Editing Lockheed F-104 Starfighter (section)

=== Pakistan Air Force ===
[[File:Lockheed F-104.png|thumb|PAF Griffin F-104As during a training [[sortie]] in 1964.]]

In 1961, Pakistan, as a [[major non-NATO ally]], received under the [[Mutual Assistance Program]] 14 Starfighters (twelve model F-104A and two dual-seat model F-104B). These were fitted with C-2 upward firing [[ejection seats]], AN/ASG-14T1 [[fire control system]]s, more powerful [[J-79#Variants|General Electric J79-11A]] engines and the [[M-61 Vulcan]]s were also re-fitted on [[Pakistan Air Force|PAF]]'s request.<ref name="hali"/><ref name="key"/> Moreover, an F-104B was modified by the PAF to carry Swedish TA-7M [[reconnaissance]] cameras in the back seat, other than that a single F-104A was modified to carry Radar homing devices like the Radar Locator (RALOR) and Short-range Low Altitude Radar Detection (SLARD).<ref name="stn"/> The [[No. 9 Squadron (Pakistan Air Force)|No. 9 Squadron "Griffins"]] was the only PAF squadron to be equipped with these Starfighters.<ref name="hali">{{cite web|title=F-104 Starfighters in PAKISTAN AIR FORCE |url=http://www.defencejournal.com/2000/may/f-104.htm |website=DefenseJournal.com |author=Group Captain (R) Sultan Mehmood Hali|access-date=25 May 2017 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817032844/http://www.defencejournal.com:80/2000/may/f-104.htm |archive-date=17 August 2000 }}</ref><ref name="stn">{{cite magazine|url=https://secondtononepaf.com/2021/02/20/fast-furious-a-tale-of-starfighter-speedster-of-paf/|date=20 February 2021|magazine=Second To None|author=Air Commodore Muhammad Ali|title=Fast & Furious: A Tale of Starfighter – Speedster of PAF}}</ref>

The PAF also provided F-104 instructors to [[Jordan]] in order to train their pilots on the aircraft after the [[Royal Jordanian Air Force]] started receiving its Starfighters in 1968. One of the Jordanian pilots, Major Ihsan Shurdom, later rose to command the RJAF.<ref name="stn"/>

[[File:Lockheed F-104 Starfighter drag chute landing.jpg|thumb|A Griffin F-104A landing after [[dissimilar air combat training]].]]

The Starfighter served with the PAF from 1961 until 1972 when lack of spare parts due to post-war [[US sanctions]] led to an early retirement.<ref name="hali"/>

==== Rann of Kutch Conflict ====
{{main|Operation Desert Hawk}}
During the [[Rann of Kutch]] crisis in April 1965, a detachment of two Griffin F-104s was deployed at [[PAF Base Mauripur|Mauripur Base]] under the command of [[Mervyn Middlecoat|Squadron Leader Middlecoat]].<ref name="stn"/>

An F-104 flown by [[Farooq Umar]] also assisted the [[Pakistan Army|Army]]'s [[24th Cavalry (Frontier Force)|24th Cavalry]], [[Frontier Force Regiment|15th Frontier Force]] and [[Punjab Regiment (Pakistan)|15th Punjab]] regiments in capturing "Biar Bet" from Indian forces.<ref name="paf">{{cite book|url=https://www.paf.gov.pk/asset/appattachments/Sentinels_in-the_sky.pdf|title=Sentinels In The Sky (A Saga of PAF's Gallant Air Warriors)|publisher=Directorate of Media Affairs, Pakistan Air Force|pages=395–396}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hilal.gov.pk/index.php/detail/guides-paltan-celebrates-biar-bet-day|title=Guides Paltan Celebrates Biar Bet Day|magazine=Hilal English|quote=The Paltan was ordered to capture the disputed territory of Biar Bet, which is located 6 miles west of Serabet, in Indian Rann of Kutch. Enemy's 13 Commando Battalion 50 Para Brigade was defending the area. Two companies of 15 Punjab, a squadron of 24 Cavalry (FF) and an R&S Company of 15 Frontier Force Regiment were placed under the command of Guides Infantry for this operation.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PAKISTANIS HOLD POST OF BIAR BET; Assert Indians Fled 'Island' in Rann of Cutch Wastes|date=29 April 1965|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/04/29/archives/pakistanis-hold-post-of-biar-bet-assert-indians-fled-island-in-rann.html|website=The New York Times}}</ref>

[[File:Indian Dassault Ouragan.jpg|thumb|The Indian Dassault Ouragan which was forced down by Pakistani Starfighters.]]

