Subject: Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter (4 of 11)

From: [email-masked] (joseph.f.baugher)
Date: 28 Jul 94 03:48:53 GMT

The following is an admittedly incomplete account of the nations 
which used the F-5A/F-5B/RF-5A Freedom Fighter.  This particular 
article will cover only those nations which used Freedom Fighters 
built in the USA by Northrop.  Nations which used Freedom Fighters 
built under license elsewhere will be covered in later installments.  

I would appreciate hearing from anyone whose has further information 
on Freedom Fighter usage, as my sources are rather sketchy and are 
quite incomplete.  There are some nations about which I have 
essentially no information at all.  

IRAN:  

The first air force to receive F-5s was the Imperial Iranian Air 
Force, which put into service its initial squadron of 13 aircraft on 
February 1, 1965.  On that date, 11 F-5As and 2 F-5Bs arrived at the 
1st Fighter Air Base at Mehrabad to replace the F-84 Thunderjet in the 
strike role.  The planes were declared operational in June of 1965.  

Subsequently, the government of Iran purchased a total of 104 F-5As 
and 23 F-5Bs, all of which were later transferred to Greece, Jordan, 
and Vietnam.  By the time of the Iran-Iraq War of 1980-87, no F-5A/Bs 
still remained in Iran.  

SOUTH KOREA:  

The Republic of Korea was one of the largest operators of the F-5A, 
receiving 88 F-5As, 30 F-5Bs, and 8 RF-5As.  The first F-5s arrived in 
Korea in early April of 1965.  16 F-5As and four F-5Bs re-equipped the 
105th Fighter Squadron of the 10th Fighter Wing based at Suwon, which 
achieved operational status on September 1.  Another 14 F-5As were 
delivered to the 102nd FS, also based at Suwon.  

The RF-5As equipped a single squadron, and this unit continued to fly 
the RF-5A some time after the F-5A/F-5B had been replaced by the 
F-5E/F.  

GREECE:  

The Elliniki Aeroporia (Hellenic Air Force) was the first European 
nation to receive the Freedom Fighter, with the delivery of 18 
aircraft in June of 1965 to the 341st Fighter Squadron (Mira) at Nea 
Ankhialos.  In 1966, 343 Mira (113 Wing) at Thessaloniki-Mikri 
re-equipped with Freedom Fighters.  However, deteriorating relations 
between Greece and the United States resulted in an arms embargo being 
imposed on Greece, at which time a third squadron (349 Mira) had been 
partially equipped with Freedom Fighters.  Deliveries resumed in late 
1968, and Mira 349 was finally fully re-equipped with Freedom 
Fighters.  

A total of 114 F-5As (including four ex-Iranian machines), 34 RF-5As, 
and 20 F-5Bs were supplied to Greece.  

The RF-5As reconnaissance versions were operated exclusively by 349 
Mira, but none of them had their cameras fitted and all were cannon 
armed.  With the arrival of the RF-4E in the late 1970s, some of the 
initial RF-5As were converted to straight F-5A configuration.  Others 
were later received from Jordan.  

Training was initially provided by 10 new-build F-5Bs supplied under 
MAP.  These were later supplemented by six F-5Bs delivered from 
Jordan.  

In the late 1970s, Freedom Fighters formerly serving with the Imperial 
Iranian Air Force were delivered to Greece to supplement the original 
order.  F-5A/B aircraft were delivered from Jordan to Greece in two 
batches in 1983 and 1989.  In 1991, ten Canadair NF-5As and two NF-5Bs 
formerly with the Royal Netherlands Air Force were delivered to the 
Royal Hellenic Air force to supplement the survivors from the original 
MDAP deliveries.  

Three squadrons of F-5s still serve in Greece, including one of 
RF-5As.  They serve with 341 Mira of 110 Pterix at Larissa in the 
fighter-interceptor role, with 113 Pterix of 343 Mira at Thessaloniki 
in the ground attack role, and RF-5As serve with 113 Pterix of 349 
Mira at Thessaloniki in the tactical reconnaissance role.  

