F-102A “Delta Dagger”

For an aircraft that was only to be an “interim” interceptor, the Deuce served a long and successful life and helped to deter the Soviets or any other enemy from sending bombers against the United States.   

The biggest drawback to the F-102 was its lack of speed. It was a supersonic aircraft, but only by a small margin. With external tanks attached, it was limited to Mach .95. Once the faster F-101Bs and F-106s became available, its days were numbered. Since it was a great advantage to get to the bombers as fast as possible, or catch them, if necessary, speed was essential, and the relatively slow Deuce had to make way for the faster interceptors.  

It was built in larger numbers than the F-101B or F-106 because of delays in getting the “ultimate” F-106 into service, the minimal conventional armament carried by the F-101B and the lack of funds to replace the F-102 on a one-for-one basis with the F-106. In the years the F-102s served in Vietnam, they most often stood alert for the air defense mission but also flew some escort missions for B-52s.  

The Museum’s F-102 was manufactured by Convair in San Diego, California, and delivered to the USAF on August 23, 1956.