F-104G "FG-245" (63-13245) on a 4 tanker mission 1965

F-104G, construction number 683-2028, company model 683-10-19, US serial number 63-13245, 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 "128" for test flights; coded KF+104 for delivery with 30:05 flight hours
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 on November 15, 1961
by railroad to Manching AB for reassembly; Messerschmitt reassembly and test flight January 25, 1962; acceptance date by BABwMTT April 26, 1962
DA+233 delivery date on April 27, 1962 to JaboG 31 "Boelcke" at Norvenich AB in Silver-finish colors; assigned for project "Columbus" on November 15, 1962
to Messerschmitt for disassembly on April 8, 1963; according project "Columbus" airlifted coded BG+134 to Lockheed-Burbank on May 9, 1963
reassembled and modified to the latest modification level at Lockheed-Palmdale
 operated by the 4510th CCTW at Luke AFB (German shadow serial number 2023, never used for registration) in USAF Silver-finish colors coded 13245
in long term storage from April 1976 until September 1978 with 2.334 flight hours; flown until end of operation at Luke AFB on March 16, 1983
struck off charge order (AVA) July 21, 1983; sold to USAF with 2.814 flight hours 1983 with "Phase II" lot
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 42 TFS of 499 TFW at CCK (Ching Chuan Kang) AB coded "4370"; in 1986 499 TFW moved to Hsinshu AB; to 8 TFS of 427 Wing at CCK AB in 1989
crashed October 3, 1991 after engine flame-out due to a mechanical malfunction and 2 unsuccessful restarts into the sea at Taiwan Strait during a radar intercept mission
the pilot Wang Tian You ejected safely and was rescued by S-70C helicopter; Lockheed C-2 seat; 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.

copyright © Wilhelm Göbel