Squadron type transitions- big leaps?

[sandiego89]

I was looking up some history on the F-104, and noted Pakistan Air Force #9 Squadron transitioning from the Hawker Fury to the F-104 in 1960. Quite a transition! At least NATO air arms went from early jets to the F-104.

Also note quite a few US Air National Guard Squadrons making significant transitions over the years such as fighter to transport, and vice versa, such as the 136th transitioning from the F-16 to the KC-135. Others in the C-5 and A-10 squadrons made some significant shifts in type.

Any other big leaps or transitions in mission, performance, aircraft size, etc. worth noting?

[megan]

Hawker Tempest 1947—1956
Hawker Sea Fury 1950—1956
Supermarine Attacker 1951—1958
Lockheed T-33 1955—1993
North American F-86 Sabre 1955—1980
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI 1960
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter 1961—1972

They had plenty of jet experience prior to getting the 104.

[sandiego89]

Megan, understood thank you- I was aware of the early Pakistani jets, I should have made that connection better. I was trying to highlight the significant change of aircraft type in a squadron. Perhaps it was more of keeping the squadron heritage alive, but pilots likley came from other jet squadrons. I do wonder if any went from the Sea Fury to the F-104 after transition training? I realize that many significant transititions, squadron re-christionings, rebrandings etc. also include significant swap outs of personel.

[ICM]

On 7 May 1945, with the war in Europe at an end, all the squadrons of 4 Group, Bomber Command, were transferred to Transport Command - the Far East called. Is that significant enough?

(And despite the war against Japan ending in August, the Squadrons still flew east with their new Dakotas, for repatriation duty rather than reinforcement.)

[megan]

I do wonder if any went from the Sea Fury to the F-104 after transition training

The Fury was withdrawn from service five years prior to the introduction of the 104, so no.

[ICT_SLB]

Kansas Air National Guard went from the F-16 to the B-1B. The Lawn Dart to the Bone is a pretty large change for both the pilots & even more for the ground crews. They then split jobs and went on to both Air Refueling with the KC-135 (another big change) and an "Intelligence mission".

[megan]

Looking further it seems there is a lot of conflicting information out there re the OP's question. A piece found

The Fury was used to replace the Hawker Tempest in the Pakistan Air Force, serving with Nos.5 and 9 Squadrons from 1950 and No.14 Squadron from 1951. Nos.5 and 9 Squadons were also the first to replace their aircraft, receiving North American F-86 Sabres in 1955. No.14 Squadron, which was based on the northwest frontier, retained its Furies until 1960, when it converted to the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter.

I would suggest that any Fury pilot would have cut his jet teeth on a lesser vehicle than the 104. But then again, who knows, the PAF are rather silent on their history, other than in broad brush terms.

[treadigraph]

As I recall, the NY ANG at Stewart converted from O-2s to C-5s several decades ago - quite a trip up the inventory laddder! Though I suppose at least some of the crews flew airliners for a day job.