PHILIPPINES:  

In 1966, the Philippine Air Force received 19 F-5As and three F-5Bs 
for use by the 6th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Basa Air Base.  The 
first aircraft arrived on October 25 to replace the F-86 Sabre in the 
air defense role.  The aircraft all retained their USAF serial 
numbers, which were 64-13310/113313, 64-13320/13324, 65-10499/10507, 
66-9148/9150, 64-13379/13380, and 65-10589.  In the mid-1970s, these 
aircraft were supplemented by a delivery of a batch of ex-US Navy F-8 
Crusaders, but these F-8s had to be retired in 1986 due to corrosion, 
unserviceability and lack of spare parts, leaving the F-5 the only 
fighter in the Philippine Air Force inventory.  

Attrition has been heavy, and only eight As and two Bs remained by the 
early 1990s.  These planes were serving with the 6th TFS of the 5th 
Fighter Wing based at Basa on north Luzon.  The serviceability of the 
Philippine Air Force Freedom Fighters was not helped by the corruption 
and mismanagement of the Marcos regime, nor did matters improve during 
the chronic instability that followed Marcos's departure in 1986.  The 
Philippines is reportedly interested in acquiring IAI Kfirs as an 
F-5A/B replacement.  

USAF:  

Although all F-5A production was intended for MAP, in October 1965, 
the USAF "borrowed" 12 combat-ready F-5As from MAP supplies and sent 
them to Vietnem with the 4503rd Tactical Fighter Wing for operational 
service trials.  This program was given the code name of *Skoshi 
Tiger" ("little" Tiger).  and it was during this tour of duty that the 
F-5 picked up its Tiger nickname.  The aircraft were modified to have 
inflight refuelling probes, armor plate, and jettisonable pylons.  
They were redesignated F-5C for their service with the USAF.  In four 
months, the F-5As flew 2500 hours of close support, interception, and 
reconnaissance missions.  Later, six more F-5As arrived, bringing up 
the strength to 18.  They formed the 10th Fighter Command Squadron 
attached to the 3rd TFW at Bien Hoa until 1967, when they were turned 
over to the Republic of Vietnam Air Force.  

More than 4000 combat hours were logged in over 3500 combat sorties 
for the loss of two aircraft.  Typical combat loads were 2000-3000 
pounds.  Although the load-carrying capability of the F-5C was not as 
great as that of other types such as the F-4 Phantom and the F-105 
Thunderchief, the Northrop fighter was fast and agile, making it ideal 
for dodging ground fire during attack runs.  It proved to be the least 
vulnerable jet aircraft in the war zone.  

As compared to other aircraft, the bomb aiming and delivery system was 
relatively unsophisticated.  Most weapons deliveries were made from a 
shallow dive, with the pilot judging the range by using his lead 
computing gunsight.  A 150-gallon droptank was usually carried on the 
centerline pylon, with an additional 150-gallon tank being carried on 
each of the inboard underwing pylons.  

On the debit side, the guns of the F-5C tended to "smoke up" the 
windshield during firing runs, particularly in rainy conditions.  
Sometimes, rounds bursting just ahead of the nose would damage the 
windshield, and gun gases ingested into the intake sometimes resulted 
in engine damage.  These problems were solved by USAF ground crews, 
acting in cooperation with Northrop representatives.  The F-5C 
ultimately achieved the lowest maintenance time per flight hour of any 
aircraft operating in the Vietnamese theatre.  

SOUTH VIETNAM:  

Following the success of the Skoshi Tiger program, substantial numbers 
of Freedom Fighters were supplied to the Republic of Vietnam Air 
Force.  The first Vietnamese crews left for Williams AFB for training 
in August of 1966.  The first RVNAF unit to operate the F-5 was the 
522nd Fighter Squadron of the 23rd Wing, which had previously been 
flying A-1 Skyraiders.  The surviving Skoshi Tiger F-5Cs were turned 
over to this unit.  

The ceasefire of 1973 under which American forces withdrew from 
Vietnam led to an increased amount of military aid supplied to the 
South Vietnamese government, in the hope that they could go it alone 
without direct American support.  As part of this effort, a total of 
126 F-5As were delivered to the South Vietnamese Air Force, most of 
the planes being supplied from stocks previously owned by South Korea, 
Iran, and Taiwan.  Enough aircraft were provided to equip eight 
squadrons in the 23rd Wing.  These were later supplemented by more 
advanced F-5Es.  

