F-104G "13251" (63-13251) with a "SUU-21" practice bomb dispenser on the CL station 1976

F-104G, construction number 683-2035, company model 683-10-19, US serial number 63-13251, built by Lockheed
manufactured by Group USA (ARGE-USA); assembly in Fighterbomber version according contract lot 4
Lockheed delivery date October 27, 1961 coded "135"; KF+111 airlifted to Germany November 15, 1961 with 16 flight hours
project "42" as Fighterbomber (for JaboG 31) with Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun installed and long range tanks as loose parts; Messerschmitt test flight January 15, 1962
DA+239 JaboG 31 "Boelcke" at Norvenich AB delivery date on March 19, 1962 in Silver-finish colors
planned for project "Columbus" on November 15, 1962; to Messerschmitt for disassembly on February 14, 1963
according project "Columbus" airlifted coded BG+119 on March 7, 1963 to Lockheed-Burbank, USA
 reassembled and modified to the latest modification level at Lockheed-Palmdale
in May 1963 to the 4510th TFTW Luke AFB (German shadow serial number 2028) in USAF Silver-finish color scheme, operated coded 13251
severe landing accident on February 6, 1969 on Rwy 21R, after a Ground Attack Tactical (GAT) mission the aircraft nose started up and pitched down sharply during landing flare
the F-104 impacted the overrun and the undercarriage collapsed, the aircraft continued to slide down the Rwy for about 4.500 feet, the pilot was unharmed
repaired at Lockheed and back to flying operations; in 1976 temporarily grounded due to fatigue cracks, repaired and back to flying operations with 2.509 flight hours in May 1977
into long term storage later; struck off charge order (AVA) January 24, 1983; sold to USAF with 2.784 flight hours with "Phase I" lot
MAP (Military Assistance Program) to ROCAF 1983 under project "Ali Shan No.8"; coded "4372" for 42 TFS of 2 Wing at Hsinchu AB; withdrawn from use 1994; scrapped.

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

copyright © Hans van Ettinger