Editing Lockheed F-104 Starfighter (section)

===U.S. Air Force===
[[File:F104-AIM9.gif|thumb|alt=Video vignette of an F-104 destroying a QF-80 target drone with an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile|F-104 test-firing an [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]] against a [[Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star|QF-80]] target drone]]
Although the F-104 was designed as an [[air superiority|air-superiority]] fighter, the United States Air Force's immediate need at the time was for a supersonic [[interceptor aircraft|interceptor]]. In the late 1950s, the United States government believed it had dangerously fewer [[bomber gap|jet-powered bombers]] than the [[USSR|Soviet Union]]. In response, the USAF had ordered two interceptors from Convair, the [[F-102 Delta Dagger]] and the [[F-106 Delta Dart]], but both aircraft were experiencing long development delays. The Starfighter's speed and rate-of-climb performance intrigued the Air Force, who pressed the F-104A into service as an interim interceptor with the [[Air Defense Command]] (ADC), even though its range and armament were not well-suited for the role. On 26 February 1958, the first unit to become operational with the F-104A was the [[83d Fighter Weapons Squadron|83rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron]] (FIS) at [[Hamilton AFB]], California.<ref name="Davies2014p15"/>

The newly operational aircraft experienced problems with both the J79 engine and M61 cannon, and after three months of service, the unit was grounded following a series of engine-related accidents. The aircraft were then fitted with the J79-GE-3B engine and another three ADC units were equipped with the F-104A. During this time, the Air Force's interest in the Starfighter was waning due to a shift in strategy toward fighters with longer ranges and heavier ordnance loads.<ref name="Davies2014p19">Davies 2014, p. 19.</ref> As a result, the USAF reduced their orders of the F-104A from 722 to 170,<ref name="Pace1992p32">Pace 1992, p. 32.</ref> and the F-104A and F-104B aircraft of the 83rd, [[56th Training Squadron|56th]] and [[337th Flight Test Squadron|337th]] FIS were handed over to the [[151st Air Refueling Squadron|151st]], [[157th Fighter Squadron|157th]] and [[197th Air Refueling Squadron|197th]] FIS of the [[Air National Guard]] (ANG) after less than a year of service with the ADC.<ref name="Bowman2000p45">Bowman 2000, p. 45.</ref>

====Taiwan Strait Crisis of 1958====
{{main|Second Taiwan Strait Crisis}}
[[File:F-104 Starfighter Republic of China Air Force 342-C-KE-40094.jpg|thumb|left|An F-104G [[target tug]] of the [[Republic of China Air Force]] (ROCAF) taking off from [[Ching Chaun Kang AB]], Taichung, Taiwan, in 1969, with a Dart tow target slung under its wing.]]

In August 1958, only a few months after establishing operational readiness with the F-104, the 83rd FIS was assigned to an air defense and deterrence mission in Taiwan after the [[People's Republic of China]] began an intense artillery campaign against the [[Republic of China]] (ROC) on the disputed islands of [[Quemoy]] and [[Matsu Islands|Matsu]]. Tension between the two forces was high; artillery duels were ongoing since the [[First Taiwan Strait Crisis|first crisis in 1954]] and the [[People's Liberation Army Air Force]] (PLAAF) had recently relocated 200 MiG-15s and [[MiG-17]]s to airfields on the mainland to fight against the [[Republic of China Air Force]] (ROCAF). According to Colonel Howard "Scrappy" Johnson, one of the F-104 pilots deployed to Taiwan, the Starfighters' presence was so the PLAAF would "track them on their radar screens&nbsp;... and sit back and scratch their head in awe."<ref name="Davies2014p22">Davies 2014, p. 22.</ref><ref name="Bowman2000p44">Bowman 2000, p. 44.</ref><ref name="Scrappy">{{cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=Howard C. and O'Connor, Ian A. |title=Scrappy : memoir of a U.S. fighter pilot in Korea and Vietnam |date=2008 |publisher=McFarland & Co. |location=Jefferson, NC |isbn=978-0-78645-498-3 |page=151}}</ref>

