belgium Canada Republic of China Denmark Germany Greece Italy Japan Jordan Netherlands Norway Pakistan Spain Turkey 

Starfighter World-Wide Operations

2575 Total with 15 Variants by 15 Countries

Starfighter System Effectiveness

(Future Fighter Requirements

Development)

Starfighter History – Folklore vs. Performance

• Skeptics: The F-104 couldn’t turn tightly, was short-ranged, couldn’t carry a load & not an all-weather interceptor• “That depended – tactics, pilots, logistics……….”• You go into a conflict with what you have….

• Key to Value was the era – at IOC of 1958 the Starfighter was the only supersonic air-to-air fighter in the USAF

• F-102 F-106 Development both were behind schedule• F-4 adaptation from the USN needed time• Allies needed a supersonic counter to the evolving MiG-21

• Filled the tactical gap until the mid-60s when:• F-102 / F-106 could take over CONUS Air Defense• F-4C could take over Air-to-Air/Air-to-Ground world-wide• Continued to serve our Allies’ deterrent needs

The Starfighter was a very effective system for its time. It served our Nation & our Allies well.

Berlin Crisis - 1961

West Germany

East Germany

Ramstein AB

Mach = 2.0 Air Corridors

June 1961Khrushchev

threatens Kennedy - Vienna

August 13, 1961The wall goes up

November, 1961- 60 ANG F-104A arrive in Europe

Mission - Deterrence

PAK F-104 Starfighters vs. Indian AF1965 & 1971

Gnat ‘65 Incident

‘71 MiG-21 vs. F-104

‘71 F-104 Recce Sortie

Taiwan Straits - 1967

F-104A

F-104G "4421" F-104G "4371"

ROCAF F-104 Fleet

F-104Gs in Sea Camo

China

TaiwanQUEMOY(AKA: KINMEN)

13 January 19674 ROCAF F-104G vs. 8 PLAAF* MIG-19

Losses: 1 Zipper on RTB vs. 2 MIGs shot down

* PLAAF - People's Liberation Army Air Force

Starfighter Operations – Luke AFB, AZ – ’67-’69

• 1964 – 1983 (19 Years)

• 1,868 Pilots trained

• 235,000 flying hrs.

Starfighter Operations – Memmingen AB, GE – ’69-’71

QRA Facility

Starfighter Operations -- Memmingen AB, GE – ’69-’71

Starfighter Operations – Da Nang, Viet Nam – ’65

• April 1965 - November 1965• 2,937 combat sorties

Starfighter Operations – Udorn RTAFB – ’66-’67

Starfighter Warriors – Udorn RTAFB – ‘66

Starfighter Missions in Viet Nam

Close Air Support (CAS) Close Escort - High Value Assets MIG Combat Air Patrol (MIGCAP) Strike Force Escort

1 - Udon Thani, Thailand2 – Đà Nang, Vietnam 3 - Hanoi, Vietnam 4 - Ban Sèn Kôm, Laos

SEASIA Big Picture – ’66-’67

· FRAG Order - support A-1Es & Lima Sites – interdict supplies

· Command & Control – Brigham (radar) following to FAC.

· Varying Ordnance- Two 750 lb. General Purpose- Napalm- 2.75” Rockets- 725 Rounds of 20 mm.

· ResCAPs – Post-deliveries available to keep MIGs from rescue operations

Close Air Support (CAS)

Udorn RTAFB

Ubon RTAFBTakhli RTAFBKorat RTAFB

Air-to-Air Combatbut first....High-Speed Considerations

Terminology

• Corner Speed – the speed at which you fly the ‘Quickest – Tightest’ turn• Slowest speed at which the aircraft

can pull the max allowable G.• Starfighter => 450 KIAS / 7.33 Gs

• Fluid Two – Two fighters spread 6-9000’ feet laterally & 3-5000’ vertically.