During the final North Vietnamese assault on Saigon in 1975, numerous 
South Vietnamese aircraft escaped with their pilots to Thailand.  
Among these were four F-5As plus 22 F-5Es.  These planes were returned 
to the USA where they were placed in storage pending sale to other 
customers.  

Eighty-seven F-5A and B Freedom Fighters were left behind in South 
Vietnam when the country fell to the North in 1975.  The planes that 
were captured by the conquering North Vietnamese were either pressed 
into service or offered up for sale on the world market.  Some flew in 
support of the Vietnamese invasion of Kampuchea in 1978.  The 
subsequent fate of these planes is largely unknown.  Their lifetime in 
Vietnamese service must have been quite short in any case, given the 
general shortage of parts and the lack of spares.  

TAIWAN:  

The Republic of China Air Force received 92 F-5As, procured under both 
MAP and FMS.  The first Chinese F-5As were declared operational on 
December 9, 1965, replacing the F-86 Sabre.  

During the Vietnam War, 48 Taiwanese F-5As were lent to the South 
Vietnamese Air Force.  Some of the survivors were returned to Taiwan 
at the end of the war.  

Although very largely replaced in front-line service by the later F-5E 
Tiger II, substantial numbers of Taiwanese F-5A/Bs still remain flying 
at the Taitung airbase.  Some F-5As equipped a combat crew training 
center to assist pilots converting to the F-5E.  

TURKEY:  

Beginning in 1965, the Turk Hava Kuvvetleri (Turkish Air Force) 
received 63 F-5As, 32 RF-5As, and 13 F-5Bs through MAP.  They were 
delivered to 161 and 163 Filo at Bandirma, 142 and 143 Filo at 
Merzifon, and 192 Filo at Balikesir.  These deliveries took seven 
years to complete.  

F-5s from the USA were later supplemented by further deliveries to 
Turkey from other nations.  Seven ex-Libyan F-5As and Bs were received 
in Turkey in 1975.  Between 1983 and 1987, Norway's Kongelige Norkse 
Luftforsvaret transferred 26 F-5As and seven RF-5As to the THK.  Four 
F-5Bs were received from the stocks of USAF, and six F-5As and 3 F-5Bs 
were transferred to Turkey from Taiwan in 1989.  

A reorganization in 1971 led to many THK units being renumbered.  At 
Bandirma, 163 Filo became 162, whereas at Merzifon 142 and 143 became 
151 and 152.  

44 NF-5As and 16 NF-5Bs were transferred from the Dutch Koninklijke 
Luchtmacht (KLu) between 1989 and 1991.  These are currently operated 
by 133 Filo based at Konya, which is a training unit for pilots 
destined for F-5, F-4, and F-16 squadrons of the THK.  The 132 
Taktik-Akrobosi Filo, also based at Konya, is a special training unit 
equipped with F-4Es and F-5A/Bs.  This squadron also operates the 
*Turk Yildizlari* (Turkish Stars) aerobatic team, which flies six 
F-5As.  

Once very numerous in Turkish service, the Freedom Fighters now serve 
with only three squadrons.  F-5A/Bs currently serve with 151 Filo and 
152 Filo, both based at Merzifon.  The surviving RF-5As serve with 184 
Filo at Diyarbakir, which also operates a couple of F-5B two-seaters.  

THK F-5s are currently being subjected to an avionics update to make 
their cockpits compatible with the F-16, which has become the primary 
fighter of the THK.  At the same time a computerized weapons delivery 
system is being introduced.  However, it seems likely that the Freedom 
Fighter will soon reach the end of the line in THK service.  

MOROCCO:  

Morocco received F-5s during 1967, with an initial order for 18 F-5As 
and two F-5Bs being filled.  Subwequently, the inventory reached 23 
fighters and two trainers.  Attrition was made up by a small number of 
ex-Iranian F-5s.  Morocco operated both the F-5A and F-5B models from 
its base at Kenitra.  Moroccan F-5s have seen action against Polisario 
guerillas.  Morocco subsequently acquired F-5Es, paid for by funds 
from Saudi Arabia.  

NORWAY:  

The Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret (Royal Norweigan Air Force) 
received their first Freedom Fighters in June of 1965.  The Norwegian 
aircraft were initially known as F-5A(G) in Northrop records, although 
this designation was subsequently dropped.  Norwegian Freedom Fighters 
had provision for JATO, windshield deicing, and landing arrester hooks 
for short-field operations.  

