[joe.fralick]

The Germans used them as operational fighters, but I don't know if we ever had an operational squadron of them. It burned a lot of fuel and couldn't carry much ordnance, is what I heard.

Amazing performance, though.

[50mm]

...but I don't know if we ever had an operational squadron of them.

Not only did the USAF have squadrons, the Starfighter flew in VietNam.

[JRios1968]

There were quite a few operational squadrons of the Winged Rocket. As a child I remember watching the PR Air National Guard F-104s of the 198th Fighter Squadron (Bucaneros) flying around, and I even got to sit in the cockpits at Muniz Air National Guard Base in San Juan.

Google Earth needed to see the only F-104 left at Muniz ANGB, San Juan

[SES1066]

Amazing performance, though.

Yes it was operational and in active duty from 1958 to 1967 and then with the AF National Guard to 1975. Designed by the legendary Kelly Johnson of P-38 through U-2 and SR-71 fame, it was tasked as an interceptor against incoming Soviet Bombers. Thus it wasn't designed for long ranges and heavy weapon loads, 'get up and scoot' was its purpose.

If you saw the movie "The Right Stuff", you saw the dramatization of Chuck Yeager flying the NF-104 with an added rocket motor that could and did reach 120,000 feet. His flight in the movie ended badly but these flights continued as training until 1971.

[SkyDancer]

Understood it was the first jet to break the sound barrier going straight up ....

[ffusco]

Italy used them as well.