F-104G "13253" (63-13253) at Luke AFB returning from a Gunnery mission in 1977

F-104G, construction number 683-2037, company model 683-10-19, US serial number 63-13253, 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 "137" for test flights; coded KF+113 accepted by BABwLockheed for delivery
shipped in boxes to Bremerhaven, Germany January 12, 1962 with 19:45 flight hours; railroad transport to Messerschmitt-Manching for reassembly and test flight on April 10, 1962
project "42" as Fighterbomber (for JaboG 31) with Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun installed and long range tanks as loose parts
DA+241 JaboG 31 "Boelcke" at Norvenich AB delivery date on April 24, 1962 in Silver-finish colors
planned for project "Columbus" on November 15, 1962; February 27, 1963 to Messerschmitt for disassembly
coded BG+123 airlifted on March 18, 1963 to Lockheed-Burbank according project "Columbus"; reassembled and modified to the latest modification level at Lockheed-Palmdale
 operated by the 4510th CCTW at Luke AFB (German shadow serial number 2030, never used for registration) in USAF Silver-finish color scheme coded 13253
in May 1977 with 2.662 flight hours on active flying status; withdrawn from use and stored in airworthy condition as attrition reserve aircraft
struck off charge order (AVA) January 24, 1983; sold to USAF with "Phase I" lot in 1983 with 2.882 flight hours
MAP (Military Assistance Program) to ROCAF in 1984 coded "4374" under project "Ali Shan No.8" to 42 squadron of 2 Wing
heavily damaged February 28, 1987 after aborted take-off after mechanical malfunction, stopped by the "BAK-12" Aircraft Arresting System and caught on fire, pilot was safe; 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 © Willy Metze