The first F-104J (s/n.26-8501) was built by Lockheed and made its first flight at Lockheed's Burbank Plant on
01JUL61. This was them dismantled and sent to Mitsubishi's Komaki Plant, where this was re-assembled and made
its first flight on 08MAR62. The second & third F-104s were also re-assembled by Mitsubishi in the same process
The following 17 machines were knock-down assembled by Mitsubishi and delivered to JASDF. Another batch of 180
F-104Js were license-built by Mitsubishi. The JASDF took delivery of a total of 210 Mitsubishi-assembled/built
F-104Js between 01APR62 and 02DEC67 (serials 26-8501 to 76-8710).
The type equipped the 201st (formed 01OCT62) to 207th (formed 31MAR66) Squadrons, with a few being allocated to
Air Proving Group/Wing. Most F-104s flew in an overall silver finish with white(upper)/grey(lower) wing, although
those allocated to the 207th Sqdn were painted overall light grey as an anti-corrosion measure when they moved
from Hyakuri to Naha, Okinawa in late 1972 because Naha AB is located right next to the ocean. The last surviving
F-104 Squadron, the 207th, was disbanded at Naha on 19MAR86.
A total of 14 F-104Js were converted to UF-104J/JA full scale aerial targets and they were operated at Iwo-Jima
during 1994-1997. The first two F-104Js (#592/#600) were converted to UF-104Js, which could be flown either
manned or remotely, and they were delivered to JASDF at the end of 1989. The remainning 12 were designated as
UF-104JA "pure drones" which could not be made a manned flight. All UF-104J/JA had high visibility paint scheme
with red tail wings and red wing-tip tanks.
Mitsubishi also knock-down assembled 20 F-104DJ conversion trainers in 1962-64 with the serials between 26-5001
and 46-5020. Every F-104 Sqdn had operated a few F-104DJ two-seaters each for conversion training and general
support duties.
After retired from JASDF service, a total of about 40 F-104J/DJs were returned to the US and most of them (30
F-104Js and 5 F-104J/DJ) were re-delivered to Taiwan for use by the R.O.C. Air Force.
日本のマニアの皆様にとっては良くご存知のF-104J/DJですので、日本語での解説文は割愛させていただきます。
上の写真は百里に着陸後ドラッグシュートを切離しフライトラインへ戻ろうとする206スコの４機のF-104Jです。
201st Squadron 第201飛行隊
Provisional F-104 Squadron was formed on 22MAR62, within 2nd Air Wing, at Chitose, and the unit received two F-104DJs
and a single F-104J on 17SEP62. The unit was re-organized and became 201st Sqdn on 01OCT62 as a conversion training
squadron. Became fighter interceptor squadron on 01DEC64 and the training role was transferred to the 204th Sqdn.
The unit was disbanded on 01OCT74.
.
F-104J
76-8689
@ Chitose
August 1973
F-104DJ
26-5001
@ Chitose
August 1973
(above two photos)
I visited Chitose AB in August 1973 for the first time and it was a cloudy day as shown above. It was my only opportunity
to visit the 201st Sqdn with F-104 and the unit was disbanded in the following year. The two-seater shown immediate above
was the first F-104DJ (#001) in the JASDF service. The tail marking of the 201st was a stylized "201" in red.
(上2枚）小生が始めて千歳基地を訪問したのは1973年8月の曇りの日でした。201飛行隊は翌年に解散しており、結局小生が
写した同隊のF-104の写真はこの時に写した曇り空の写真しかありません。小生が社会人となり初めての夏休みに行った千歳
での写真です。下段の"DJ"は一号機(#001)です。背景に写っている格納庫は外観上いかにも古い建物のようでした。
.
202nd Squadron 第202飛行隊
202nd Sqdn was formed on 31MAR64 at Nyutabaru, within 5th Air Wing, with F-104 as a fighter interceptor squadron.
The 202nd was re-equipped with F-15J in DEC82 and all of the F-104s had left the 202nd by the end of 1982.
The 202nd Sqdn is still in active service with F-15Js at Nyutabaru.
.
