Hobby Master HA3101 | Convair F-102 Delta Dagger 317th FIS, 21st Composite Wing, Alaskan Air Command, Alaska 1968

General Background:

The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was designed to be an interceptor aircraft and act as the core of USAF air defenses in the late 1950s. The F-102 first appeared in service in 1956 with the task to intercept Soviet bombers. The official name for the F-102 was “Delta Dagger” but the most common term used was “Deuce”. There was 889 F-102As manufactured when production ended in September 1958. The Deuce served in Vietnam on fighter patrols and bomber escort. 15 F-102s were lost while in Vietnam.

The Aircraft:

The 317th Fighter Squadron was originally activated on July 1, 1942 as part of the “Checker Tails” 325th FG. The 317th was the second squadron to transition to the F-102 beginning in November 1956. In August 1957 the 317th was reassigned to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. Their role was to protect the southern portion of Alaska and the northwest approaches to the United States from invading Soviet bombers. Due to budget restraints the 317th Fighter Interceptor Squadron was in activated in December 1969.