[[File:Dafb-c-124-f-104-1958.jpg|thumb|alt=A C-124 being loaded with a disassembled F-104 for transport|An F-104A being loaded onto a [[C-124]] at [[Hamilton AFB]] for transport to Taiwan, 1958]]
On 10 September, the first F-104s arrived in Taiwan, delivered disassembled by [[C-124 Globemaster II]] transport aircraft. This was the first time that air transport was used to move fighter aircraft long distances. Within 30 hours of arriving, First Lieutenant Crosley J. Fitton had the first of the 83rd's airplanes in the air, and by 19 September the entire unit was ready for day or night alert status. The F-104 flew a number of supersonic runs between Taiwan and mainland China at speeds up to Mach&nbsp;2 as an air-superiority demonstration, and though there were no direct enemy engagements prior to withdrawal after a ceasefire was agreed on 6 October, the Starfighter provided a significant deterrent effect. USAF Gen [[Laurence Kuter]], commander-in-chief of the [[Pacific Air Forces]], reported that the F-104A had "made a tremendous impression on both sides of the Taiwan Strait".<ref name="Davies2014pp22-25">Davies 2014, pp. 22–25.</ref>

====Berlin Crisis of 1961====
{{main|Berlin Crisis of 1961}}
[[File:F-104A 151st FIS at Ramstein AB c1961.jpg|thumb|left|alt=F-104A in front of hangar at Ramstein Air Base, West Germany|A USAF F-104A of the 151st FIS at [[Ramstein Air Base]], West Germany, in 1961–1962]]
During the Berlin Crisis of 1961, President [[John F. Kennedy]] ordered 148,000 [[United States National Guard]] and reserve personnel to active duty on 30 August, in response to Soviet moves to cut off Allied access to Berlin. 21,067 people were from the ANG, forming 18 fighter squadrons, four reconnaissance squadrons, six transport squadrons, and a tactical control group. On 1 November 1961, the USAF mobilized three more ANG fighter interceptor squadrons. In late October and early November, eight of the tactical fighter units flew to Europe with their 216 aircraft in [[Operation Stair Step]]. Because of their short range, 60 F-104As were airlifted to Europe in late November, among them the 151st FIS and 157th FIS. As with the Taiwan crisis three years earlier, the Starfighter did not directly engage any enemy fighters, but its presence provided a powerful air-superiority deterrent; it demonstrated very quick reaction times and exemplary acceleration during practice intercepts, and proved superior to all other fighters in the [[Theater (warfare)|theater]]. The crisis ended in the summer of 1962 and the ANG personnel returned to the United States, but the F-104's solid performance helped convince the ADC to recall some F-104s to active USAF service the following year.<ref>[http://www.ang.af.mil/history/heritage.asp "ANG Heritage: Missions, Wars and Operations."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126012124/http://www.ang.af.mil/history/heritage.asp |date=26 November 2014 }} ''ang.af.mil.'' Retrieved: 8 August 2010.</ref><ref name="Davies2014p29">Davies 2014, p. 29.</ref>

====Vietnam War====
[[File:Lockheed F-104C Starfighters of 435th TFS, 479th TFW, at Udorn RTAFB, in 1965.jpg|thumb|alt=Row of numerous F-104 aircraft parked on display on airport apron|[[479th Tactical Fighter Wing|479th TFW]] F-104Cs at Da Nang, 1965]]
The F-104C entered service with USAF [[Tactical Air Command]] (TAC) as a [[multirole combat aircraft|multi-role]] fighter and [[fighter-bomber]]. The [[479th Tactical Fighter Wing]] (TFW) at [[George AFB]], California, was the first unit to be equipped with the type, in September 1958.<ref name="Bowman2000p49">Bowman 2000, p. 49.</ref> Commencing with [[Operation Rolling Thunder]], the Starfighter was used both in the air-superiority and air-support roles. On 19 April 1965 the [[476th Tactical Fighter Squadron]] (TFS) of the 479th TFW arrived at [[Da Nang AB]] to help protect US [[F-105 Thunderchief]] fighter-bombers against MiG-17s and especially [[MiG-21]]s that were beginning to be flown by the [[Vietnamese People's Air Force]] (VPAF). The F-104 was also deployed extensively as a [[barrier combat air patrol]] (BARCAP) protector for the [[EC-121]]D Warning Star [[airborne early warning]] aircraft patrolling off the North Vietnamese coast.<ref name="Davies2014p41">Davies 2014, p. 41.</ref> The F-104s were successful in deterring MiG interceptors and performed well as close support aircraft, though they were largely uninvolved in aerial combat and recorded no air-to-air kills during the conflict.<ref name="Dobrzyński2015p62">Dobrzyński 2015, p. 62.</ref><ref name="Thompson2004p155">Thompson 2004, p. 155.</ref> The North Vietnamese were well aware of the F-104's performance, and the 479th TFW's pilots felt that the MiGs deliberately avoided engaging them. Twenty-five MiG kills were scored by fighters controlled by [[Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star#Big Eye|EC-121 Big Eye]] missions, and their Starfighter escorts played a vital role in ensuring their safety.<ref name="Davies2014p43">Davies 2014, p. 43.</ref>