F-104J
36-8517
@ Nyutabaru
August 1976
F-104J
46-8649
@ Nyutabaru
August 1976
F-104J
76-8693
@ Komatsu
07JUN82
(above three photos)
The tail marking of the 202nd Sqdn was a stylized Roman numeral "V" (five) meaning the "5"th Air Wing. The sister squadron,
the 204th, within the same 5th Air Wing also used the same tail marking, but it was "blue" shadowed in yellow. (Please see
the photos at the bottom of this page) F-104J (#693) shown at the bottom carried a pair of J/ALQ-4 ECM pods under the wing.
Please note that the front end of the ECM pod was painted in black. Also, the front portion of the wing pylon was painted
in red.
(上3枚）上段の2枚は1976年8月に新田原の列線で写しました。新田原のマルヨンは２列の非常に長い列線に並んでおり、他の
自衛隊基地では撮れない『並び』を撮れて好きでした。最上段の517号機ではバルカン砲口がパネルで塞がれています。また
最下段に写っている693号機は主翼下にJ/ALQ-4 ECMポッドをぶら下げています。またそのパイロンの前端部は赤に塗られ
ていました。
.
F-104J
46-8570
@ Komatsu
06JUN82
F-104J
76-8684
@ Komatsu
06JUN82
(above two photos)
The above two photos were taken at Komatsu during the JASDF's annual fighter meet held in June 1982. Most of the
F-104Js/F-4EJs participated in the fighter meet were camouflaged in experimental/temporary fashion. The F-104s of
the 202nd were camouflaged in two tones of light blue/grey as shown above. The camouflage patterns were different
between the above two aircraft. Please note.......(1) a false canopy was painted in dark grey around the forward
portion of the nose gear doors, (2) a wing-tip tanks on the #570 was painted in dark blue,(3) white outline around
the Japanese national roundel was painted over in camouglage color. Four F-4EJs of the 304th Sqdn in blue camouflage
are seen in the background (on the runway) of the top photo.
(上2枚）82年戦競の時に小松で写しました。上段の写真の背景には滑走路上でエンジンテストを行う304飛行隊のF-4EJ
が写っています。202飛行隊のF-104には機首下面に欺瞞用キャノピーが黒っぽいグレーで描かれています。日の丸の
白縁は消されています。又、570号機の翼端タンクは濃い青で塗られています。
.
F-104DJ
36-5016
@ Nyutabaru
AUG76
F-104DJ
36-5016
@ Komatsu
08JUN82
F-104DJ
36-5018
@ Tsuiki
09NOV80
(above three photos)
The above three photos show F-104DJ conversion trainers of the 202nd Sqdn. The #018 shown immediate above
carried red fuselage bands and red wing-tip tanks. This high visibility scheme was applied for a limited period in order to
use this F-104DJ as a observer's aircraft during the JASDF's annual fighter meet, and some other F-104DJs of other
squadrons were also painted in the same fashion. The #016 shown on the top two photos was later re-used by the
R.O.C.Air Force of Taiwan.
(上3枚）202飛行隊の"DJ"です。上２枚の016号機は用途廃止後に米国へ返還され、改めて台湾空軍に再供与されました。
一番下の写真の018号機は1980年の築城航空祭で写しましたが、戦競用のオレンジ塗装を施しています。
.
203rd Squadron 第203飛行隊
203rd Sqdn was formed on 25JUN64 at Chitose, within 2nd Air Wing,
with F-104 as a fighter interceptor squadron. The 203rd was
re-equipped with F-15J in 24MAR82 and all of the F-104s had left
the 203rd by that time. The 203rd Sqdn is still in active service
with F-15Js at Chitose.
The 203rd Sqdn was (still is) homebased at Chitose in Hokkaido,
and the bear is a symbolical and representative wild animal in
Hokkaido. The shape on the left of this marking is a geometrically
shaped figure "2", while the right is clearly a figure "3". The
stomack of the teddy bear forms the "0", and read together the
three parts form the figure "203".
.
at left
F-104J
76-8682
@ Chitose
08AUG82
.
.
F-104J
(above left)76-8688
(above right)76-8689
(at left)76-8683
(All 3 photos)
@ Komatsu
08JUN82
(above four photos)
All four F-104Js above were camouglaged for the JASDF's 1982 Fighter Meet held at Komatsu in June. The top photo >
(#682) was taken at Chitose airshow in August 1982. Please note.....(1) a personal marking on the intake side was
a brown "Mongoose" holding a white "Cobra" (meaning the Aggressor Sqdn) in its mouth, and (2) wing-tip tanks were
roughly painted(sprayed) in blue. This #682 was later converted to UF-104JA full scale aerial target. The remaining
three photos at middle and at bottom were taken at Komatsu during the JASDF's annual Fighter Meet held in June 1982.