100 aircraft were acquired, enough to equip six squadrons.  The first 
squadron to receive the Freedom Fighter was 336 Skvadron at Rygge, 
followed by No 332, which was also at Rygge.  Next came 334 at Bodo, 
338 at Oerland, 717 at Rygge, and 718 at Sola.  717 got RF-5A 
reconnaissance aircraft, whereas 718 was the training unit and got 
most of the F-5B two-seaters.  Norwegian F-5s carry the last three 
digits of their USAF serial numbers on the vertical tail.  

The attrition rate of the F-5 with the RNAF was rather high, with 16 
aircraft being written off by the mid-1970s.  These losses forced some 
redeployment of the survivors, which were redistributed among three 
strike squadrons, No 332 being disbanded in 1972.  

In 1982, the Royal Norweigian Air Force had to ground most of its 
fleet of F-5As and Bs because of cracks in the engine air intake 
ducting.  Norway wanted the repairs to be paid for by the USAF under 
the original MAP agreement, but an agreement was worked out under 
which the USAF would repair the F-5As but Norway would repair the 
F-5Bs, to avoid interrupting their training program.  

Most surviving RNoAF F-5s have been replaced with the F-16.  A number 
of ex-RNoAF F-5s have been transferred to Portugal and Turkey.  The 
remaining RNoAF F-5s are operated by Skvadron 336 based at Rygge.  17 
F-5As and 13 F-5Bs received structural upgrades from Fokker in the 
Netherlands, and later added chaff/flare dispensers.  New avionics 
including a GEC heads-up display, a ring-laser gyro inertial 
navigation system, a central air data computer.  

PORTUGAL:  

Portugal has received a small number of second-hand F-5As from Norway, 
which supplement its fleet of LTV A-7 ground attack aircraft.  The 
F-5As are operated primarily as interceptors.  

ETHIOPIA:  

In 1966, Ethiopia received at least 12 F-5As, and two F-5Bs, enough to 
equip a single squadron based at Havar Meda.  After a Marxist 
government took control of Ethiopia, further supplies of warplanes 
from the USA were suspended.  However, attrition was made good by the 
supply of some ex-Iranian F-5s, and MAP deliveries to Ethiopia resumed 
briefly in 1977.  However, Ethiopia rapidly fell into the Soviet 
sphere of influence, and the supply of Western arms quickly dried up, 
to be replaced by Soviet-bloc equipment.  

The Marxist government of Ethiopia was supplied with a few F-5A and E 
fighters from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.  These planes had 
been seized from the South Vietnamese government following the fall of 
Saigon in 1975.  Some of the Ethiopian F-5As and Es probably flew 
combat missions in the war against Somalia of the early 1980s.  At 
least two Ethiopian F-5As reportedly were flown to the Sudan, where 
their pilots sought political asylum.  

Ethiopia has been through a series of civil wars, insurrections, 
famines, and sudden changes in government.  Although the Marxist 
regime is gone, the current status of the Ethiopian F-5s is uncertain.  
In all probability, none are currently operational.  

THAILAND:  

After Vietnam, Thailand was the second nation in South East Asia to 
receive Freedom Fighters, although the first first aircraft arrived in 
Thailand in 1966 before the SVNAF had declared its F-5s operational.  

Thailand ultimately received 24 F-5As, four RF-5As, and two F-5Bs for 
use by 13 Squadron at Don Muang.  This unit later relocated to Nakhom 
Ratchisima (formerly the old USAF base at Korat) and became 103 
Squadron.  

By the early 1980s, attrition had reduced the number of F-5s to 14.  
Only a few of these remain in use, although two extra F-5Bs were 
acquired from Malaysia in 1981.  They have been supplemented by F-5Es 
and then by F-16s.  

LIBYA:  

Libya received eight F-5As and two F-5Bs in 1968.  This was prior to 
the 1969 military coup which deposed the king and brought Colonel 
Gaddafi to power.  The increasingly anti-American stance of Gadaffi's 
regime resulted in the cessation of further military aid from the USA, 
cutting off the supply of spare parts and support for the Libyan F-5s.  

It has been reported by some sources that these Libyan F-5s were 
loaned to Pakistan during its war with India in 1971, primarily for 
use as training.  In 1975, seven of these planes were transferred to 
Turkey.  

