Lockheed F-104 Starfighter

Scott Youmans · December 05, 2011, 10:06:29 PM

Jeff, I'm with Bill on this one. The F-104 is an all time favorite. I grew up about four and a half miles almost in a straight line north of the airport. Although I was around (I turned three!) in 1958 I can't say I remember the Starfighters that were based there later. I do remember an air show at the Guard though. The guy who played Steve Canyon was there. It got real windy later that day and we left early because of the dust. It wasn't a storm though just wind.

Later the Guard C-97s and we saw those a lot on our after dinner drives to Sky Harbor. I have an 8mm film of me on my third birthday taken on the observation deck of terminal 1. Of course then it was the only terminal. As I recall there was a TWA Constellation and a Frontier DC-3 on the ramp.

These photos are a real treasure. Thanks for posting them.

Jeff D. Welker · December 05, 2011, 10:57:18 PM

Holy Smokes Scott - I was also three in 1958. In fact, I have a photo that dad took of me with Steve Canyon at that very air show (benefit of being the son of the guy in charge of photography for the squadron). I'm looking for that negative as we speak and hope to post something in the near future.

I was raised on Brown Road at what is now Harris in east Mesa. In 1958 we lived 2 miles east of Mesa's city limits in the County. I've heard my share of sonic booms as fighter jockeys departed Sky Harbor in haste - ah for the good 'ol days.

BTW, if we were both 3 in 1958, why don't you look as old and burnt-out as I do

Joe Copalman · December 06, 2011, 10:48:53 AM

Been waiting to see these since you first mentioned them a long while back. So glad you got these digitized and up on the forum. Such good stuff.

jslugman · December 06, 2011, 03:58:09 PM

Your Dad gets the "awesome old man" award for sure! He was a hoot to meet at Coolidge and I can't wait to see more of his world through that Linhof.

Jeff D. Welker · December 06, 2011, 04:04:52 PM

Quote from: jslugman on December 06, 2011, 03:58:09 PM
Your Dad gets the "awesome old man" award for sure! He was a hoot to meet at Coolidge and I can't wait to see more of his world through that Linhof.

Quote from: Joe Copalman on December 06, 2011, 10:48:53 AM
Been waiting to see these since you first mentioned them a long while back. So glad you got these digitized and up on the forum. Such good stuff.

I thought you guys would get a kick out of these images. Once I get a less expensive scanning solution in place for the larger (4x5) negs, there will be much more to come

I like these 104 shots so much that I bit the bullet and paid TCR to drum scan them. Those 4 negs and a single color negative of an L-19 (will be posting that soon) cost $117.00 to scan

Jeff D. Welker · December 08, 2011, 05:26:44 AM

197th Fighter Squadron - The Copperheads - circa 1959

Joe Copalman · December 08, 2011, 09:13:04 AM

Hubba-hubba.

Bubak · December 09, 2011, 04:54:28 AM

...very nice!

Chetan · December 12, 2011, 06:55:24 PM

Jeff, thanks a lot for posting these gems here. Kudos to your 'old man'.

Jeff D. Welker · December 12, 2011, 07:24:36 PM

Thanks everyone for the kind comments. There will be more to come of the 104's, F-86's, etc after the holidays. I've got literally hundreds of negs to scan - it will be fun.

Think about it - those 104's launching out of Sky Harbor to the east and going super sonic! Well, it used to happen from time to time and I can remember the booms at our house at Brown and Harris. What a hoot!

Joe Copalman · December 12, 2011, 07:56:22 PM

Looking forward to them, Jeff.

You said you've never heard an F-104. I have a short video of N104 doing an engine run on page 1 of this thread: http://azaerophoto.com/forum/index.php?topic=142.msg6833#msg6833

Jeff D. Welker · December 12, 2011, 09:02:18 PM

Quote from: Joe Copalman on December 12, 2011, 07:56:22 PM
Looking forward to them, Jeff.

You said you've never heard an F-104. I have a short video of N104 doing an engine run on page 1 of this thread: http://azaerophoto.com/forum/index.php?topic=142.msg6833#msg6833

Thanks so much Joe. I listened to that 6 times and it helped me remember the sound I was hearing as a little guy on the base. Dad always has said the 104 has one of the most unusual engine sounds of any jet in the USAF inventory. It has been 50 years since I've heard that sound - many thanks.

wingsnstuff · December 14, 2011, 02:55:07 PM

Jeff, These shots are amazing. What did you and your father do to keep the negatives in such pristine condition. February 1959 was my first into to Sky Harbor and there wasn't much there other than the Guard and a single terminal. I was 11 at the time. They still had rows of F-86s and F-100s at Luke and I don't remember seeing any F-104s there until later.

News:

Lockheed F-104 Starfighter

Bubak