Spinners 15,986 Posted March 30, 2012 Lockheed F-104E - 112th TFS, Ohio ANG, 1983 Whilst, officially, USAF interest in the F-104 programme began to ebb (leading to only 77 F-104C's being built) they kept a watchful eye on Lockheed's progress into transforming the original hot-rod interceptor fighter into a multi-mission tactical fighter for export to selected 'free world' nations. As negotiations with Federal Germany reached a critical phase in 1958 concern was expressed by the Bonn government that Lockheed were attempting to sell an aircraft no longer wanted by it's home nation. Lockheed cleverly took these concerns back to Washington and claimed that lucrative export orders were at jeopardy leading to a token order for a new version of the Starfighter for the USAF. Designated F-104E this new version represented a halfway house between the F-104C and the forthcoming F-104G. Only 60 F-104E's were planned to be produced but the success of the F-104C flown by Capt Charles Tofferi in the 1962 William Tell tactical weapons meet, against strong competition from F-100 and F-105 pilots, led to continued low-rate production followed by a larger batch of 240 F-104E's making an eventual total of 336. F-104E's were deployed to Vietnam and surviving aircraft were refurbished for ANG use with the type being finally retired in 1988 when the 112th TFS re-equipped with F-16A's. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wrench 9,870 Posted March 30, 2012 great paint scheme!! I LIKE it!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SayethWhaaaa 245 Posted March 31, 2012 I'm with Wrench: Awesome scheme!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spinners 15,986 Posted April 1, 2012 (edited) http://books.google....Tofferi&f=false http://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=81724 :salute: :salute: Edited April 1, 2012 by Spinners Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Spinners 15,986 Posted April 1, 2012 (edited) Lockheed F-104E Starfighters - 198th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Puerto Rico ANG, 1970 Edited April 1, 2012 by Spinners 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dsawan 624 Posted April 1, 2012 PR is needed. cool scheme! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
charlielima 328 Posted December 19, 2015 Very nice in euro. I thought this deserved a bump. CL 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Constellation1710 4 Posted January 29, 2016 Spinners Fantastic! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
+dtmdragon 2,704 Posted February 2, 2016 Love the euro camo Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
