916 Starfighter

F-104A 157 FIS ANG loaded on C-124 to be transported to Moron AB, Spain on November 10, 1961 during the Berlin Wall Crisis

The F-104A/B deployed to Europe during the Berlin Wall Crisis in 1961

On August 30, 1961, President Kennedy ordered the National Guardsmen and Reservists to active duty. He mobilized 28 Air National Guard (ANG) squadrons.
Eleven of these units were deployed to Europe to reinforce active forces already assigned to USAFE. This included three squadrons of early F-104 model aircraft,
one from the Arizona ANG, one from Tennessee ANG and one from South Carolina ANG.
These three ANG squadrons received their F-104A and B aircraft between February and July of 1960 from the Air Defense Command
and were all under the control of 140th ANG Wing, which were based at the following ANG bases in the US:

Arizona ANG 197th FIS Skyharbor Airport, Phoenix, Arizona
South Carolina ANG 157th FIS McEntire ANGB, Eastover, South Carolina
Tennessee ANG 151st FIS McGhee-Tyson ANGB, Knoxville, Tennessee

The three F-104 ANG squadrons were officially mobilized on October 1, 1961. Since the F-104 A and B models lacked the range to fly non-stop to Europe and had no in-flight refueling capability,
they were airlifted to Europe in November 1961 by Douglas C-124 transport aircraft under "Operation Brass Ring".
If required, their mission was to conduct offensive air superiority operations to defend West Berlin.

After arriving in Europe, these squadrons were assigned to USAFE.
The Arizona ANG 197th Fighter interceptor Squadron (FIS) and Tennessee ANG 151 FIS were assigned to Ramstein Air Base in West Germany under the 86th Air Division of the 17th Air Force.
The South Carolina ANG 157 FIS was assigned to Moron AB, Spain under the 65th Air Division.

In addition to the F-104A's, each ANG squadron also sent 2 F-104B's along for proficiency training while stationed in Europe.
Unfortunately, a few F-104A and F-104B crashed and were written off during their deployment in Europe. The tension ended in the summer of 1962.
These three F-104 squadrons were officially demobilized on August 15, 1962. Shortly after redeployment back to its home base, the Arizona ANG, 197th FIS had its mission changed.
Their F-104A&B aircraft were transferred to the other two ANG F-104 equipped squadrons.
The 197th FIS was redesignated the 161st Air Refueling Group and equipped with KC-97 Stratotanker aircraft.