F-104G "12748" (65-12748) formation take-off in clean configuration 1973

F-104G, construction number 683D-7039, company model 683-10-19, US serial number 65-12748, built by Messerschmitt (MTT)
manufactured by South Group (ARGE-Süd); assembly by Messerschmitt-Manching with parts from Lockheed starting July 10, 1962
assembly in Fighterbomber version according contract lot 1; first flight March 25, 1963 coded KE+339
project "Replace" with modification as Fighterbomber (for JaboG 31) with Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun installed and long range tanks as loose parts
acceptance date May 3, 1963 by BABwMTT
DA+250 JaboG 33 at Buchel AB delivery date on May 24, 1963 in Silver-finish colors; JaboG 31 at Norvenich AB on July 10, 1963
heavily damaged November 27, 1964 when the gear collapsed during engine test run, not repaired and stored
airlifted to USA July 6, 1965 according project "Columbus III" to Lockheed-Burbank; reassembled, repaired, upgraded and test flown at Lockheed-Palmdale
 to Luke AFB and operated by the 4510th CCTW (German shadow serial number 2170) coded 12748 in USAF Silver-finish color scheme
April 1974 temporarily grounded due to fatigue cracks, repaired and back to flight operations
2.322 flight hours in May 1977; flown until end of operation at Luke AFB on March 16, 1983; struck off charge order (AVA) July 21, 1983; sold to USAF in 1983 with "Phase II" lot
with 2.973 flight hours MAP (Military Assistance Program) to ROCAF under project "Ali Shan No.8" in 1983 coded "4390"
flew with 2nd TFW in the 1980s and with 3rd TFW in the 1990s and was scrapped in 1999.

Project "Replace": 21 aircrafts (partly with and partly without test flights) were stored with a long-term preservation for the purpose of a later upgrade and transfer to the BABwMTT for storage at Manching AB.
19 aircraft were later upgraded when enough retrofit kits were available

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