F-104D "FG-328" (57-1328) USAF at NAF China Lake 1960

F-104D, construction number 283-5040, model 583-04-06, US serial number 57-1328, built by Lockheed
delivery date June 19, 1959, early F-104B canopy and no arrester hook, NAF China Lake for Sidewinder missile tests 1960-1961
severely damaged on August 25, 1962 at George AFB after starter failure on ground during a maintenance ground run for a leak check and
compressor stall check, on two prior starts the IGV was out of rig and adjusted, on the 3rd run-up to military power a muffled explosion occurred
and the aircraft immediately caught fire. They did three full engine run-ups on the ground with three ground personnel (NCOs) and
a pilot (Italian Air Force) in the front seat. At or near military power on the third run-up a muffled explosion occurred and the aircraft caught fire.
The throttle was immediately stop-cocked, but Major Fiore got tangled up in something and broke both his arms and
his nose escaping/falling from the cockpit. The entire underside of the center fuselage was engulfed in flames.
Fire fighters got there in 90 seconds and took 10 minutes to put the fire out, the aircraft received major damage.

copyright © Gary Verver