F-104G "12747" (65-12747) 69 TFTS of 58th TFTW at Luke AFB, Arizona 1982

F-104G, construction number 683D-7098, company model 683-10-19, US serial number 65-12747, built by Messerschmitt (MTT)
manufactured by South Group (ARGE-Süd); assembly by Messerschmitt-Manching starting June 10, 1963
assembly in Fighterbomber version according contract lot 3; first flight August 27, 1963 coded KE+398
construction level "Zeus" as Fighterbomber (for MFG 1) with long range tanks installed, "AS.30" anti-ship missile wiring system and Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun as loose part
camouflage scheme "Norm 62" according tech order "TA-196"; acceptance date October 18, 1963 by BABwMTT with 9:40 flight hours
LwVersRgt 3 at Manching AB on October 22, 1963 for modifications and stored; not delivered to a wing in Germany; planned for project "Columbus" on January 27, 1965
airlifted to USA on March 10, 1965 according project "Columbus III" to Lockheed-Burbank; reassembled and modified to the latest modification level at Lockheed-Palmdale
 operated by the 4510th CCTW at Luke AFB in USAF Silver-finish colors with USAF markings coded 12747 (German shadow serial number 2223); 2.445 flight hours during IRAN in May 1977
flown until end of operation at Luke AFB on March 16, 1983; struck off charge order (AVA) July 21, 1983; with 3.238 flight hours sold to USAF with "Phase II" lot
MAP (Military Assistance Program) to ROCAF under project "Ali Shan No.8" in 1983 coded as "4389"; operated by 2 Wing from 1989 till March 1994
withdrawn from use March 7, 1994; scrapped 1998.

project "Zeus": 21 Fighterbomber from ARGE-Süd (MTT) for 1st Squadron of the Naval Air Wing 1 (MFG 1) at Schleswig-Jagel with long range tanks installed, 
AS.30 "Kormoran" wiring system and Vulcan M61 20 mm machine gun as loose part.

copyright © Günter Grondstein