Fry of Sth Africa Pt.3: Lockheed SF-104E Starfighter

[comrade harps]

Koolhoven-built Lockheed SF-104E Starfighter
a/c 133/Dorothy, 2 Squadron, South African Air Force (SAAF)
Dakhla, Spanish Sahara, 12 August 1961
Personal mount of Major Stephen Fry



The F-104E was designed as a stop-gap to maintain air superiority mass for the USAF until the F-110A (F-4C) Phantom II could enter service (and also to counter Congressional demands for the USAF to adopt wholesale acquisition of the Vought F-8F Crusader). The E featured an upward firing ejection seat, a modified flight control system that permitted the use of the leading edge slats in combat maneuvers and the larger vertical surfaces of the two-seat F-104B and D. A pure day fighter, it used the NASARR F-15-31 radar and fire control system optimised for aerial engagements. It was armed with an internal 20mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon and upto 6 AIM-9 Sidewinders. The E model omitted the centreline hardpoint on other versions but did have the 2 under-fuselage Sidewinder stations of the G. By retaining much of the lightweight airframe of the F-104C, but powered by the same J79-GE-11A engine as the G, Lockheed produced a hotrod that was fast and which excelled in the vertical realm. For this reason, F-104E tactics emphasised slashing, diving attacks, yo-yo maneuvers, zoom climbs and fast straight-line disengagements. It was not a dogfighter for turning and burning. 689 were manufactured by Lockheed for the USAF and export customers, including Argentina and Pakistan. Koolhoven in South Africa made a further 72 as SF-104Es before switching production to the F-104G. Koolhoven's SF-104Es differed from Lockheed's F-104Es in having South African designed radios (manufactured by the electronics firm Airborn) and in omitting the F-104E's infrared tracking sight (believed to be unnecessary for day fighter operations over northern Africa). Many pilots who flew Starfighters considered the E to be the best Starfighter model for air-to-air combat.




The F-104E was flown both as an interceptor and an escort fighter by the USAF, Argentina, Cuba, Mexico and South Africa over North Africa. Battling the likes of Red Farmer, Ferret, Fishbed, Fluffy and Fresco fighters, the E model Starfighter pilots achieved a positive air-to-air kill ratio of 1.3:1 on offensive counter-air missions. This was bettered by pilots of the Vought F-8F Crusader armed 8th FW, USAF, The Wolfpack, flying in the same roles, at the same time, over the same terrain and in the same battles, who scored a 1.5:1 aerial kill ratio on offensive counter air missions. Note that these figures are according to the same official UN analysis, which differs substantially from pilot claims and from kills and losses documented by the Reds.



This plane partially sports the uniquely SAAF camouflage adopted in preference to the USAF standard scheme applied to other F-104Es. The blue areas and the springbok over Africa artwork indicates this aircraft as the personal mount of 2 Squadron's CO. 1 Squadron's CO flew a Starfighter with orange paintwork and the same emblem and the Kommandant of the wing's personal mount featured white paint with the springbok and Africa logo. During training, each of the 3 was fully painted in its leadership colour, but UN theatre regulations for North Africa required them to be (at least somewhat) camouflaged.




1 Squadron and 2 Squadron SAAF never flew the SF-104E with a full loadout during their assignment to UN offensive operations over North Africa. Their standard combat configuration was AIM-9Bs on the wingtips and drop tanks underwing. Most other F-104E and G users preferred to use the wingtip tanks due to the greater stability they offered, but the SAAF favoured the higher jettison speed of the pylon mounted tanks compared to tip tanks. This was consistent with SAAF Starfighter tactics, which emphasised high speed, fast dives, zoom climbs and fleeting engagements. As the Sidewinder was their primary weapon, they didn't value the stability needed for cannon engagements. With other F-104E operators using loadouts of 4 drop tanks accompanied by 2 Sidewinders, the South Africans were criticised by bomber crews during training for their lack of combat persistence. This was justified, as SF-104Es in this configuration lacked the necessary endurance to escort strike packages to and from many targets. The solution was to task the South Africans with Egress Combat Air Patrol (ECAP) duties. This meant that the 1 and 2 Sqdn Starfighters were the last off the tankers (usually USAF KC-135As) before pushing forward to assume blocking positions behind the main force as it turned for home. This put the SAAF pilots in positions to engage Red interceptors both chasing and disengaging from a retreating UN formation. ECAP proved to be a vigorously contested tasking and confirmed kills indicate that the South African Starfighter pilots fought the Reds to a hard-earned and costly draw.



This SF-104E, #133/Dorothy (named after his wife) was the personal mount of Major Stephen Fry when photographed at Dakhla on 12 August 1961 during the celebrations for his 10th kill (a Red French Fluffy taken down with a Sidewinder). Previously a Hawker Tempest FB.21 pilot with 1 Squadron and on exchange to the Free Spanish Air Force, he was transferred to 2 Squadron in 1957. Flying the Grumman F11F-3 Tiger over North Africa, he was credited with 5 confirmed air-to-air kills during 1957-58. In 1961 he was promoted to the rank of Major and posted to the role of 2 Squadron CO. Flying the SF-104E Starfighter, Major Fry took his kill tally to 16. In 1962 and 63 Fry was assigned to various staff positions within the UN, returning to South Africa in September 1963. From early 1964 Fry pressed for an assignment with a ground attack unit, as he recognised that the SAAF's immediate future would be focused on COIN warfare. As Kommandant of the Waterkloof Strike Wing from July 1965, Fry flew 24 Squadron McDonnell F-101E Voodoo all-weather bombers on combat missions for the Salisbury Alliance. In April 1967 he was court martialed and dismissed for his involvement in a coup attempt a month earlier. In response to a rapidly deteriorating domestic security environment, the ruling National Party was seen as weak by many of the nation's more "conservative" whites, including Fry. Although the coup attempt failed, it contributed to the collapse of Apartheid and the May 1967 Anzanian Revolution. Fry left South Africa during the Revolution and went on to serve as a civilian consultant to the Free Spanish Empire Air Force (FSAF). He was killed on 5 January 1970 when the FSAF (ex-USAF) C-7A Caribou transport he was a passenger in crashed near La Palma Island.

[comrade harps]

Yes, the pitot tube fell off during principle photography 

[buzzbomb]

Interesting colour scheme, looks rather fetching 

[sandiego89]

great story and colors!

[Wardukw]

I'm the same as you guys..those colours look very different and I like it.. and it's a 104..so instant like   

[SPINNERS]

That is a sweet Starfighter! I love the wavy line on the forward fuselage - very neat.

[Old Wombat]

Interesting colour scheme, looks rather fetching 

Yup! Good looking build!

[Pellson]

Great camo indeed!

[Vulcan7]

cool camo & story     

[NARSES2]

It looks very attractive in that scheme    Terrific model

[zenrat]

Great paint comrade.