Third member of Lockheed's F-80 family, the F-94 Starfire was evolved to satisfy a requirement for a two-seat all-weather radar-equipped fighter. It was evolved from the two-seat T-33 trainer and originally used many of the main components and the production facilities of its predecessor. The prototypes were converted T-33, each with a new 26.69kN Allison J33-A-33 turbojet, radar equipment installed in the fuselage nose and suitably equipped accommodation for the radar operator in the rear cockpit. Armament of four 12.7mm guns was retained in the forward fuselage.
Deliveries of production F-94A began in June 1950. These incorporated the wings, landing gear and centre fuselage of the T-33, with a new nose and rear fuselage (former to house the radar and the latter for the afterburner installation). All hydraulic, electric and control systems were similar to those of the F-80C. The F-94A were followed in 1951 by F-94B which differed in having square wingtips with centrally mounted Fletcher tip-tanks of larger capacity and improved shape, raised to the wing centre-line, and a revised hydraulic system. Final version was the F-94C with a thinner wing, longer nose, swept horizontal tail surfaces, larger vertical surfaces, a more powerful engine, and the radome centred in the fuselage nose and surrounded by a ring of 24 air-to-air rockets housed in firing tubes, faired by a retractable shield. Two pods (one mounted on each wing) could together accommodate 24 more rockets. A total of 544kg of electronic equipment included automatic locating, tracking and firing instruments, Westinghouse autopilot, Sperry Zero-Reader, ILS, etc. A total of 854 production Starfires were built. The USAF's first turbojet-powered all-weather interceptor, the type served primarily with Air Defense Command for national defence.
The 48th FIS was my 1st Squadren & the F-94C my first fighter aircraft. Pilot Training Class 55S then Moody AFB where I teamed with Dave Choate as my RO. Flew on Acro team with my Flight Commander Tom Perfilli. Got "grouned for a month (twice) for buzzing. Transitioned into F-102. Was IP for Glenn, Carpenter. Sheppard and Grissium when they flew with 48th. Hell of a lot of fun and gained a lot of experience. Dave Choate went on to be #1 in his pilot training class.
The aircraft pictured at the top of the specifications is a F-94B not a F-94C. I flew the F-94B in the 64th FIS in Alaska, and the F-94C in the 46th FIS in Dover, Delaware. I think they both were very good aircrafts for the job they were doing.
I flew the back seat of the F-94C at Langley AFB, the 48th FIS in l955-56. Great A /P I trained in class 52-31 at Waco, Tx. Anyone involved at that, E-mail me. It was agreat aircraft.
I flew the F-94C at Oxnard AFB in 1954. It was the 354th FIS. Subsequently flew F-86D's in Japan with the 39FIS. One 94C threw two buckets from the turbine wheel when 70 miles out over the Pacific and was flown back to Oxnard. The only comment from the pilot was that it was running rough. Some engine.
I was commissioned as an RO toward the end of the Korean War and was immediately sent to Japan to transition into F94Bs in the 339th FIS. First jet flight was from Misawa. After my tour, I went to the 58th FIS at Otis where we flew in F-94Cs and then F-89D's. When the Mass. ANG came in for Summer Camp and were short of RO"s, I filled in in F-94A's. All good experiences. When I logged on to this site, I was surprised to see comments from Dick Leith and Tom Torcha. I knew Dick from the 339th and shared a house with Tom while in the 58th.
. My squadron the 58th was the best all weather squadron in the USAF.I flew the c model at Otis in 1953-55. It was the best performing all weather fighter in the USAF at the time. I ferried more than 25 starfires to various squadrons in the EADF. I have 1000 hours in that bird, it was great.
Oh man...........Do I have any comments??......... I am full to the brim.........
After graduating in Class 53-D, I completed training in the '94 at Moody AFB in Valdosta Ga.....Then went to Otis AFB to stand guard.......... I loved the '94 so a "fighter" through and through...........and was broken hearted when we were given the twin engine, underpowered "bomber" type F-89....... The '94 served it's time and did it's mission when it was needed.....I was happy to be a part of that......
After completing AF Instrument School @ Moody AFB, Valdosta, GA in the Spring of 1954 I was assigned to the F-94C transition program (At the time, Moody also had the F-89 transition program). Being a brand new young 2nd Lt. pilot who just recently received his Wings (54-India), I really was ecstatic about flying the F-94C--afterburner; drag chute!! Doesn't get any better than that!! After completion of F-94C training I was assigned to the 66thFIS at Elmendorf AFB, AK which had the F-89D--so back to school all over again. Rotated from Elmendorf to the 532nd FDS at Seymour Johnson AFB NC which had the North American F-86H Sabre--"The Last of the Sport Models"!!
