F-104G KF+108 (Lockheed delivery code) at Manching AB in 1961

F-104G, construction number 683-2032, company model 683-10-19, US serial number 63-13248, built by Lockheed
manufactured by Group USA (ARGE-USA); assembly in Fighterbomber version according contract lot 4
flight test release October 27, 1961; flown with register number "132" for test flights; coded KF+108 for delivery in Silver-finish colors
airlifted to Messerschmitt-Manching November 6, 1961 with 21 flight hours with a Canadair CL-44D airfreighter of "Flying Tiger Line"
project "42" as Fighterbomber (for JaboG 31) with Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun installed and long range tanks as loose parts
Messerschmitt test flight on December 15, 1961; acceptance date April 30, 1962 by BABwMTT
DA+236 JaboG 31 "Boelcke" at Norvenich AB delivery date on May 2, 1962; planned for project "Columbus" on November 15, 1962; disassembly by Messerschmitt on January 25, 1963
according project "Columbus" airlifted coded BG+116 on February 8, 1963 back to Lockheed-Burbank, USA; reassembled and modified to the latest modification level at Lockheed-Palmdale
 at Luke AFB operated by the 4510th CCTW in USAF Silver-finish color scheme coded 13248
crashed July 6, 1965 after loosing control of the aircraft due to loss of steering command to the control surfaces (flight control problems),
aircraft rolled inverted during a strafing delivery pass at Gila Bend Gunnery Range 6; pilot ejected in an almost inverted attitude and was killed,
attitude and altitude were not enough for a successful ejection (Lockheed C-2 ejection seat)
aircraft operated that day by the 4512 TFTS (Tactical Fighter Training Squadron) of the 4540 CCTG (Combat Crew Training Group); written off; 299 flight hours; struck off charge order (AVA) July 6, 1965.

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 © Frank Matthes