F-104G 22+02 Jagdbombergeschwader 33 (JaboG 33) Buchel 1968

F-104G, construction number 683D-7072, company model 683-10-19, built by Messerschmitt (MTT)
manufactured by South Group (ARGE-Süd); assembly start December 12, 1962 at Messerschmitt-Manching
assembly in Fighterbomber version according contract lot 3; first flight June 5, 1963 coded KE+372; acceptance date by BABwMTT on August 6, 1963
project "Loreley" as Fighterbomber (for JaboG 33) with Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun installed and long range tanks as loose parts
DC+127 JaboG 33 at Buchel AB delivery date August 18.1963 in Silver-finish colors; camouflage scheme "Norm 62" according tech order "TA-196" in 1965
22+02 code change start on November 13, 1967; crashed September 24, 1968 shortly after take-off from Buchel AB during emergency landing at Ramstein AB
pilot encountered heavy engine vibrations and attempted an immediate landing at the nearest airfield
with almost full external tanks (4) he attempted to jettison the externals but they would not come off
thus the landing shock knocked them off and all the fuel inside the tanks exploded and caused a huge fire ball, the drag chute failed, the pilot ejected safely through the fireball and was not injured.
It was the first successful Martin Baker GQ-7 seat ejection of the Luftwaffe after the modification from the older C-2 seat
The aircraft missed the arresting barrier and was hard hit by a concrete block, written off; struck off charge order (AVA) May 30, 1969.

Project "Loreley": to equip 42 Fighterbomber for the second wing designated to be converted being JaboG 33 (FBW 33) at Buchel.

copyright © Hans Koning

22+02 Buchel AB 24.09.1968