F-104G "13254" (63-13254) in landing configuration 1977

F-104G, construction number 683-2038, company model 683-10-19, US serial number 63-13254, 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 "138" for test flights; coded KF+114 accepted by BABwLockheed for delivery
airlifted to Messerschmitt-Manching, Germany on November 28, 1961 with 17:50 flight hours for reassembly
project "42" as Fighterbomber (for JaboG 31) with Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun installed and long range tanks as loose parts; Messerschmitt test flight April 7, 1962
DA+242 JaboG 31 "Boelcke" at Norvenich AB delivery date on April 17, 1962 in Silver-finish colors; planned for project "Columbus" on November 15, 1962; March 11, 1963 to Messerschmitt for disassembly
airlifted according project "Columbus" coded as BG+129 on April 5, 1963 to Lockheed-Burbank; reassembled and modified to the latest modification level at Lockheed-Palmdale
 operated at Luke AFB by the 4510th CCTW (German shadow serial number 2031, never used for registration) in USAF Silver-finish coded 13254
in May 1977 with 2.630 flight hours on active flying status; withdrawn from use and stored in airworthy condition as attrition reserve aircraft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 with 3.140 flight hours in 1983
MAP (Military Assistance Program) to ROCAF in 1984 coded "4375" under project "Ali Shan No.8" to 42 squadron of 2 Wing; later 8 squadron of 3 Wing
1990 modified to RF-104G and operated by the 12 TRS (SMS) of 5 Wing, modified to RF-104G LOROP version; withdrawn from use 1995
preserved as Gate Guard at Taoyuan AB with 12 SMS marks 1996, November 8, 2004 last noted; display in "Base Collection" at Hualien AB with 12 SMS marks on January 26, 2007 first noted; May 2024 noted.

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