F-104G "13272" (63-13272) 69th TFTS of 58 TTW (Tactical Traning Wing) at Luke AFB in October 1980

F-104G, construction number 8008, US serial number 63-13272, built by Fokker
manufactured by North Group (ARGE-Nord); assembled with Lockheed produced parts; first flight June 13, 1962 coded KG+108 at Fokker-Schiphol
acceptance date July 25, 1962 in Fighterbomber version by BABwFokker (RNAF-MTA)
DA+125 JaboG 31 at Norvenich AB delivery date on August 2, 1962 in Silver-finish colors
LPR 1 coded DR+125 on March 20, 1963 for project "Balance" system upgrading; assigned for project "Columbus" on November 15, 1962
according project "Columbus" coded as BG+139 airlifted to Lockheed-Burbank on June 18, 1963; reassembled and modified to the latest modification level at Lockheed-Palmdale
 operated by the 4510th CTTW at Luke AFB (German shadow serial number 2333) in USAF Silver-finish coded 13272
1974 stored due to fatigue cracks with 1.881 flight hours and repaired; flown until end of operation at Luke AFB on March 16, 1983
struck off charge order (AVA) July 19, 1983; with 2.536 flight hours 1983 sold to USAF with "Phase III" lot
MAP (Military Assistance Program) under project "Ali Shan No.8" coded "4384" to the 41 TFS of 2 Wing (ROCAF) at Hsinchu AB
modified to RF-104G coded "5663" and operated by the 12 TRS (SMS)
May 31, 1988 heavily damaged by the jettisoned tip tank from the formation leader in "4392" during a formation landing at TaoYuan AB; pilot Hsieh Hsin Ban ejected safely, written off.

Project "Balance": upgrade 19 F-104G with retrofit kits at LPR 1 at Erding AB and received DR+xxx codes with their old three-digit squadron numbers.
After the upgrade, these aircrafts either returned to their squadrons or directly to Manching for disassembly for the Columbus program.

Pilot Hsieh made a formation landing with "4392" as leader at TaoYuan AB.
He released the drag chute during the landing roll, which didn't open, and saw a tip tank fall off the leaders wingtip (4392),
he stomped on the right brake (to stay clear of the tiptank) and the aircraft slid off to the right side of the runway
and stopped in the grass. Both aircraft didn't catch on fire or did not explode.

copyright © Willy Metze