F-104G KE+337 Messerschmitt factory line at Manching AB 1963

F-104G, construction number 683D-7077, company model 683-10-19, built by Messerschmitt
manufactured by South Group (ARGE-Süd); assembly by Messerschmitt-Manching starting January 17, 1963
assembly in Fighterbomber version according contract lot 3; first flight July 3, 1963
project "Zeus" as Fighterbomber for MFG 1 with Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun installed and long range tanks as loose parts
project "Zeus" was canceled; no project assigned
modification status "Loreley" as Fighterbomber with Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun installed and long range tanks as loose parts
acceptance date by BABwMTT July 31, 1963 coded KE+377; LVR 3 (Luftwaffenversorgungsregiment 3) on August 1, 1963 for modifications
MFG 1 at Schlesig-Jagel AB delivery date on September 10, 1963 coded KE+377 (no VA wing code)
KE+377 was the first F-104G delivered from Messerschmitt to MFG 1
DC+259 JaboG 33 Buchel on August 17, 1964; renumbered DC+236 in May 1966; camouflage scheme "Norm 62" according tech order "TA-196" in 1966
22+07 Tactical Weapon Meet (TWM) at Jever AB 7 till 21 June 1968; IRAN at SABCA on April 24, 1970, back to JaboG 33 on April 13, 1971
EL-70/EL-73 Electronic Counter Measure (ECM) system was installed in the weapon system in the late 70s with tech order "TA-FL1191"
JaboG 34 on May 15, 1985, stored at LwSchleuse 11 on July 21, 1986 as attrition reserve aircraft, struck off charge order (AVA) November 27, 1986
arrived at Sylt on October 30, 1986 from Manching; instructional airframe (GIA) at MFlgLehrGrp Sylt October 30, 1986; August 22, 2004 noted
in 2005 EADS had the option to buy the aircraft but that was canceled by US authorities (US arms embargo)
to Bundesamt für Wehrtechnik und Beschaffung (BWB), section WTD 61, at Manching AB on March 10, 2006; stored and locked in a hanger awaiting release
sold to EADS in mid-2013 and stored at Manching AB; restoration in early Silver-finish colors with the original Messerschmitt company factory code KE+377
February 2015 noted; ready for display November 2015 noted
June 18, 2016 presented the first time at the Familientag (Open House) of Airbus Group Manching in a retro look; it is a mobile display aircraft for the Airbus Group Manching
June 2020 stored in hangar noted; April 2023 display in Flugmuseum Messerschmitt (Messerschmitt Museum of Flight) noted; March 2024 noted.

November 25, 1970 it made a SABCA test flight from Gosselies and emergency landed at Beauvechain and was transported back (by road) to Gosselies to check symmetry and X-ray.
It was quite long with SABCA for an overall, more than a year in total before it was given back to Germany.

copyright © Hans-Ulrich Willbold