Ejercito
del Aire units operating the Starfighter.
161 Esc, Torrejon 1965 to 1967
104 Esc, Torrejon 1967 to 1972
Around the1960s, Spain was looking for ways to upgrade the air force but was
restricted by the available budget. MAP offered to the Air Force a list of
aircraft in which it could be observed that the F-104 was not included. This was
the airplane that the Spanish Air Force had set it sights on, because it was the
one that was being incorporated in most of the Air Forces of Europe.
After negotiations with MAP, they agreed to supply 18 F-104G and 2 TF-104G. The
Spanish air force bought a third TF-104G.
The arrival of the first F-104s in Spain was on board of a "Bogue" class escort carrier at the Aero-Naval Base of Rota.
The delivery of the aircraft was done in three groups:
First Group: In January 15 1965, 7 planes were delivered, 5 single seated and
two dual controls.
- Second group:
The 12 of June 1965, 13 single seated fighters were delivered.
-Third group:
On the 5 of January 1966, the dual control, the one bought by Spain, was
delivered and flown to the Torrejon Air Base on January 26
Once the first 7 F-104s had arrived at Torrejon, the official presentation of
the Squadron took place on the 5 of March 1965. On the 24 of September of 1965,
the Unit was fully operational.
They replaced the F-86F Sabres of 61 Escuadron in Ala 6 at Torrejon. In Spanish
service, they were designated C.8 (serials C.8-1 to C.8-18) and CE.8 (serials
CE.8-1 to CE.8-3). The Ala 6 wing was later renumbered Ala 16 and the squadron
61 became 161 Esc and later 104 Esc.
This era lasted about 7 years, from 1965 to 1972 when the conversion to the F-4
started.
They were formally retired from EdA service in May of 1972, when they were
replaced by the F-4C Phantom. All of the EdA Starfighters were returned to the
USAF for transfer to Greece and Turkey.
The 21 of May 1972, 104 Squadron was disbanded with ended, the brief history of
the F-104 with the Spanish Air Force.
The EdA Starfighters had the distinction of operating without a single accident
during their seven years of service.
F-104G 63-13643 coded C8-12 can now be found preserved at Torrejon after a big restoration after it was retrieved from the Hellenic Air Force in Autumn 2017 as part of the growing collection of aircraft used at this base
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