F-104G "13254" (63-13254) in landing configuration 1977

F-104G, construction number 683-2038, company model 683-10-19, US serial number 63-13254, built by Lockheed
manufactured by Group USA (ARGE-USA); assembly in Fighterbomber version according contract lot 4; flight test release October 27, 1961
flown with register number "138" for test flights; coded KF+114 accepted by BABwLockheed for delivery
airlifted to Messerschmitt-Manching, Germany on November 28, 1961 with 17:50 flight hours for reassembly
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 April 7, 1962
DA+242 JaboG 31 "Boelcke" at Norvenich AB delivery date on April 17, 1962 in Silver-finish colors; planned for project "Columbus" on November 15, 1962; March 11, 1963 to Messerschmitt for disassembly
airlifted according project "Columbus" coded BG+129 on April 5, 1963 to Lockheed-Burbank; reassembled and modified to the latest modification level at Lockheed-Palmdale
 operated at Luke AFB by the 4510th CCTW (German shadow serial number 2031, never used for registration) in USAF Silver-finish coded 13254
in May 1977 with 2.630 flight hours on active flying status; withdrawn from use and stored in airworthy condition as attrition reserve aircraft
struck off charge order (AVA) January 24, 1983; sold to USAF with "Phase I" lot with 3.140 flight hours in 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 January 24, 1983
delivered to 42 TFS of 499 TFW at CCK (Ching Chuan Kang) AB coded "4375"; moved to Hsinshu AB in August 1986; in 1989 to 8 TFS of 427 TFW at CCK AB
to 12 TRS (12 Tactical Reconnaicance Squadron) of 401 TCW at Taoyuan AB in 1991; modified to RF-104G in 1991; September 1992 12 TRS moved to Hsinshu AB; withdrawn from use and stored in 1997
preserved as Gate Guard at Taoyuan AB with 12 SMS markings 1999; November 8, 2004 last noted; display in "Base Collection" at Hualien AB on January 26, 2007 with 12 SMS markings, Hualien County, Sincheng Township
(Taoyuan AB was transferred to the ROCN); September 3, 2009 noted; May 2025 noted.

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

The plan was to code the German F-104 operating at Luke with "BG" codes, but this was not legal according to USAF regulations.

copyright © Willy Metze