Steve Ferguson (American, B. 1946) "Lockheed F-104 Starfighter Airplane" Signed lower right. Original Mixed Media painting on Cold Press Illustration Board. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. This painting is original painting which was published on the Fleetwood Commemorative Cover with the U.S. 29c Flag stamp issued March 4, 1992. The Soviet Union's formidable MiG-15 debuted during the Korean conflict, and it soon became apparent that the U.S. Air Force needed a lighter, simpler combat aircraft capable of surpassing the maneuverable MiG and achieving a maximum speed of Mach 2 -- twice the speed of sound. The Air Force selected Lockheed's proposal for a lightweight fighter interceptor, and the aircraft entered service in 1958. Nicknamed "the missile with a man in it," the F-104 set world records for both speed and altitude. The early "A" and "B" models were withdrawn from front line service in 1960, but the "C" model -- a streamlined fighter bomber -remained in use during the early years of the Vietnam war. Some aircraft from the Thailand-based 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron flew missions in Vietnam until relegated to second line duty by 1966. Image Size: 16.5 x 14 in. Overall Size: 20 x 15 in. Unframed. (B13493)