F-104 Starfighter Units in Combat

Book excerpt: This richly-illustrated title covers the technical characteristics of the F-104 Starfighter, one of the most widely-used and popular aircraft in history. Although built in small numbers for the USAF, the F-104C fought and survived for almost three years in Vietnam. There, it was engaged in some of the war's most famous battles including the legendary operation Bolo, where seven North Vietnamese MiGs were destroyed without the loss of a single US fighter. This small, tough and very fast fighter, dubbed 'The Missile with a Man in It', was called upon to do things it was not specifically designed for, and did them admirably. Aside from its protracted use in Vietnam with the USAF, the F-104 also saw limited action with the Pakistani air force during the Indo-Pakistan wars in the 1960s and early 1970s, and with the Taiwanese air force in clashes with communist Chinese MiG-19s. Featuring illustrations and photographs detailing the variety of nose-paint schemes and weapons configurations, this comprehensive appraisal of the F-104 Starfighter is ideal for modelling and aviation enthusiasts alike.