F-104A "FG-791" 56-0791 of the 83rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron for Operation "Jonah Able" at Tao Yuan AB, Taiwan during the Quemoy Crisis

The Starfighter were all from the 83rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS) at Hamilton AFB in California. They were airlifted by C-124 "Globemaster" transport aircraft to Tao Yuan AB, Taiwan
from Hamilton AFB in September 1958. The first cargo aircraft of the movement departed Hamilton AFB on September 8, 1958, less than 48 hours after the official notification.
The first F-104A arrived in Taiwan on September 11, 1958. Within thirty hours, at 16.00 hours on September 12, 1958, the first F-104 flown by the Squadron Commander, was airborne
to defend the Republic of China. Commander of the 83rd FIS was LtCol John W. Bennett and the Operations Officer was Major Carl H. Leo. In December 1958, while these 12 F-104As were still
at Tao Yuan AB near Taipei in Taiwan, the control of these 12 F-104A was transferred to the 337th FIS from Westover AFB, Massachusetts, commanded by LtCol James Jabarra.
The shelling of Quemoy was reduced on September 13, 1958 and was suspended on October 6, 1958. The Nike Hercules surface-to-air missile systems were turned over to Taiwan Armed
Forces in 1959 but the 12 F-104As were all transferred back to McClellan AFB in Sacramento, California for depot maintenance work in March 1959.
They were later transferred to other units within the Air Defense Command.

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