JORDAN:  

The Al Quwwat al Jawwiya al Malakiya al Urduniya (Royal Jordanian Air 
Force) initially received 30 A and 6 B models from the Imperial 
Iranian Air Force.  Along with the F-104 Starfighter, the Freedom 
Fighter became the primary combat aircraft of the RJAF.  

Fifteen of these RJAF F-5A/Bs have since been transferred to Greece.  
The remaining F-5A/B serves with No 6 Squadron based at Mafraq.  

YEMEN:  

The Yemen Arab Republic Air Force operates a mixture of both 
Soviet-bloc and Western aircraft.  They have a single squadron of four 
F-5Bs (plus 12 F-5Es).  Reportedly, these planes have been put up for 
sale.  

HONDURAS:  

In 1985, the Honduras air force replaced its F-86E Sabres with F-5As, 
the planes having been acquired second-hand, perhaps from Ethiopia.  

Serials of F-5A/F-5B/RF-5A Freedom Fighters:

This list is admittedly incomplete, and I would appreciate anyone
who can point out errors or omissions in this list.  

59-4987/4989		Northrop YF-5A-NO Freedom Fighter
				4989 on display at WPAFB Museum
59-4993			Northrop XF-5A static airframe c/n N6000 
63-8367/8437		Northrop F-5A-15-NO Freedom Fighter
				8367/8370 remanufactured to F-5B
					(65-13071/13074)
				8371 to Thailand
				8373/8374 to South Korea
    				8375/8379 to Thailand
				8381 to Greece
				8405,8409,8420,8422,8423 to Greece
				8382/8392 to Iran
				8393/8404,8406/8408,8431/8437 to Korea
				8428 to Korea
				8421 to Turkey
63-8438/8451 		Northrop F-5B-5-NO Freedom Fighter
				8438,8439 to Thailand
				8440,8441,8443 converted to GF-5B
				8446,8447 to Iran
				8448/8451 to Korea
63-13692 		Northrop F-5B-5-NO Freedom Fighter
				sold to Greece
64-13306/13376		Northrop F-5A-20-NO Freedom Fighter
				13306/13309 to Korea
				13310 to to Philippines
				13311,13312 to Korea
				13313 to Philippines
				13314,13315 to Vietnam
				13317,13318 to Vietnam
				13320/13324 to Philippines
				13325/13331 to Taiwan as 1201/1207
				13332 to Vietnam
				13333/13351 to Turkey
				13352/13353 to Greece
				13354/13360 to Iran
				13361/13367 to Greece
				13368/13376 to Norway
64-13377/13388		Northrop F-5B-10-NO Freedom Fighter
				13377/13378 to Greece	
				13381/13382 to Taiwan
   				13383,13384 to Turkey
	   			13385/13386 to Iran
				13387/13388 to Norway
64-13389/13408		Northrop F-5A/B Freedom Fighter - cancelled contract
65-10476/10581		Northrop F-5A-25-NO
				10476/10480 to Greece
				10481/10484 to Iran
				10485/10487 to Greece
				10488/10498 to Philippines
				10499/10507 to Ethiopia
				10513/10515,10518/105290/10524/10526 to							Vietnam
				10516,10517/10521/10523,10527/10532 to
					Taiwan
				10533/10544 to Iran
				10545,10458/10554 to Korea
				10546,10547,10555/10560 to Vietnam
				10561 to Turkey
				10562/10581 to Norway	
65-10582/10595		Northrop F-5B-15-NO
				10582 to Greece
				10583 to Korea
				10584,10585 to Ethiopia
				10586 to Vietnam
				10587,10588 to Iran
				10589 to Philippines
					Photo of this plane is in Shaw's book
				10590/10593 to Turkey
				10594,10595 to Norway
65-13071/13074		Northrop F-5B-15-NO
				13071 was ex-NF-5A 63-8367 -- to Korea
				13072 was ex-NF-5A 63-8368 -- to Taiwan
				13073 was ex-NF-5A 63-8369 -- to Taiwan
				13074 was ex-NF-5A 63-8370 -- to Vietnam
66-8405/8515		Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter - cancelled contract
66-8516/8530		Northrop F-5B Freedom Fighter - cancelled contract
66-9119/9229		Northrop F-5A-30-NO
				9119,9120 to Morocco
				9121/9128 to Turkey
				9129 to Thailand
				9130,9131 to South Vietnam
				9132,9133 to Greece