From the first F-104 deployment in April 1965 to December, Starfighters flew a total of 2,937 combat sorties. These sorties resulted in the loss of five aircraft, one from the 476th TFS, which deployed from April to July 1965,<ref name="Hobson2001p256">Hobson 2001, p. 256.</ref> and four from the [[436th Tactical Fighter Squadron]], which deployed from July to October 1965.<ref name="Hobson2001p255">Hobson 2001, p. 255.</ref><ref name="Thompson2004p157">Thompson 2004, p. 157.</ref> One incident on 20 September claimed three F-104s when [[Philip E. Smith|Captain Philip E. Smith]] strayed into Chinese airspace and was shot down by a Chinese [[Shenyang J-6]]; two more collided in mid-air while searching for Smith's missing jet.<ref name="SmithHerz1992pp29–35">Smith and Herz pp. 29–35, 67, 68</ref><ref name="WindleBowman2011pp38,39">Windle and Bowman 2011, pp. 38, 39.</ref><ref name="Hobson2001p32">Hobson 2001, p. 32.</ref> No losses were reported from the [[435th Tactical Fighter Squadron]]'s first deployment from October to December 1965.<ref name="Hobson2001p255"/>

Starfighters returned to Vietnam when the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron re-deployed from June 1966 until August 1967.<ref name="Hobson2001p255"/> During this time F-104s flew a further 2,269 combat sorties, for a total of 5,206.<ref name="Hobson2001p100"/> F-104s operating in Vietnam were upgraded in service with AN/APR-25/26 radar warning receiver equipment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.i-f-s.nl/udorn-ecm/|title=Udorn – ECM|website=International F-104 Society|access-date=19 August 2017}}</ref> One is on display in the [[Air Zoo]] in [[Kalamazoo, Michigan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Portals/7/documents/other/aircraft_on_loan_by_location.pdf|title=Aircraft on Loan (by Location)|website=National Museum of the United States Air Force|access-date=19 August 2017}}</ref> During the second deployment, an additional nine aircraft were lost for a total of 14 F-104s lost to all causes in Vietnam. In July 1967, the Starfighter units switched to the [[McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II]].<ref name="Hobson2001p255"/><ref name="Hobson2001p269">Hobson 2001, p. 269.</ref>

In 1967, these TAC aircraft were transferred to the Air National Guard.<ref name="Bowman2000p56">Bowman 2000, p. 56.</ref>
{{Clear}}

