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.

When the 512th FIS was transferred from Soesterberg the Netherlands to England in
September 1955 it left behind its personnel and equipment. This meant the creation of a new
squadron, the 32nd Fighter Day Squadron that was considered a detachment of the 36th FW at
Bitburg, West Germany. In 1956 the 32nd replaced their F-86 Sabres with North American F-
100 Super Sabres. On July 18, 1958 the unit was re-designated 32nd TFS. In 1959 the 32nd
received the signature “Royal” and the Dutch Royal Family (the House of Orange) crown and
wreath were added to their emblem as long as the squadron remained in the Netherlands. This
addition to the 32nd emblem meant they were the only USAF unit whose emblem included the
royal crest of another nation. In January 1959 with the arrival of 18 new F-102A Delta Dagger
the 32nd was once again re-designated, this time as an FIS. On July 1, 1960 the 32nd FIS was
assigned to the USAFE 86th Air Division at Ramstein Air Base in West Germany. The 32nd
divided its aircraft in 3 flights, red, white and blue. The aircraft markings varied over the years
from red-white-blue vertical tail, red-white-blue flaps also they wore a green/brown camouflage
scheme on the tail. The 32nd flew the Delta Dagger from 1959 to 1969 when they transitioned
to the F4E Phantom II.

Specifications Convair (F-102A) Delta Dagger “Deuce”
Role - Supersonic All-Weather, delta wing interceptor
Crew – 1 pilot
Number Produced – 889
Dimensions
Length – 68 ft 4 in   (20.83 m)
Wingspan – 38 ft 1 in   (11.61 m)
Height – 21 ft 2 in   (6.45 m)

Weight
Empty – 19,350 lb   8,777 kg)
Loaded – 24,500 lb   (11,100 kg)
Maximum Takeoff – 31,500 lb   (14,300 kg)

Powerplant – 1 x Pratt & Whitney J57-P-25 afterburning turbojet
Thrust
Dry – 11,700 lbf   (8,777 kg)
With Afterburner – 17,200 lbf   (76.5 kN)
Fuel
Internal – 1.085 US gal   (4,107 l)
External – 2 x 215 US gal   (815 l) drop tanks

Performance
Maximum Speed – Mach 1.25 (825 mph, 1,304 km/h) @ 40,000 ft   (12,190 m)
Service Ceiling – 53,400 ft   (16,300 m)
ROC – 13,000 ft/min   (66 m/s)
Range – 1,350 nm   (2,175 km)

Armament
Rockets – 24 x 2.75 in   (70 mm) FFAR (Folding Fin Aerial Rocket) unguided rockets in missile
bay doors
Missiles
AIM-4 Falcon air-to-air
AIM-26 Falcon with conventional or nuclear warhead
Missiles were contained in 3 bays inside the aircraft belly

Avionics – MG-10 fire control system designed by Hughes Aircraft Company

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