• Slashing Attacks – High deflection Cannon shots with minimum risk of being shot down

VID + High-Speed Deflection Shot – M-61 20mm Cannon

• “Fluid Two” Formation Attack

• Close at Mach 1.2 for the Visual ID

• Slow / Maneuver for High Deflection Shot

• Min of 450 KIAS

High Energy Straight-lines and Hooks – Vertical Maneuvering

• High Deflection Gun Shot • Min of 450 KIAS

• Quick Reversal & Accelerate & Separate

• W/ Turning Room - Vertical Pitch-Back - @ Minimum of Corner Speed – 450 KIAS

• Accelerate to Mach 1.2

• Reattack with missiles or Cannon

• Accelerate to Mach 1.2 & separate from the Fight

Escort Airborne Command & Control Center (EC-121D)

• Mission: Deter MIGS from ABCCC & Assist Strike Force Assets

• MIG Warnings by Ethan Alpha, Bravo or Charlie

• Challenging Profiles – Speeds, Equipment & the Environments

• Multiple refuelings

College EyeUdorn RTAFB

Ubon RTAFBTakhli RTAFBKorat RTAFB

BrownAnchor Red

Anchor

Ethan Bravo/CharlieEthan Alpha

· FRAG Order coordinated with the USN

· Command & Control – Ethan Alpha, Bravo or Charlie (EC-121) or Destroyer (Red Crown)

· ‘Hot’ vectors to Deter & Assist Other Sorties- Visual ROE- Multi-Bogie Environment

· Fluid Two (Two-Ship) tactics

· Multiple KC-135 Air-Air Refuelings -> Long missions

· ResCAPs – Deter MIGs from rescue operations

MiG Combat Air Patrol (CAP)

Udorn RTAFB

Ubon RTAFBTakhli RTAFBKorat RTAFB

BrownAnchor Red

Anchor

Starfighter MiG CAP Engagement – Fall of ’66

Red Anchor

F-104 CAP

Red Crown

Starfighter MiG CAP Engagement – Fall of ’66

Red Anchor

F-104 CAP

Red Crown

Starfighter MiG CAP Engagement – Fall of ’66

Red Anchor

F-104 CAP

Red Crown

• Coordinated FRAG Orders with the USN

• Pre- and Post-Strike refueling

• Rendezvous on the Tanker

• Strike Integration - 40 fighter-bombers

• Escort to the Black / Delay turn / Pick-Up off the target / Cover Egress

• Rescue CAPs – keep MIGs away from rescue operations

• Operation Bolo – 1/2/67 – Ruse tactics w/ Jamming package

• 7 MiG-21s confirmed destroyed, 2 MiG-21s probably

Strike Force Escort – F-105s & F-4s over North Viet Nam

Udorn RTAFB

Ubon RTAFBTakhli RTAFBKorat RTAFB

BrownAnchor

RedAnchor

GreenAnchor

Ethan Bravo/Charlie

Strike Force Escort Tactics – F-105s over North Viet Nam

Ethan Bravo/Charlie

Red Anchor

Strike Force Escort Tactics – F-105s over North Viet Nam

Ethan Bravo/Charlie

Red Anchor

Strike Force Escort Tactics – F-105s over North Viet Nam

Ethan Bravo/Charlie

Red Anchor

• The Starfighter was a very effective system.

• It served our Nation & our Allies well.

• It identified requirements for future air-air systems.

Summary

Starfighter Operations around the World

Questions??

Tom Mahan

tommahan@me.com

661-993-4820

5/18/12

Back-Up

Starfighter Specifications (F-104G)

Propulsion General Electric / MTU J79-GE-11A / J79-J1KPower 10,678 (dry) / 15,939 (AB) lbfSpeed 1323 kts (1522 mph) @ 40,000 ft.Service Ceiling 50,000 ftRange 648 NM (746 mi.)Empty Weight 13,995 lbsMax. Takeoff Weight 29,762 lbsWing Span 21.9 (24,7) ftWing Area 196 ft²Length 54.8 ft.Height 13.5 ft.Gun: M-61 Vulcan cannon six-barrel, 725 rds 20mm @ 4-6 K/minArmament: 4K lbs – under the wings , two AIM-9 Sidewinders on tips.

