Pilots from 9 Squadron pose for a group photograph at Peshawar prior to performing a flypast on March 23, 1965. From left to right: AVM Abbas Mirza, Sqn Ldr M Ishaq, Wg Cdr Arif Iqbal, Sqn Ldr Mervyn Middlecoat, AVM Farooq Umer, Commander-in-Chief PAF AM Asghar Khan, Officer Commanding 9 Squadron ACM Jamal Khan, ACM Hakimullah, Flt Lts Arif Manzoor and Ghulam Abbasi, Air Cdre Rashid Bhatti and Flt Lt Mushtaq Alam
Lockheed’s high-speed F-104 was operated by 16 military air arms during the Cold War. We pay a pictorial tribute to the superstar from yesteryear.
West Germany was the biggest user of the Starfighter, with 916 examples serving the air force (Luftwaffe) and navy (Marinefiieger) from 1960 until 1987. The type had an appalling loss rate with the Germans – 292 examples crashed for a variety of reasons. The Luftwaffe’s F-104G 24+05 is photographed in flight during September 1986.
Canadair built 340 Starfighters under licence from Lockheed in Montreal, Quebec, from March 1961 to September 1963. A total of 200 CF-104s served with the RCAF until 1986
The first of the 2,578 Starfighters – Lockheed XF-104 53-7786 in USAF markings during an early test flight. Not surprisingly, the Americans were the first users of the type
The Royal Danish Air Force’s F-104G R-345 from 726 Squadron at Aalborg, Denmark, in May 1986. The Starfighter began to replace the North American F-86D Sabre in Danish service in 1964 and continued its frontline duties until 1986. A total of 51 were operated by the Danes over the years.
A mixed bag of new and used Starfighters were acquired by Greece during the Cold War. The first factory-fresh ‘Stars’ were delivered in the early 1960s and were joined during the type’s time in service by second-hand examples from Spain, the Netherlands and West Germany. Shown is RF-104G 6642 of 336 Mira at Rimini AB, Italy, while on a squadron exchange with 102° Gruppo/5° Stormo in September 1992. The type was withdrawn by the Hellenic Air Force the following year.
A pair of Belgian F-104Gs (FX20 and FX99) of Kleine Brogel-based 10 Wing visiting RAF Gütersloh, West Germany, in August 1982. Belgium used 112 Starfighters from 1963 to 1983.
A reconnaissance RF-104 of the Royal Netherlands Air Force at Volkel, on October 5, 1977. A detailed review of Dutch Starfighters can be found on pages 36 to 40
Taiwan had more Starfighter variants in its inventory that any other air arm, flying the F-104A, ‘B, ‘D, ‘G, ‘J, ‘DJ, RF-104G, and TF-104G. The type was withdrawn in 1997
After being retired by the Royal Norwegian Air Force, surplus Starfighters were given back to the US Government in 1981 for onward sale – most were subsequently acquired by Turkey. Twin-seat F-104G 263 of 331 squadron was returned to the USAF via RAF Sculthorpe, Norfolk, in July 1981. Norway operated the ‘Star’ from 1963 to the early 1980s.
Pakistan was another early customer for the Starfighter, receiving its first F-104A in 1961 – the start of a mixed fleet of 12 Alpha models and two Bravos. Seven Starfighters are preserved in Pakistan, including F-104A 56-0879 at Masroor Air Base
