F-104G 20+39 JaboG 31 on touchdown at Norvenich AB 1980

F-104G, construction number 683-2046, company model 683-10-19, built by Lockheed
manufactured by Group USA (ARGE-USA); Lockheed assembly in Fighterbomber version according contract lot 5; Lockheed test flights coded "146"
coded KF+122 used for electronical system tests at Palmdale
project "42" as Fighterbomber (for JaboG 31) with Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun installed and long range tanks as loose parts
airlifted to Manching on December 20, 1961 with 38 flight hours in a Canadair CL-44D airfreighter of "Flying Tiger Line"
Messerschmitt test flight on January 27, 1962; acceptance date February 12, 1962 by BABwMTT in Silver-finish colors; project "Replace" was not implemented
DA+111 ErpSt 61 at Manching AB on April 13, 1962 for electronical system tests; JaboG 31 "Boelcke" at Norvenich AB delivery date on May 30, 1962
project "19" upgrading in order to get all Norvenich aircraft to the same modification level starting in January 1963
"Category III" operational profiles and system tests from April until July 1963; camouflage scheme "Norm 62" according tech order "TA-196" in 1965
IRAN at SABCA on October 26, 1967 with 889 flight hours
20+39 back to JaboG 31 on May 2, 1968; slightly damaged on June 10, 1970 during collision with 26+24 (serial number 9175) shortly after take-off from Norvenich AB, emergency landing at Norvenich
Tactical Weapons Meet at Twenthe AB 29 April till 15 May 1976; Tactical Air Meet at Ramstein AB 20 June till 3 July 1980 with exercise code "A"
28.June till 8.July 1982 squadron exchange between USAFE 78 TFS/81 TFW "Cobra" based at Woodbridge AFB, flying the A-10, with the German Air Force JaboG 31 (2nd Staffel) based at Norvenich AB
all been decorated with specific snake badges (78 TFS) before the exchange; JaboG 33 on May 2, 1983
withdrawn from use at LwSchleuse 11 on July 2, 1984 with 3.383 flight hours; struck off charge order (AVA) May 29, 1984
MAP (Military Assistance Program) to Turkish Air Force on August 31, 1984 (with TuAF serial number 61-2046); initially coded "4-046" with 4.AJU at Murted AB
coded "9-046" with 193 Filo of 9.AJU at Balikesir AB June 1, 1987; seen coded "9-046" at Rimini in July 1987 (on loan by 142 Filo)
withdrawn from use April 20, 1989 at 1.HIBM at Eskisehir AB; cut up at Eskisehir AB according CFE (Conventional Armed Forces in Europe) Treaty on July 28, 1995; remains scrapped.

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 © Günter Grondstein