Some versions – two AIM-9s on external pylon or fuselage.Users United States, Belgium, Canada, Republic of China, Denmark,

Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, Spain &  Turkey

First Flight 4/03/54Initial Operational Capability 2/20/58Production Range 1956-1979 (43 years)Total Production 2576Last Fleet Retired 2004 (Italy) (45 years)Unit cost US$ 1.42 m

Variants F-104A, F-104B, F-104C, F-104D, F-104DJ, F-104F, F-104G, RF-104G, TF-104G, F-104J, F-104S, F-104S-ASA, F-104S-ASA/M, CF-104 and CF-104D

Starfighter Effectiveness – Air-to-Air Deterrence

Berlin Crisis – ‘61• 11/61 – 6/62 – 60 A-Models operated in theater supporting President Kennedy’s counter to the

Soviet Union’s attempt to cut off Berlin. Quick reactions with Mach 2 runs along the border.

Pakistan – War of ‘65• 9/3/65 – Three days before the ‘65 war between India & Pakistan started, a disoriented Gnat was

intimidated by a PAF Starfighter. The Gnat pilot lowered his gear, landed nearby, was escorted to the Officer’s Mess and became the first POW of the war – House arrest in the BOQ.

• 9/6/65 – (1st day of the war) Four Mysteres were bombing and rocketing a stationary train in Pakistan. Two PAF Starfighters vectored to attack. The lead Starfighter blew through the attack group, scattered them and caused them to abort back to India. Lead downed one and damaged another with AIM-9Bs.

Viet Nam – Da Nang - ’65 & Udorn – ’65-’67• 4/19//65 – 11/21/65 – 479th F-104Cs sent to Da Nang to counter the subsonic Mig threat. Migs quit

flying and the Starfighters turned to Air-to-Ground sorties before redeploying to CONUS.

• 6/6/66 – 7/19/67 – 479th F-104Cs sent back to Udorn RTAFB to help F-4Cs counter the new MiG-21 threat. Migs started avoiding direct attacks and flew mostly when USAF forces were not in the area. Several engagements were broken off by the MiGs when the Starfighters or F-4Cs were vectored into the fight. Starfighters flew Air-to-Ground missions between Mig CAPs and Strike Force escorts.

Taiwan Straits Conflict – ’67• 1/13/67 – Four Republic of China (Taiwan) Air Force F-104G aircraft engaged a formation of 12 MiG-

19s of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force over the disputed island of Kinmen. ROCAF pilots downed two MiG-19s and broke up the air defense of the island.

Evolved Starfighter Force Structure

CONUS US Air Defense Gap Filler - 177· Day, quick interceptions of Soviet Bombers· Gap-filler for the F-102 / F-106· Adapted to meet early defense capabilities of Jordan and Pakistan

World-Wide Fighter Force – 2576 total· Multi-role, with NATO nuclear capabilities· Modernized by the Italians – state-of-the-art sensors & ordnance· Deterrence & multi-mission national needs of 15 nations

Starfighter Force met the Deterrence & Multi-mission National Defense Needs of

15 nations

Starfighter Operations – Memmingen AB, GE – ’69-’71

Starfighter Operations – Memmingen AB, GE – ’69-’71

Starfighter “100 Hour Club” – Udorn – December ’66

Month’s Total Combat – 506 Sorties

Bullet-Proof & Invisible – Udorn RTAFB – ‘66

Starfighter Areas of Operations

Starfighter Production Summary – 2575 Total

Type LockheedMulti-

national Canadair Fiat Fokker MBBMesserschmitt Mitsubishi SABCA Total

XF-104 2 2

YF-104A 17 17

F-104A 153 153

F-104B 26 26

F-104C 77 77

F-104D 21 21

F-104DJ 20 20

CF-104 200 200

CF-104D 38 38

F-104F 30 30

F-104G 139 140 164 231 50 210 188 1122

RF-104G 40 35 119 194

TF-104G (583C to F) 172 27 199

TF-104G (583G and H) 21 21

F-104J 3 207 210

F-104S 245 245

Total by manufacturer 738 48 340 444 350 50 210 207 188 2575Note: Production summary, data taken from Bowman, Lockheed F-104 Starfighter.

Starfighter Cockpit

Tom Mahan

Flying the F-104 Starfighter around the World