F-104G "13243" (63-13243) 69 TFTS of 58th TTW in 1982, with German flag on tiptank fin and on the leading edge of the vertical tail

F-104G, construction number 683-2026, company model 683-10-19, US serial number 63-13243, built by Lockheed
manufactured by Group USA (ARGE-USA); assembly in Fighterbomber version according contract lot 3; flight test release October 27, 1961
flown with register number "126" for test flights; coded KF+102 for delivery with 26 flight hours in Silver-finish colors
project "42" as Fighterbomber (for JaboG 31) with Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun installed and long range tanks as loose parts
shipped in boxes to Bremerhaven, Germany November 3, 1961; by railroad to Manching AB for reassembly
Messerschmitt test flight on March 19, 1962; acceptance date by BABwMTT March 30, 1962
DA+231 JaboG 31 "Boelcke" at Norvenich AB delivery date on April 3, 1962; assigned for project "Columbus" on November 15, 1962
according project "Columbus" airlifted coded BG+122 to Lockheed-Burbank on March 13, 1963
reassembled and modified to the latest modification level at Lockheed-Palmdale
 operated in USAF silver finish by the 4510th CCTW at Luke AFB (German shadow serial number 2021) coded 13243
2.853 flight hours in May 1977; flown until end of operation at Luke AFB on March 16, 1983
struck off charge order (AVA) July 19, 1983; sold to USAF with "Phase III" lot with 3.591 flight hours 1983
MAP (Military Assistance Program) to ROCAF coded "4368" under project "Ali Shan No.8" to 42 squadron of 2 Wing; crashed March 24, 1990, 
weather suddenly gott bad during a TACAN approach; crashed with 41 squadron of 2 Wing in formation with "4385" at Hsinchu, Tao Yuan after a midair collision; pilot was killed, written off.

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 © Peitzmeier archive

The F-104 stared in the film "The Right Stuff" 1982; the pilots were Lt Col Robert Patterson (USAF) and Oberstleutnant Heinrich Thueringer (GAF)
Two F-104G from the 69th TFTS at Luke AFB were used to film the flying sequences; one was 63-13243, the other was 63-13269
For the movie both were just serialed "132", both were later transferred to Taiwan

Read the story about the flights for the movie: http://www.f104g.de/piloten/thueringer_heinrich/thueringer_right-stuff.htm

see tiptank fin with Bi-Centennial marks 1976