Editing Lockheed F-104 Starfighter (section)

==== 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>