F-104G 25+64 JG 74

F-104G, construction number 683D-9010, company model 683-10-19, built by SABCA
the first fifteen aircraft (cn 9001-9015) were assembled from components originally supplied directly by Lockheed; manufactured by West Group (ARGE-West)
assembly start July 5, 1962 at SABCA-Gosselies, Belgium, with parts manufactured by Lockheed and several European factories
acceptance date by BABwSABCA not known; first flight September 25, 1962 coded with construction number "9010"
total of 8 factory test flights and 9 military test flights with 23 flight hours
military test flights at Gosselies: 21.1.1963, 14.2.1963, 26.2.1963, 11.3.1963, 15.3.1963, 19.3.1963, 27.3.1963, 2.4.1963 and 8.4.1963 (test)
coded KH+110 ready at SABCA on April 11, 1963; delivered in AWX (All Weather Fighter) version under project "Green Hill"
JA+246 JG 71 "Richthofen" at Wittmund AB delivery date on April 26, 1963; camouflage scheme "Norm 62" according tech order "TA-196" in October 1964 at VFW
IRAN at SABCA on April 21, 1966 with 244 flight hours; coded JD+258 to JG 74 on March 21, 1967
25+64 withdrawn from use at LVR 1 (Luftwaffenversorgungsregiment 1) on May 16, 1973 with 1.350 flight hours
struck off charge order (AVA) May 16, 1973; instructional airframe (GIA) at DFVLR-Braunschweig without code in 1973
November 15, 1977 ferried with a RNoAF C-130 Hercules to Bodo AB, Norway; coded "104" on pole as Gate Guard for the 331 squadron RNoAF at Bodø AB, painted in "Norwegian look" 1977
undergoing restoration and repaint at Bodø air station in 2005
aircraft was painted in a different markings as "FN-B" F-104G 61-2626; remounted on pole again May 22, 2006; June 2023 last noted.

Project "Green Hill": 42 AWX airplanes were delivered to the Fighter Wing 71 (Jagdgeschwader 71) at Wittmund.

Mid May 1965 JG 71 based at Wittmund held its very first squadron exchange. It participated in a 2-way exchange with French Air Force Mirage IIIC aircraft based at Dijon. It looks like EC 3/2 "Alsace" hosted JG 71 in Dijon, 
while JG 71 hosted EC 1/2 "Cigognes" in Wittmund. Four Mirages flew to Germany while four Starfighters flew to France being F-104G from both Staffel (JA+101, JA+104, JA+246 and JA+248).

copyright © Manfred Jacob