				9134 to Turkey
				9135/9138 to Greece
				9139/9141 to South Vietnam
				9142 to Greece
				9143/9147 to South Korea
				9148/9150 to Philippines
					photo of 9150 is Shaw's book
				9151/9154 to Turkey
				9155 to Iran
				9156/9158 to Turkey
				9159/9161 to Thailand
				9162/9163 to Morocco
				9164/9168 to Greece
				9169 to Thailand
				9170/9176 to Iran
				9177/9188 to Taiwan
				9189/9192 to Iran
				9183/9195 to Taiwan
				9196/9198 to Ethiopia
				9199/9206 to Taiwan
				9207/9229 to Norway
66-9230/9244		Northrop F-5B-20-NO
				9230 to Greece
				9231,9232 to South Vietnam
				9233,9235,9236,9238,9240 to Iran
				9234,9237,9239 to Taiwan
				9241/9244 to Norway
66-14457/14466		Northrop F-5A-30-NO
				14457/14463 to Taiwan
				14464/14466 to Turkey
67-14775		Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter - cancelled contract
67-14894/14905 		Northrop F-5A-35-NO Freedom Fighter
				to Norway	
67-14906/14909 		Northrop F-5B-25-NO Freedom Fighter
				to Norway
67-21153/21218		Northrop F-5A-35-NO Freedom Fighter
				21153,21154 to Taiwan
				21155,21156 to Norway
				21157/21162 to Taiwan
				21163 to Turkey
				21164,21165 to Norway	
				21166,21174 to Taiwan
				21175 to South Vietnam
				21176/21180 to South Korea	
				21181,21182 to Turkey
				21183/21191 to South Korea
				21192/21195 to Turkey
				21196 to Ethiopia
				21197/21199 to  Libya
			 	21200 to Ethiopia
				21201/21211 to Turkey
				21212/21218 to Iran
67-21219/21231		Northrop RF-5A-35-NO Freedom Fighter
				to Iran
67-21232/21235		cancelled contract for Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter
67-21236/21258		Northrop F-5A-35-NO Freedom Fighter
				21236,21237 to Thailand
				21238/21242 to Turkey
				21243/21247 to Morocco
				21248/21256 to Turkey	
				21257,21258 to Thailand
67-21259/21271		cancelled contract for Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter
67-21272/21284		Northrop F-5B-25-NO Freedom Fighter
				21278,21279 to Libya
				21276/21277 to South Korea
				21272,21275,21280,21282/21284 to Taiwan
				21273,21274,21281 to Turkey	
67-21285/21294		cancelled contract for Northrop F-5B Freedom Fighter
67-22548/22555		Northrop F-5A-35-NO Freedom Fighter
				22548/22550 to Iran
				22551/22555 to Libya
67-22556/22557		Northrop F-5B-25-NO Freedom Fighter
				22556 to Turkey
				22557 to to Iran
68-9043/9085		Northrop F-5A-40-NO Freedom Fighter
				9043/9046 to Korea
				9047 to Iran
				9048,9049 to South Korea
				9050,9051 to Taiwan
				9052,9053 to Iran
				9054/9056 to Greece
				9057 to Iran
				9058 to Greece
				9059/9085 to Iran
68-9086/9096		Northrop F-5B-30-NO Freedom Fighter
				9088/9090,9092 to Greece
				9086,9091,9093 to Iran
				9094,9095 to South Korea
				9096 to Taiwan
68-9097/9113		Northrop RF-5A-40-NO Freedom Fighter
				9097/9099 to Turkey
				9100/9113 to Norway
68-10489/10490		Northrop RF-5A-40-NO Freedom Fighter
				to Norway
69-6462/6483		Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter - contract cancelled
69-6484/6486		Northrop F-5B Freedom Fighter - contract cancelled
69-6487/6502		Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter - contract cancelled
69-7089/7090		Northrop F-5B-35-NO Freedom Fighter  
				to Iran	
69-7091/7134  		Northrop F-5A-45-NO Freedom Fighter
				7091,7095,7105 to Iran
				7092/7094,7099,7100,7106/7109 to Morocco
				7096/7098,7101/7104,7110/7124 to Taiwan
				7125/7134 to Norway
69-7135/7136		Northrop F-5B-35-NO Freedom Fighter 
				to Norway
69-7137/7173		Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter  
