Hobby Master 1/72 HA3113 F-102 Delta Dagger 61210, 526th FIS, Ramstein AB, Germany 1963

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.

From 1950 until August 1954 the 526th TIS was known as the 526th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. In 1954, along with the re-designation the 526th FIS mission also changed to air defense of central Europe flying the all-weather, rocket carrying F-86D Sabres. In 1960 the 526th FIS was reassigned to the 86th Air Division at Ramstein AB and equipped with the F-102 which they flew until 1968. F-102 was originally delivered to the 27th FIS in 1962 and was converted to a drone and shot down in 1979.