White outline around the Japanese national roundel was painted over with camouflage paint to minimize its visibility.
#688 (middle left) and #683 (bottom) did not carry the wing-tip tanks because they were photographed soon after
landing from the real air combat mission of the Fighter Meet.
(上4枚）1982戦競用の迷彩を施した203飛行隊機です。一番上の写真は同年の千歳航空祭で写しました。例の『コブラに
噛み付くマングース』のマークがインテーク横に描かれています。他３枚の機体と異なり、日の丸の白縁は682号機には
残されています。本機は一旦第一線を退いた後にUF-104JAに改修されました。残り３枚は82戦競期間中に小松で写しました
.
F-104J
46-8592
@ Yokota
02JUL83
F-104DJ
36-5014
@ Chitose
04AUG82
(Top) I took this photo at Yokota on the open day in 1983. This #592 was painted overall light grey for anti-
corrosion purpose since this machine was once operated by the 207th Squadron at Naha, Okinawa. The #592 was
one of the first two machines converted from F-104J to UF-104J in 1989.
(Bottom) The #014 shown on the bottom photo was taxing to the runway 36R at Chitose in 1982.
(上段）横田の1983年のオープンハウスに展示されていた203飛行隊のF-104Jですが、何故か全面グレーの那覇塗装をして
います。この暫く後に207飛行隊に移動したそうですが、前もってグレーに塗ったのでしょうか？？本機はUF-104Jへの最初
改修機となり、1989年12月に改修を終えて引き渡されました。
（下段）離陸のため千歳のランウェイ36Rに向かいタキシングする014号機です。
.
204th Squadron 第204飛行隊
The 204th Sqdn was formed on 01DEC64 at Nyutabaru, with 5th Air Wing, with F-104 as a conversion training squadron.
The 204th became a fighter interceptor squadron at the end of 1981 due to completion of the F-104 pilot training.
The unit was re-equipped with F-15J at their new home base of Hyakuri on 02MAR85. The 204th is still in active service
with F-15J at their current home base of Naha, Okinawa.
.
F-104J
76-8681
@ Nyutabaru
AUG76
F-104J
56-8659
@ Nyutabaru
AUG76
(above two photos)
Both photos were taken at Nyutabaru in August 1976. The #681 on the top photo was later converted to UF-104JA
full scale aerial target in the early 90's. The tail marking of the 204th was a Roman numeral "V"(five) meaning
the 5th Air Wing, which was the same as the marking of the 202nd, the sister squadron controlled under the same
5th Air Wing at Nyutabaru. The only difference was the color of the markings, the 204th carried a blue/yellow marking
as shown above, while the 202nd carried a yellow/red marking.
(上2枚）新田原の列線で1976年に写しました。上段の681号機は後にUF-104JAに改修されて硫黄島に配備されました。
.
F-104J
36-8516
@ Komatsu
06JUN82
(above photo)
This #516 was painted overall light grey including wings and wing-tip tanks. I took this photo at Komatsu during
the JASDF's annual Fighter Meet held at Komatsu in June 1982. This grey camouflage was a special paint scheme for
the annual Fighter Meet. Note; white outline around the Japanese national roundel was sprayed over with grey paint.
(上写真）1982年6月の戦競期間に小松で写した全面グレーのマルヨンです。モデラーの目でコメントしますが、同機や
その上の写真の659号機のラダーを見ると、沢山の筋状の油汚れ（？）が横方向に走っています。同様の汚れは他の
マルヨンにも時々見掛けられました。
.
F-104DJ
36-5018
@ Nyutabaru
AUG76
F-104DJ
26-5005
@ Nyutabaru
AUG76
(above two photos)
Both photos were taken at Nyutabaru in August 1976. The 204th Sqdn was a conversion training squadron at that time,
and so they were equipped with more two seaters than other F-104 interceptor squadrons. The tower of Nyutabaru
(they shortened it as "Nyuta") and their base-op building are seen in the background of the top photo.
(上2枚）新田原の列線で1976年に写しました。上段の写真の背景には新田原のタワー並びにベースオプの建物が写って
います。また下の写真の左奥背景には第六飛行隊のF-86Fが写っています。
.