The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
was one of the fi rst USAF
combat aircraft to be deployed
to Vietnam, yet its impressive
war record is often overlooked.
Combat Aircraft charts the
type’s service in South-east
Asia, including the use of air-
to-air missiles in the ground
attack role!REPORT Warren E. Thompson
squadrons [the 64th and 509th Fighter
Interceptor Squadrons, FIS] based at
Clark Air Base quietly and e ectively
carried out a unique combat mission
that was vital to the success of the air
war. They provided an air defense shield
around the entire battle area by keeping
ights deployed around the circle from
southern Tainan, Clark, Da Nang, Biên
Hòa, Udorn and Bangkok, while giving
excellent protection to the B-52 ‘Arc
Light’ missions. We will never know what
attacks on our forces and bases were
deterred by their presence.’
Convair’s F-102 Delta Dagger became
embroiled in the Vietnam War following
reports of low- ying, unidenti ed
aircraft over the central highland region
on the night of March 19-20, 1962.
Gravely concerned over the threat the
unknown aircraft posed, South Vietnam’s
President Ngô Đình Diệm asked the US
government for help, and an order was
immediately sent to get four F-102s
from the 509th FIS at Clark Air Base over
to Tan Son Nhut. The Delta Daggers took
up station, but all traces of enemy air
activity ceased. After ying 21 sorties,the unit was stood down. Thus began
the long saga of the F-102’s presence in
South-east Asia, which lasted close to
eight years.Gulf of Tonkin
Following the attacks on US warships
in the Gulf of Tonkin in August 1964,
President Lyndon B. Johnson ordered the
F-102 to be brought in. The type would
have permanent bases in Bangkok, Tan
Son Nhut and Da Nang, Vietnam, and the
509th had the distinction of being the
rst full squadron to deploy to Vietnam.
A few days later, the 405th Tactical
Fighter Wing (TFW), the 509th’s parent,
sent its two Martin B-57 squadrons to
South-east Asia.
The 509th had a detachment in
Bangkok prior to August 1964. It had
participated in Operation ‘Belltone’,
providing interception and air defense
training to the Royal Thai Air Force and
its North American F-86 Sabre pilots. But
with the position in Vietnam worsening,
the training of Thai forces became a
secondary project and the 509th went
on full alert for war.I
N A LETTER dated October 6,
1990, Lt Gen (ret) Francis
C. Gideon, US Air Force,
commanding general
of the 13th Air Force
during the Vietnam
War, said, ‘The exploits of the
attack ghter squadrons in
the war in South-east Asia
are well-documented, and
they are heroic. The F-10258 August 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net
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