Later in June, PAF F-104s forced an Indian [[Dassault Ouragan]] which had intruded into Pakistani airspace to make a [[forced landing]] at Jangshahi Village near [[Badin]].<ref name="key"/>

==== Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 ====
{{see also|Indo-Pakistani Air War of 1965}}
PAF F-104s were deployed in a variety of roles during the 1965 war. These included [[Air defence]], high altitude interceptions, [[night fighter]], reconnaissance etc.<ref name="hali"/>

In the opening rounds of the war on 1 September, Flight Lt. Farooq Umar on the orders of PAF's [[C-in-C]] "[[Nur Khan|Air Marshal Nur Khan]]", executed two [[sonic boom]]s in his F-104 over the enemy airbase at [[Amritsar Air Force Station|Amritsar]]. This was done in order to harass the [[Indian Air Force]] (IAF) as a sign of dominance.<ref name="stn"/><ref name="paf"/>

[[File:Folland Gnat F.1.jpg|thumb|An Indian Gnat F.1 (IE-1083) sits on the disused airfield at Pasrur shortly after being forced down by a Griffin F-104A on 3 September 1965. Today, the Gnat is on display at [[PAF Museum]] at Karachi.]]

On 3 September 1965, two Griffin F-104As flown by Flying Officer Abbas Mirza and [[Hakimullah Khan Durrani|Flight Lieutenant Hakimullah]] intercepted 6 IAF [[Folland Gnat]]s over [[Akhnur]] which had attacked a lone [[F-86 Sabre]]. While the Sabre managed to return to base despite sustaining heavy damage, the Starfighters made supersonic passes near the Indian Gnats which resultantly spread panic amongst the IAF pilots. In the ensuing chaos, Squadron Ldr. Brij Pal Singh Sikand landed his Gnat F.1 at an abandoned Pakistani [[airstrip]] at [[Pasrur]].<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hilal.gov.pk/eng-article/detail/ODQ0.html|magazine=Hilal English|author=COLONEL (R) AZAM QADRI|title=A Pakistan Army Doctor Who Took Surrender of the Indian Air Force Jet}}</ref><ref name="key">{{cite web|url=https://www.key.aero/article/why-india-feared-pakistans-f-104-starfighters|website=KEY.AERO|author=Tom Spencer|date=20 January 2022|title=Why India Feared Pakistan's F-104 Starfighters}}</ref><ref name="f-104">{{cite web|url=http://kaiser-aeronaut.blogspot.com/2008/11/run-its-104.html?m=1|title="Run..it's a 104"|date=19 November 2008|website=Aeronaut|author=[[Kaiser Tufail]]}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/Chapter3.html |title=The India-Pakistan Air War of 1965 |pages=79–82 |first1=Jagan P V S |last1=Mohan |first2=Samir |last2=Chopra |year=2005 |publisher=Manohar |access-date=14 October 2019 |isbn=81-7304-641-7 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130706030406/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/History/1965War/Chapter3.html |archive-date=6 July 2013 }}</ref>

The F-104s first air to air combat victory was achieved by the PAF on the morning of 6 September 1965, when a pair of Griffin F-104As flown by Flight Lieutenant Aftab Alam Khan and Flight Lieutenant Amjad Hussain Khan were vectored towards 4 Indian [[Dassault Mystere IV]]s that were attacking a passenger train at [[Ghakhar Mandi railway station|Ghakhar Station]]. While Flight Lt. Amjad aborted due to radio failure, Flight Lt. Aftab went ahead with the interception and shot down a [[Mystere IV]] with an [[AIM-9]]B while damaging another with his M-61 Vulcan. The kill with an AIM-9B Sidewinder is claimed by the PAF as the first combat kill by any Mach 2 aircraft and the PAF's first missile kill, though the IAF denies the loss.<ref name="stn"/><ref name="Davies2014p77">Davies 2014, p. 77.</ref><ref name="key"/><ref name="hali"/>

