F-104G 13269  58th TTW wearing "The Fighting 69th" tail 1982

construction number 683D-8002, model 683-10-19, US serial number 63-13269, built by Fokker
manufactured by North Group (ARGE-Nord); assembled with Lockheed produced parts; Fokker factory construction number 10452
coded KG+102 first flight March 2, 1962; project "42" as Fighter-Bomber (for JaboG 31) with  Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun installed 
and long range tanks as loose parts; acceptance date May 16, 1962 by BABwFokker (RNAF-MTA)
DA+249 JaboG 31 delivery date on May 15, 1962; DR+249 to LPR 1 for project "Balance" system upgrading
according project "Columbus" on July 22, 1963 to Lockheed, Palmdale, USA coded BG+146
 coded 13269 operated by the 4510th CTTW (German shadow serial number 2328) in USAF Silver finish colors
grounded due to fatigue cracks in April 1974; repaired and operational again
69th TFTS Commander's aircraft Luke AFB (KLUF) Arizona 1980 wearing the "Fighting 69th" tail art
the F-104 stared in the film "The Right Stuff" 1982; the pilots were Lt Col Robert Patterson (USAF) and 
Oberstleutnant Heinrich Thueringer (GAF); struck off charge order July 19, 1983 and sold to the USAF with Phase III lot
with 3.111 flight hours to Taiwan (ROCAF) in 1983 coded "4383" under Project "Ali Shan 8" to 2 Wing
withdrawn from use August 6, 1996; written off in 1st Depot in Pingtung; likely scrapped

Two F-104G's 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 film both were just serialed "132"
both were later transferred to Taiwan

copyright © Günter Grondstein