				7137/7147 to Turkey
				7148, 7151, and 7160/7163 to South Vietnam
				7154 to Thailand
				7149,50,52,53,55,56 to Turkey
				7157/7159 to Thailand
				7164/7173 to Greece
69-7174/7177  		Northrop F-5A-45-NO Freedom Fighter 
				to Iran
69-7178/7180		Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter - cancelled contract 
70-1373/1407		Northrop F-5A-50-NO Freedom Fighter
				1373/1382 to Iran
				1383/1388 to Korea
				1389 to Morocco
				1390/1392 to Thailand
				1393/1395 to Korea
				1396,1397 to Taiwan
				1398/1400 to Greece
				1401/1404 to Korea
				1405/1407 to Turkey
70-1408			Northrop F-5B-40-NO Freedom Fighter 
				to Turkey (photo in Shaw's book)
70-1608/1613		Northrop F-5B Freedom Fighter 
				all to Iran
70-1614/1622		Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter
				1614,1615 to Morocco
				1616 to South Vietnam
				1617-1622 to Greece
70-1948			Northrop F-5B Freedom Fighter 
				to Turkey
71-0260/0276		Northrop F-5A-55-NO Freedom Fighter
				0260/0262 to Ethiopia
				0263/0265 to Thailand
					picture of 0265 is in Shaw's book
				0266/0275 to South Vietnam
				0276 to Morocco	
71-0277/0279		Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter
				0277, 0278 to South Korea
				0279 to South Vietnam	
71-1029/1032            Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter
				all to South Korea
71-1033/1034		Northrop F-5B-45-NO Freedom Fighter
				1034 to South Korea
71-1035/1038		Northrop RF-5A Freedom Fighter
				1035,1036 to South Korea
				1037,1038 to South Vietnam
71-1377/1390		Northrop F-5A-55-NO Freedom Fighter - cancelled 
71-1417/1421		Northrop F-5E Tiger II
				1420 used as prototype RF-5E Tigereye
				1417,1418,1420 to Brazil
72-0436/0449		Northrop F-5B-50-NO Freedom Fighter
				0436,0437 to Turkey
				0438 to South Korea
				0440 to Turkey, 0441 converted to GF-5B
				0442/0448 to South Korea
				0449 to Turkey
72-1337/1356		Northrop F-5B-50-NO Freedom Fighter - to Saudi Arabia
73-1602/1613		Northrop F-5B-50-NO Freedom Fighter
				1604/1605 to Jordan
				1606/1608 to South Vietnam - 1607 returned
				to USAF
				1609 to Thailand
				1611,1612 to Thailand
				1613 to Iran
74-0775/0786 		Northrop F-5B-50-NO Freedom Fighter
				0775/0777 to Taiwan
				0778/0779 to Malaysia
				0780 to Taiwan
				0783/0785 to Jordan
74-1576/1581		Northrop F-5B-50-NO Freedom Fighter
				to Brazil as 4800/4805
74-2097/2112		Northrop F-5B-50-NO - cancelled contract
74-2114/2129		Northrop F-5B-50-NO Freedom Fighter - to Korea

Sources:

  The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.

  Jane's American Fighting Aircraft of the 20th Centry, Michael J.H.
  Taylor, Mallard Press

  The World's Fighting Planes, William Green, Doubleday, 1964.

  Modern Air Combat, Bill Gunston and Mike Spick, Crescent, 1983.

  United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and
  Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.

  Post-World War II Fighters: 1945-1973, Marcelle Size Knaac,
  Office of Air Force History, 1986.

  F-5: Warplane for the World, Robbie Shaw, Motorbooks, 1990

  The World Guide to Combat Planes, William Green, Macdonald, 1966. 

  Fighters of the United States Air Force, Robert F. Dorr and
  David Donald, Temple Press/Aerospace, 1990

  The World's Great Attack Aircraft, Gallery, 1988.

  Northrop F-5/F-20, Jerry Scutts, Ian Allan Ltd, 1986.

  Modernizing the THK, Paolo Rollino and Renzo Sacchetti, Air
  International, November 1994.

Joe Baugher			**************************************
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