On 7 September 1965, a Griffin F-104A flown by Flight Lt. Amjad Hussein Khan intercepted six Indian [[Dassault Mystere]]s which were attacking the [[Sargodha Airbase]]. While 5 of the Indian Mysteres managed to escape, a fierce dogfight ensued between Flight Lt. Amjad's F-104 & [[Ajjamada B. Devaiah|Squadron Ldr. Devaiah]]'s Mystere. Amjad fired an AIM-9B but it missed and hit the ground so he switched to his M-61 cannon and after some attempts, managed to score several hits on Devaiah's Mystere. However, due to high-G maneuvering, Amjad's F-104 was forced into a low speed [[dogfight]] by a determined Devaiah (something which the F-104 performs badly in due to its poor low speed maneuverability and agility.) This forced Amjad to [[Aerial ramming|ram]] his F-104 into the Mystere. The [[mid-air collision]] resulted in both pilots losing control of their [[warplanes]]. While Flight Lt. Amjad managed to eject safely over [[Kot Nakka]], the Indian pilot perished with his Mystere.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kaiser-aeronaut.blogspot.com/2008/11/mystery-of-downed-mystre.html?m=1|title=Mystery of the Downed Mystère|author=[[Kaiser Tufail]]|date=20 November 2008|website=Aeronaut}}</ref><ref name="stn"/>

On 13 September 1965, Middlecoat fired an AIM-9 at an IAF [[Canberra bomber]] during a night interception. An explosion was reported at around 4000&nbsp;ft but confirmation was not possible.<ref name="stn"/><ref name="key"/>

On 21 September 1965, [[Jamal A. Khan|Squadron Leader Jamal]] while flying a Griffin F-104A intercepted a high flying IAF [[English Electric Canberra]] at night and shot it down with an AIM-9 near [[Fazilka]] over Pakistani airspace.<ref name="hali"/><ref name="stn"/><ref name="key"/>

In total, Griffin F-104s flew 246 hours and 45 minutes during the 1965 war, 204 day [[sorties]] and 42 night missions.<ref name="hali"/><ref name="key"/>

==== Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 ====
The commencement of hostilities in 1971 led to PAF deploying its small fleet of F-104s heavily in Air to Air and Ground Attack roles. Surplus F-104As and F-104Bs were also received from Jordan.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.capitolhillbooks-dc.com/pages/books/13153/hussaini-tanvir-m-ahmed-jamal-a-khan-text-intro/paf-over-the-years |title=PAF over the Years|page=85|chapter=Trauma & Reconstruction (1971-1980)|author=Group Captain (R) Husseini & Pakistan Air Force|edition=Revised}}</ref><ref name="stn"/>
; Ground Attack
In early December 1971, PAF launched [[Operation Chengiz Khan]] (inspired from Israel's [[Operation Focus]]) after a series of invasions by Indian forces in [[East Pakistan]]. As part of these [[Preemptive war|preemptive strikes]], the Starfighters were employed particularly in attacks on various Indian radar stations.<ref>{{cite interview|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dJmOpbkS50g&feature=youtu.be|interviewer=Ahmed Qureshi|publisher=PTV News|title=S. M. Hali: New revelations on India's invasion of Pakistan in 1971|date=23 December 2021}}</ref><ref name="stn"/>

On 3 December 1971, a formation of two Starfighters attacked the IAF Radar station at [[Amritsar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tribune.com.pk/article/87496/remembering-war-hero-air-commodore-rashid-bhatti-an-outstanding-soldier-and-father |title=Remembering war hero Air Commodore Rashid Bhatti: an outstanding soldier and father|website=eTribune.com|author=Rafae Bhatti|date=6 September 2019}}</ref>

On 4 December 1971, [[Squadron leader]]s Amanullah and Rashid Bhatti flying F-104As again struck the IAF's Amritsar radar without any significant results due to heavy [[Anti-aircraft warfare|Anti-Aircraft fire]].<ref name="hali"/>

On 11 December, two F-104As piloted by Wing Commander Arif Iqbal Squadron Leader M. Amanullah struck the Indian airbase of [[Uttarlai Air Force Station|Uttarlai]] during which Squadron Ldr. Amanullah destroyed an [[HF-24]] parked on the [[airport apron|tarmac]] with his M-61 cannon while Flight Lt. Arif Iqbal strafed another HF-24 which was trying to take off from the airbase.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.capitolhillbooks-dc.com/pages/books/13153/hussaini-tanvir-m-ahmed-jamal-a-khan-text-intro/paf-over-the-years |title=PAF over the Years|page=83|chapter=Trauma & Reconstruction (1971-1980)|author=Group Captain (R) Husseini & Pakistan Air Force|edition=Revised}}</ref>

