The Republic of China Air Force received 92 F-5As and 23 F-5Bs, 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 as a favor to the United States. Most of the remaining F-5As were transferred to reserve units.
As a temporary move, 28 T-38As were transferred to the RoCAF to cover the loss of the F-5As. These were all eventually returned, minus six losses.
Although very largely replaced in front-line service by the later F-5E Tiger II, a few 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. All F-5A-equipped reserve units have now been disbanded, and some F-5As have been converted into drones. The A model is no longer in front-line service, although the B model still serves alongside E and F models with 16 Squadron of the 8th TFW at Hualien.
Sources:
-
F-5: Warplane for the World, Robbie Shaw, Motorbooks, 1990
-
Northrop F-5/F-20, Jerry Scutts, Ian Allan Ltd, 1986.
-
Northrop F-5, Jon Lake and Robert Hewson, World Airpower Journal, Vol
25, 1996.
