On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 20:51:48 GMT, Scott Ferrin
wrote:

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 20:32:54 GMT, Ed Rasimus
wrote:

Overall, the 104 performance in SEA was less than stellar.

Thanks. This month's Airpower/Wings sure talked the thing's
performance over Vietnam up. I'd read long ago that it didn't do all
that well over ther so I thought I'd come here for the lowdown :-)

Airpower usually is pretty well researched. Can't imagine a positive
review of F-104 SEA performance.

Let's be sure to note that the airplane itself had excellent
performance and the 479th Wing (435th TFS, particularly) were
instrumental in development of modern two-ship air/air tactics. Let's
also note that the airplane in NATO service for a whole flock of
countries served reliably for forty years.

In SEA, the aircraft didn't live up to its potential.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
Smithsonian Institution Press
ISBN #1-58834-103-8