F-104A 56-0757 "FG-757" US Air Force as Navy support at NAF China Lake

F-104A, construction number 183-1045, model 183-93-02, US serial number 56-0757, built by Lockheed
delivery date August 19, 1957; AFSC (1957-May 1959); 1959 at NAF China Lake for US Navy
coded as 60757 "China Lake" with NMC crashed on takeoff on April 7, 1961 just off the north end of the runway at George AFB
on a return flight to China Lake during US Navy Sidewinder missile tests.
Pilot U.S. Marine Corp Capt. David L. Hess lost his life from injuries sustained on April 28, 1961, written off
U.S. Marine Corps Captain David L. Hess lost his life from injuries sustained on April 7th when his F-104A Starfighter (56-0757)
crashed on takeoff from George AFB on a return flight to China Lake.
The cause was determined to be a failure of the George AFB flight line personnel to activate all of the circuit breakers which prevented the afterburner from firing during the take-off.
The afterburner not firing affected the F-104's take-off performance into a tailwind.

copyright © US Navy