F-104G "13246" (63-13246) 4510th CCTW at Luke AFB in December 1969 F-104G, construction number 683-2030, company model 683-10-19, US serial number 63-13246, 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 "130" for test flights; coded KF+106 for delivery in Silver-finish colors airlifted to Germany November 6, 1961 with 19 flight hours with a Canadair CL-44D airfreighter of "Flying Tiger Line"; Messerschmitt test flight on January 8, 1962 project "42" as Fighterbomber (for JaboG 31) with Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun installed and long range tanks as loose parts; acceptance date by BABwMTT April 5, 1962 DA+234 JaboG 31 "Boelcke" at Norvenich AB delivery date on April 10, 1962 assigned for project "Columbus" on November 15, 1962; to Messerschmitt for disassembly on March 28, 1963 according project "Columbus" airlifted coded BG+132 to Lockheed-Burbank on April 29, 1963; reassembled and modified to the latest modification level at Lockheed-Palmdale operated by the 4510th CCTW at Luke AFB (German shadow serial number 2024) in USAF Silver-finish color scheme coded 13246 crashed February 4, 1970 about 64 km east of Ajo, AZ, pilot lost control of the aircraft and it entered a steep dive, pilot ejected, but was seriously injured struck off charge order (AVA) February 4, 1970. 1.286 flight hours, operated that day by the 69 TFTS (FWS), 58 TFTW; crash site: 45 miles SSW of Casa Grande (40 NM E of Ajo). 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