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Thumbnail Filmstrip of Lockheed F-16B Fighting Falcon ROCAF "Flying Tigers" HA3832 Images
Lockheed F-16B Fighting Falcon Diecast Model
ROCAF 401th TFW, #6820, Taiwan, 2015
To commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the defeat of Japan in WWII two RoCAF F-16s and two IDF (Indigenous Defense Fighters) were painted with special markings to honor contributions made by the American Volunteer Group (AVG) better known as the "Flying Tigers" led by Maj. Gen. Claire Chennault. Lockheed F-16B 6820 and F-16A 6690 received a shark mouth, a caricature of a flying tiger and sixteen Japanese flags under the cockpit on the left side of the fuselage to represent the victories by AVG 1st Squadron pilot Robert Neale.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon was produced by General Dynamics who became Lockheed who then merged with Martin Marietta to become Lockheed Martin. The F-16 entered service in January 1979 as a multi-role jet fighter that evolved into an all-weather multi-role aircraft capable of sustaining 9-g turns. The F-16 is relatively inexpensive to purchase and maintain so the U.S. and 25 other countries added it to their inventory. The Fighting Falcon is referred to by its pilots as the “Viper” and will remain in USAF service until 2025.