F-104C "FG-907" 434th TFS "Red Devils" Commander aircraft, three stripes over the fuselage marking the CO aircraft

F-104C, construction number 183-1195, model 483-04-05, serial number 56-0907, built by Lockheed
accepted December 9, 1958 by the USAF, delivery in January 1959, 479th TFW 434th TFS (1959-January 1959); crashed January 29, 1959 at George AFB, California. Pilot Ed Skelton ejected safely.

It was the aircraft of the Commander of the 434th TFS, The Red Devils, Lt Col John Rosenbaum. When it crashed it was flown by the 434th Ops Officer, Capt Eddie "Ed" Skelton

Leading a four ship formation, Ed was taking off on the long runway 30 at George AFB. As he rotated and the gear started to come up he had a compressor stall and a complete loss of power.
He pulled the aircraft vertical, to about 1500 feet, called "Ejecting" and went out horizontal to the ground. They had downward ejection in those days.
1st F-104C USAF loss

copyright © Dick Moore