F-104G "13239" (63-13239) 4510th CCTW from Luke AFB

F-104G, construction number 683-2022, company model 683-10-19, US serial number 63-13239, built by Lockheed
manufactured by Group USA (ARGE-USA); assembly in Fighterbomber version according contract lot 3
flown with register number "122" for test flights in 1961 at Lockheed-Palmdale; coded DA+119 acceptance date by BABwLockheed not known
project "42" as Fighterbomber (for JaboG 31) with Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun installed and long range tanks as loose parts
with 60 flight hours airlifted to Manching, Germany October 18, 1961 with a "Flying Tiger Line" CL-44D airfreighter
flight test release for Germany October 27, 1961; Messerschmitt test flight January 19, 1962; acceptance date by BABwMTT on March 7, 1962
JaboG 31 "Boelcke" at Norvenich AB delivery date on March 9, 1962 in Silver-finish colors; planned for project "Columbus" on November 15, 1962
to Messerschmitt for disassembly on February 28, 1963; according project "Columbus" airlifted coded BG+125 on March 28, 1963 to Lockheed-Burbank
reassembled and modified to the latest modification level at Lockheed-Palmdale
 at Luke AFB operated in USAF Silver-finish color scheme by the 4510th Combat Crew Training Wing (CCTW) coded 13239 (German shadow serial number 2018)
crashed October 24, 1967 SE of Ajo, Arizona after a midair collision with 63-13267 (construction number 2096) during formation rejoin after
an Air Combat Tactics (ACT) mission, both pilots ejected safely; operated that day by the 4518 CCTS; 774 flight hours; struck off charge order (AVA) October 24, 1967.

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 © Dick Moore