F-104G arrival of Norwegian Starfighter at Bodo 1963

August 7, 1963 was in many ways a milestone in the Norwegian Airforces (KNL) post war history.
That day, the American ship USS Croatan entered the harbour in Bodø carrying 13 shining new F-104G on its deck.
This type represented a giant leap forward, compared with the existing planes in the inventory.
The F-104G fighters were all a part of the USAF Military Aid Programme, and were delivered free of charge.
Originally the Airforce intended to equip two squadrons with F-104, but it had come to their knowledge
that the second squadron could be exchanged into a substantially larger number of the cheaper F-5.
Such an arrangement suited KNL (RNoAF) much better, and their request was granted.
Thereby only 331 squadron was equipped with the new fighters.

copyright © Tom Swendsen