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 Hellenic AF (Elliniki Polimiki Aeroporia Greek AF) took delivery of 20 Convair F-102A Delta Daggers in June 1969 as well as 2 (some sources say 6) TF-102A for training. The aircraft arrived painted in the original U.S. gray scheme with the HAF roundels. In 1973 the aircraft received their two-tone green, tan and gray schemes. These aircraft equipped the 342nd All Weather Squadron at Tanagra. These aircraft had a rather short service length in Greece because the F-102’s were replaced by the Mirage F-1CG in 1977.