presentation of the first F-104C 56-0891 "FG-891" to the 479th TFW (actual first handover to TAC was at Nellis AFB on October 15, 1958)

F-104C, construction number 183-1179, model 483-04-05, US serial number 56-0891, built by Lockheed
delivery date October 16, 1958; 479th Tactical Fighter Wing (Tactical Air Command), George AFB, CA
(deployments to Moron AB, Spain and Ramey AFB, PR) October 1958-November 1966; with 435th TFS at Udorn in late 1966
January 1967 435 Tactical Fighter Squadron (Pacific Air Forces), Udorn RTAFB, Thailand
March 1967 to 8th Tactical Fighter Wing (PACAF), Udorn RTAFB; 198th TFS Puerto Rico ANG, San Juan IAP, PR January 1968-1975
August 11, 1975 dropped from the inventory and transfer to Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix
on pole at Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix, AZ in Arizona ANG with F-104A markings in front of the AZ ANG HQ bldg in 2000; May 2023 noted.

First official F-104C delivered to George AFB 479th TFW, (actual first handover to TAC was at Nellis AFB on October 15, 1958)
and there was a lot of trouble over this paint job. It seems Lockheed was contacted by Col George Laven JR. from the 479th TFW
to paint the F-104 in that scheme for him, but the USAF did not know of it at the time, and when the bill for this extra paint scheme
was presented there was much consternation.
The first C-model accepted by Tactical Air Command took place at the Annual Fighter Weapons Meet at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada,
October 15, 1958. This aircraft was named "Really George" because its home base would be the 479th TFW at George AFB, California

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