I was in 51-F and went through the All Weather school at Tindall AFB where I flew T-33, F-80, F-94A&B. From there to the 317th FIS McCord AFB then from there to the 449th FIS Fairbanks, Alaska. All versions of the old F-80 were fun to fly and a stsble platform for weather flying
Dec 1951 I was assigned to Dover AFB,Del. and worked on the F-94B's. Spring of '53 I was transfered to the 332nd in New Castle. May 1956 ,now in the 97th, I was sent to Korea. As a crew chief of 51-5676 my pilot was Lt Elhai and the RO was Lt Koffman. Sgt Segetti was the hanger chief,Sgt Grant was the eng shop chief, Sgt wilson and Sgt Irving Reagnor were flt chiefs, Sgt Andrews was an inspector. Sgt Pryor was my line chief at Dover, Tainan,Taiwan, and at Nellis. I am now a 100% disabled vet, the results of almost being crushed to death in '53 while working on my 94C in New Castle.
I was assigned to the engine shop in late 1957 and left in mid 1958 to Otis. I remember two F94 "THINGS". one was a Ro ejected and the pilot come home with the rear section of the canopy missing, ice cicles hanging from every protrusion. Secone was my room mate fired off the canopy while a 94 was undergoing schduled maint in the hanger. One of the 94's is in the USAF museum at WritePat along side of an F89J I worked on in the 449th at Ladd AFB Alaska.
I trained in the F94C at Moody in late 1953. Next assignment was Keflavik Iceland, 82nd FIS which had F-94B's. The side view shown above this list of postings is actually an F-94B, not an F-94C. The photo at the very top is an F-94C, and the 3 view drawing is also correct. I really enjoyed flying the F-94C. The afterburner was "awesome". The autopilot was so bad we weren't allowed to use it. We could go supersonic in a dive from 40,000ft with the afterburner going and the elevator boost cranked up to 11:1 ratio. Recover had to start at 20,000. My room-mate, Don Watkins, was killed on a low level formation flight. Sad.
I flew the C model 94 with the 391th FIS at Bunker Hill from Jan 57 until we "upgraded" to the F-89J. Then came the (wheeee!) F-106. Loved the 94 and the six even more. Damn, that Nothrust machine was ugly!
I first arrived at New Castle De. 22 July 1953, assigned to the 332nd FIS With the F-94C.The 332nd became the 97th FIS in 1955 and the base closed down 1 Jan 1958. The 94 that crashed in Northen Delaware crashed near Newark and killed both the Pilot and RO assigned to the 97th.
A native Delawarean, my grandparents told me stories of a military fighter crashing in the hills behind their home in rural Northern Delaware in 1958 (we think). My brother and I used to hike out to the wreck site and we've been fascinated with military aviation ever since. We have reason to think it was an F-94 but no one at DAFB has any records of it being one of theirs. Does anyone have any information on this? I'm a college student at the University of Delaware and I'm working on a writing project on the tragic event.
My husband, Terriel Eugene (Gene) Wessinger, trained at Moody AFB beginning in Oct., 1954. He was assigned to the 96th Squadron in New Castle AFB in April, 1955. While on a routine flight on February 7, 1956 he had fire warning lights in the cockpit and flames were shooting out from under the plane. He was alone on this flight and was advised by his wingman to eject. He parachuted safely into the woods near Vineland, NJ. Due to back injuries, he returned to civilian life several months later. We still have his ejection seat in the basement.
I have been collecting "old" USAF Fighter Interceptor Squadron cloth patches, for over ten years.
Does anyone have an extra old new or used Fighter Interceptor Squadron cloth patch ? Of course, I already have some squadrons in my collection. I have some nice new F-94, F-86D, and or F-89 books, I would be happy to send you, for a cloth patch. I would send the books to your address before you send any patch. In fact, I sent two books to one of the pilots, who commented in this section. The patches are difficult to locate, after all these years. Please let me know, at your leisure. Thanks for your interest. Check Six.
After Moody AFB F-94C school in 1954 I was assigned to the 96FIS at New Castle AFB, Wilmington,DE, then the F-89D in the 69FIS at Goose AFB Newfoundland.Returned to New Castle in the 97FIS in 1959. We had a F-94C rigged with two external fuel tanks. I often flew this bird to depots to pickup spare parts and tie them down in the back RO seat. This F-94C really had long legs, but was tricky, with the spare tanks. Maintained F-94C currency but moved to McGuire at the New York Air Defense Sector during 1957-1961, and then to the 26thAD at Syracuse in 1961.
