An Italian F-104 pilot from the 51st Wing managed to put the far more maneuverable American jets in difficulty during a simulated dogfight in the 1980s. It was a surprising victory that left the U.S.

Fighter pilots wanted a lightweight, performance-first jet with minimal extras, and Lockheed delivered an aircraft built around an ultra-thin wing and a hit-and-run philosophy. The push to Mach 2 came ...