{|class="wikitable"
|+ USAF F-104 Starfighters losses during the Vietnam War 1965–1967
! Date !! Model !! Unit !! Cause of loss/remarks
|-
| width="85px" |29 Jun 1965
|F-104C
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | [[476th TFS]]
|Shot down by enemy ground fire while providing [[close air support]] (CAS).<ref name="Hobson2001p24">Hobson 2001, p. 24.</ref>
|-
|22 Jul 1965
|F-104C
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | [[436th TFS]]
|Downed by ground fire while on a CAS mission.<ref name="Hobson2001p25">Hobson 2001, p. 25.</ref>
|-
|20 Sep 1965
|F-104C
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | 436th TFS
|Downed by [[Shenyang J-6|PLAN Shenyang J-6]] (Chinese-built [[MiG 19]]) cannon fire while on a [[MIGCAP]] mission.<ref name="Hobson2001p32"/>
|-
|20 Sep 1965
|F-104C<br />F-104C
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | 436th TFS
|Mid-air collision while conducting air search for earlier [[People's Liberation Army Navy|PLAN]]-downed F-104C.<ref name="Hobson2001p32"/>
|-
|1 Aug 1966
|F-104C
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | [[435th TFS]]
|Downed by [[SA-2|SA-2 surface-to-air missile]] (SAM) while on [[Operation Iron Hand]] escort mission.<ref name="Hobson2001p69">Hobson 2001, p. 69.</ref>
|-
|1 Aug 1966
|F-104C
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | [[435th TFS]]
|Downed by SA-2 SAM while on Iron Hand escort mission.<ref name="Hobson2001p69">Hobson 2001, p. 69.</ref>
|-
|1 Sep 1966
|F-104C
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | 435th TFS
|Downed by anti-aircraft artillery fire (AAA) while on [[reconnaissance|armed reconnaissance]] mission.<ref name="Hobson2001p72">Hobson 2001, p. 72.</ref>
|-
|2 Oct 1966
|F-104C
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | 435th TFS
|Downed by SA-2 SAM at 10,000 feet while on armed reconnaissance mission.<ref name="Hobson2001p75">Hobson 2001, p. 75</ref>
|-
|20 Oct 1966
|F-104C
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | 435th TFS
|Downed by ground fire during armed reconnaissance mission.<ref name="Hobson2001p78">Hobson 2001, p. 78.</ref>
|-
|12 Jan 1967
|F-104C
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | 435th TFS
|Operational loss; crashed while landing after a CAP mission.<ref name="Hobson2001p85">Hobson 2001, p. 85.</ref>
|-
|16 Jan 1967
|F-104C
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | 435th TFS
|Operational loss; engine failure during a CAP mission.<ref name="Hobson2001p86">Hobson 2001, p. 86.</ref>
|-
|28 Jan 1967
|F-104C
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | 435th TFS
|Operational loss; engine failure during a CAP mission.<ref name="Hobson2001p87">Hobson 2001, p. 87.</ref>
|-
|14 May 1967
|F-104C
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | 435th TFS
|Operational loss; engine failure during armed reconnaissance mission.<ref name="Hobson2001p100">Hobson 2001, p. 100.</ref>
|}

====North American service====
[[File:TF-104G LukeAFB Nov1982.jpeg|thumb|alt=Twin-seat TF-104G with both canopies open|A German TF-104G at [[Luke Air Force Base|Luke AFB]], 1982]]
By the late 1950s, USAF fighter doctrine had shifted away from air superiority (fighter against fighter combat) and placed more importance on the interceptor (fighter against bomber combat) and tactical fighter-bomber roles. The F-104 was deemed inadequate for either, lacking both payload capability and endurance in comparison with other USAF aircraft. As a result, the USAF procured only 296 Starfighters, including both single-seat and two-seat versions. During [[Dominican Civil War|Operation Power Pack]], USAF F-104s were deployed to [[Ramey Air Force Base]] to protect the American supply line against potential Soviet-supplied [[Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force|Cuban]] MiGs.<ref name=historyinpieces>{{cite report |last=Nalty |first=Bernard C. |date=30 June 1968 |title=U.S. Air Force Role in Five Crises: Lebanon, Taiwan, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic |url=https://historyinpieces.com/documents/documents/air-force-role-crises-lebanon-taiwan-congo-cuba-dominican-republic/|work= |location= |publisher=[[National Security Archive]] |docket= |access-date=11 March 2025 |via=historyinpieces.com}}</ref> Twelve F-104s were sent to Puerto Rico, where they remained until 3 June 1965.<ref name=historyinpieces/> The F-104's service with the USAF was quickly wound down after the aircraft's second deployment to southeast Asia in 1967.<ref name="Dobrzyński2015p60">Dobrzyński 2015, p. 60.</ref> Although the remaining F-104As in regular USAF service had been recently fitted with more powerful and reliable J79-GE-19 engines, the last USAF Starfighters left regular Air Force service in 1969.<ref name="Davies2014p34">Davies 2014, p. 34.</ref> The aircraft continued in use with the [[Puerto Rico Air National Guard]] until 1975 when it was replaced by the [[A-7 Corsair II]].<ref name="Hobson2001p100"/><ref name="Pace1992p53">Pace 1992, p. 53 (photo).</ref>

The last use of the F-104 Starfighter in US markings was training pilots for the [[West German Air Force]], with a wing of TF-104Gs and F-104Gs based at [[Luke Air Force Base]], Arizona. Although operated in USAF markings, these aircraft (which included German-built aircraft) were owned by West Germany. They continued in use until 1983.<ref name="FrickerJackson1996p74">Fricker and Jackson 1996, p. 74.</ref>