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F-104 Starfighter with the THK |
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Starfighters have equipped the following squadrons of the THK:
4 Ana Jet Us (Murted)
141 Filo (late 1963 to 1988)
142 Filo (late 1963 to early 1989)
Oncel Flight (OCU) (1963 to 1987)
6 Ana Jet Us (Bandirma)
161 Filo (to 1989)
162 Filo (1982 to 1990)
8 Ana Jet Us (Diyarbakir)
181 Filo (1985 to 1995)
182 Filo (1985 to 1995)
9 Ana Jet Us (Balikesir)
191 Filo (1975 to 1993)
192 Filo (F-104S until 1987, then F-104G to 1992)
193 Filo (OCU) (1987 to 1993)
Turkey was one of the first NATO countries to receive Starfighters through
Mutual Aid Program funding. Beginning in May of 1963, the Turk Hava Kuvvetleri (THK)
received an initial batch of 32 F-104Gs built by Lockheed and Canadair, plus
four TF-104Gs built by Lockheed. These aircraft equipped 141 and 142 Filo, plus
an OCU, in AJU 4 at Murted.
In 1972, nine F-104Gs and two TF-104Gs from Spain to reinforce two squadrons in
9 Wing at Murted.
In late December of 1974, the first six of an initial batch of 18 F-104S
interceptors were purchased new from Italy, with funds reportedly provided by
Libya in return for Turkish assistance in building up the Libyan Arab Republic
Air Force. These were delivered to 9 Wing. The remainder followed at a rate of
three per month. The THK F-104S order was doubled in May of 1975, and finally
increased to 40.
These aircraft took part in the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, but so far as
we know Greek and Turkish Starfighters never faced off against each other.
Beginning in 1980-81, large numbers of CF-104/F-104G/TF-104Gs being phased out
of service in Belgium, Canada, Germany, Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands
began to be transferred to Turkey. 18 F-104Gs were transferred from Belgium in
1981-83. These were withdrawn by 1987. 43 F-104Gs (including 22 RFs) and 10
TF-104Gs were transferred from the Netherlands from August 1980 to March 1984.
Nine RF-104G, 3 CF-104s, and one TF-104G were transferred from Norway in June
and July of 1981. Fron October of 1980, 170 ex Luftwaffe Starfighters were
delivered to the THK, the last ones arriving in 1988. Following their
replacement in Canadian Forces service by CF-18s, 52 CF-104s (including six
CF-104Ds) were transferred to Turkey following an extensive overhaul in Germany.
The F-104S (S for "Sparrow") was the most potent version of the Starfighter to
be built. It was an upgraded and improved version of the F-104G that was built
by Fiat. The aircraft was initially built to meet a requirement issued by the
Aeronautica Militare Italiana (AMI). However, it has also been exported to
Turkey.
The F-104S was the winner of the AWX (All-Weather Interceptor) design
competition held in 1965 by the Italian air force for a new all-weather
interceptor. The Lockheed CL-980 design (ultimately to be named F-104S) was
selected for this requirement after extensive evaluation of other designs such
as the Dassault Mirage III, McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom, Northrop F-5, and
North American F-100.
The Fiat group produced a total of 246 F-104Ss, 206 of them for the AMI and 40
for Turkey. AMI serials were MM6701/6850, MM6869/MM6881, MM6886/MM6887, MM6890,
and MM6907/MM6494, a total of 206 being delivered. A further 20 were laid down
for a subsequently-cancelled Turkish order. Only one of these--MM6946--was
completed as a replacement for MM6766 which crashed before delivery. Turkey's
forty F-104Ss were interspersed through the production run
Over the years, the THK has received just over 400 Starfighters from various
sources. The Turkish F-104s fulfilled both air defense and ground attack roles.
Over the years, many THK Starfighters were either withdrawn from service or were
cannibalized for spares to keep the others flying. Large numbers have also been
lost in crashes.
In 1987, the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon began to replace the F-104G in THK service.
First to convert were 141 Filo and 142 Filo at Murted, which exchanged their
F-104Gs for F-16s beginning in 1987. 161 and 162 Filo at Bandirma and 191 and
192 Filo at Balikesir had exchanged their Starfighters for F-16s by the early
1990s. Filo 181 finally relinquished its F-104Gs in favor of F-16s in April of
1994, marking the final departure of the F-104G from THK service. Filo 182 with
CF-104s, exchanged for Block 40 F-16C/Ds during 1996.Also 151 and 152 have Block
50 F-16 Cs
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