TF-104G "13624" (66-13624) during a "Low Level" training flight 1968

On February 12, 1964 the first F-104G was flown in from Palmdale, California, by Capt. Charles E. Ball, the Luke instructor pilot who had remained at George.
By mid July 1964, 23 TF-104Gs and 12 F-104Gs were assigned to Luke. A separate military sales case (i.e., program package) had been negotiated with the German government
in 1963 for the modification of the German aircraft used in the program. Although the aircraft belonged to the GAF, all were painted with the USAF markings.

On August 26, 1964, 14 USAF F-104 instructor pilots graduated in the second class conducted at Luke. With a sufficient number of aircraft and instructor pilots,
preparations were on target to receive the first advanced training class scheduled for October 1964.
They had entered undergraduate pilot training at Williams AFB in August 1963.
(Later in 1967, the undergraduate program would be moved to Sheppard AFB, Texas, because of an increase in USAF training at Williams)

copyright © Hubert Peitzmeier