F-104G "13243" (63-13243) 69 TFTS of 58th TTW in 1982, with German flag on tiptank fin and on the leading edge of the vertical tail

F-104G, construction number 683-2026, company model 683-10-19, US serial number 63-13243, built by Lockheed
manufactured by Group USA (ARGE-USA); assembly in Fighterbomber version according contract lot 3; flight test release October 27, 1961
flown with register number "126" for test flights; coded KF+102 for delivery with 26:50 flight hours in Silver-finish colors
project "42" as Fighterbomber (for JaboG 31) with Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun installed and long range tanks as loose parts
shipped in boxes to Bremerhaven, Germany November 3, 1961; by railroad to Manching AB for reassembly
Messerschmitt test flight on March 19, 1962; acceptance date by BABwMTT March 30, 1962
DA+231 JaboG 31 "Boelcke" at Norvenich AB delivery date on April 3, 1962; assigned for project "Columbus" on November 15, 1962
according project "Columbus" airlifted coded BG+122 to Lockheed-Burbank on March 13, 1963
reassembled and modified to the latest modification level at Lockheed-Palmdale
 operated in USAF silver finish by the 4510th CCTW at Luke AFB (German shadow serial number 2021, never used for registration) coded 13243
2.853 flight hours in May 1977; flown until end of operation at Luke AFB on March 16, 1983
struck off charge order (AVA) July 19, 1983; sold to USAF with "Phase III" lot with 3.591 flight hours 1983
MAP (Military Assistance Program) to ROCAF under project "Ali Shan No.8"; delivered by sea container and arrived at 1st Depot at Pingtung South AB for reassembly July 19, 1983
delivered to 41 TFS of 499 TFW at CCK (Ching Chuan Kang) AB coded "4368"; in 1986 499 TFW moved to Hsinshu AB
crashed March 24, 1990, weather suddenly got bad during a TACAN approach at Hsinchu AB, crashed in formation with "4385" (cn 8009 sn 63-13273) at Taoyuan AB after a midair collision
pilot Maj. Li Chung Lian was killed, written off.

Project "42": 42 aircraft (hence the name of the project!) for JaboG 31 (FBW 31) at Norvenich in Fighterbomber version with built-in Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun, 
long-range tanks as loose parts.

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The F-104 stared in the film "The Right Stuff" 1982; the pilots were Lt Col Robert Patterson (USAF) and Oberstleutnant Heinrich Thueringer (GAF).
Two F-104G from the 69th TFTS at Luke AFB were used to film the flying sequences; one was 63-13243, the other was 63-13269. For the movie both were just serialed "132", both were later transferred to Taiwan.

Read the story about the flights for the movie: http://www.f104g.de/piloten/thueringer_heinrich/thueringer_right-stuff.htm

see tiptank fin with Bi-Centennial marks 1976