;Air to Air Combat

On 4 December 1971, a Folland Gnat and [[Sukhoi Su-7]] were shot down after they confronted a formation of two PAF Starfighters attacking the Amritsar radar.<ref name="hali"/><ref name="hijazi">{{cite book|author=A.Q Hijazi|title=The Story Of The Pakistan Air Force. A Saga Of Courage And Honour.|date=January 1988 |publisher=Shaheen Foundation |url=https://www.amazon.com/Story-Pakistan-Force-Courage-Honour/dp/B000I9RMGI# |via=Amazon.com}}</ref>

On 8 December, an F-104 piloted by Flight Lieutenant Manzoor Bokhari intercepted a Canberra bomber and shot it down.<ref name="hali"/>

On 10 December, an F-104 flown by Wing Commander Arif Iqbal shot down an Indian Navy [[Bréguet 1050 Alizé]] while attacking the [[Okha Port]].<ref name="hali"/>

On the morning of 12 December, the first direct air-to-air combat engagement between an F-104 and a [[MiG-21]] took place when OC No. 9 Squadron, Middlecoat along with his [[wingman]] Tariq Habib while performing [[airstrikes]] on the IAF's [[Jamnagar Airport|Jamnagar Airbase]] were bounced by two Indian MiG-21FLs of the [[No. 47 Squadron IAF|No. 47 Squadron]]. While the F-104 formation was returning to Pakistani territory, one of the MiG-21s fired a [[K-13 missile]] at Mervyn's F-104. Though he managed to dodge it with [[evasive maneuvers]], a second missile was fired at a range of 300 meters this time hitting his Starfighter. Middlecoat was seen ejecting over the [[Gulf of Kutch]] however the Indian vessels dispatched to capture him claimed he was never found. The PAF initially declared him [[Missing In Action|MIA]] but was later declared [[Killed in action|KIA]] and [[posthumous award|posthumously awarded]] a [[Medal bar|Bar]] to [[Sitara-e-Jurat]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.paf.gov.pk/asset/appattachments/Sentinels_in-the_sky.pdf|website=Pakistan Air Force|title=Sentinels in the sky|author=Azam Qadri|page=309|chapter= Decorated Shaheeds of 1971 War}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BY34AZM/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_SN6C8M8R1B29GJVD4TRX |via=Amazon.com|title=F-104 Starfighter Units in Combat (Combat Aircraft Book 101)|author=Peter E. Davies}}</ref>

The second F-104 loss occurred several days later on 17 December when a pair of [[Jordan–Pakistan relations|Jordanian loaned]] Starfighters on combat air patrol near [[Hyderabad, Pakistan|Hyderabad]] intercepted two MiG-21s which had intruded Pakistani airspace. The wingman, Flight Lieutenant Samad Ali Changezi engaged one of the MiG-21s and managed to get behind its tail. Unknown to him the second MiG-21 had sneaked up behind him and had fired a K-13 missile which had missed. His leader tried warning him but to no avail. As Changezi was about to shoot the MiG-21 down, a second K-13 was fired by the pursuing IAF MiG-21 which slammed into his F-104. The Starfighter went down over [[Mirpur Khas]] along with its pilot. Changezi was posthumously awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat in honor of his wartime service.<ref name="sits pdf">{{cite book|url=https://www.paf.gov.pk/asset/appattachments/Sentinels_in-the_sky.pdf|website=Pakistan Air Force|title=Sentinels in the sky|author=Azam Qadri|page=337|chapter= Decorated Shaheeds of 1971 War}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://kaiser-aeronaut.blogspot.com/2010/12/air-defence-in-southern-sector-1971-war.html?m=1|website=Aeronaut|author=[[Kaiser Tufail]]|title=Air Defence in Southern Sector - 1971 War|date=29 December 2010}}</ref>
The IAF also claims two additional PAF Starfighter kills that same day including Squadron Leader Rashid Bhatti's Starfighter. However, the PAF said he returned without damage to [[PAF Base Masroor|Masroor AFB]].<ref name="The MiG that forced an Army's Surrender">{{cite web |last=Simha |first=Rakesh Krishnan |url=https://www.rbth.com/blogs/2013/12/19/dogfight_duke_the_mig_that_forced_an_armys_surrender_31775 |date=19 December 2013 |title=The MiG that forced an Army's Surrender |access-date=8 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="sits pdf" /><ref name="Davies2014pp85-87">Davies 2014, pp. 85–87.</ref>