F-104G "13237" (63-13237) with early "buzz number" "FG-237" during lift-off

F-104G, construction number 683-2020, company model 683-10-19, US serial number 63-13237, built by Lockheed
manufactured by Group USA (ARGE-USA); assembly in Fighterbomber version according contract lot 3; flight test release October 27, 1961, flown with register number "120" for test flights 1961
planned for project "42" as Fighterbomber (for JaboG 31) with Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun installed and long range tanks as loose parts
DA+117 shipped in boxes to Bremerhaven, Germany on November 6, 1961 with 34 flight hours; parts were transported by train to Messerschmitt-Manching, initially used for spare parts
reassembly on May 18, 1962, but no Messerschmitt test flight and stored at Messerschmitt; planned for project "Columbus" on November 15, 1962
according project "Columbus" airlifted in a "Flying Tiger Line" CL-44D airfreighter coded as BG+107 on January 5, 1963 to Lockheed-Burbank, USA
reassembled and modified to the latest modification level at Palmdale
 delivered to Luke AFB and operated by the 4510th CCTW (German shadow serial number 2016) in USAF Silver-finish color scheme coded 13237
crashed March 10, 1976 on Gila Bend gunnery range after engine failure due to ricochets, pilot ejected safely, 2.545 flight hours
aircraft operated that day by the 418 TFTS (FWS), 58 TFTW; written off; struck off charge order (AVA) March 10, 1976.

Project "42": to equip 42 aircraft (hence the name of the project!) for JaboG 31 (FBW 31) at Nörvenich in Fighterbomber version with built-in Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun, long-distance tanks as loose parts.

copyright © DOD