JQF-104A "52957" (55-2957) 3205th Drone Squadron 1963

YF-104A, construction number 1002, serial number 55-2956, built by Lockheed

YF-104A, construction number 1003, serial number 55-2957, built by Lockheed
accepted by USAF on May 3, 1956; delivery date August 3, 1956; retained by manufacturer and modified to JF-104A in 1958; aircraft was officially assigned to 83 FIS at Hamilton AB but had special equipment
FG-957 set world altitude record of 27.813 meter (91.246 feet) on May 7, 1958 by Major Howard Johnson of 83 FIS at Edwards AFB; converted to QF-104A at Palmdale in March 1961
to Air Force Proving Ground Center (AF Systems Command), Eglin AFB, FL, assigned to the 3205th Drone Squadron at Eglin AFB,
modified to JQF-104A at McClellan AFB in January 1963 for specific testing and optimizing the QF modifications, this testing ended in the summer of 1965
modified back to standard QF-104A in July 1965 with 3205 Drone Squadron (QFG-957), flying unmanned missions until mid 1967
shot down August 8, 1967 serialed as "QFG-957", no information available about where it was shut-down and how; it was on its 4th drone flight.

To be used as unmanned drone-aircraft a number of retired YF-104A and F-104A aircraft have been modified into QF-104A. Pilots flew the aircraft remotely from the ground (take off and landing) and from flying control aircraft (in the sky), 
which was not an easy task considering the high take-off and landing speeds of the Starfighter. Most of the QF-104A have been shot by missiles. The aircraft received stunning orange color schemes. 

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