The first two-seat Starfighter model, the F-104B was ahead of its time in not receiving a TF designation, suggesting it was fully combat-capable. However, the F-104A's 20-mm cannon was omitted and internal fuel reduced. There were also quite a few other changes, and the definitive, FY 1957 machines had a 25 percent larger tailfin and rudder than the F-104A.

Actually US Navy machine 141309, this Warning Star is preserved in the museum at McClellan representing 53-0552, an aircraft once based here.

The F-111 was always a bomber, and in the end a 'strategic' variant was produced as the FB-111. This is the first FB-111 pre-production aircraft, first flown on 13 July 1968. According to some sources it ultimately became an F-111G.

The Skyraider belatedly entered US Air Force service in 1964 for the war in Vietnam. This A-1E is painted as an aircraft of the 1st Special Operations Squadron, although in reality this airframe did not leave the US Navy.

Painted as an aircraft of the 431st FIS 'Red Devils', based at Zaragoza in Spain in the early 1960s. The airframe is actually 56-1140.

This Shooting Star was assigned to the 36th Fighter Group at Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany, in 1949, and it is painted as an aircraft of the Group's 23rd FS.

This F-106 served with the 5th Fighter Intercepter Squadron at Minot AFB, North Dakota, for a full 25 years, from 1960 to 1985. It survived a mid-air collision as well as conversion to QF-106 drone, and is now preserved.

Although Sacramento is 100 miles from the ocean, McClellan gained a US Coast Guard station in 1978 as SFO became too busy. An active HC-130 is framed here with the preserved HU-16 and HU-25 at the local museum. The last active HU-25, not this one, was retired at Corpus Christi, Texas on 23 September 2014, a week before I took this picture.

A beautiful Skymaster in the Aerospace Museum of California, wearing her true USAF serial although she spent her entire military career in the US Navy as 50874. She then became N27MA in 1976.