F-104N "813" (4058) chasing XB-70 just prior to the midair collision in 1966

F-104N, construction number 683C-4058, model 683-10-19, built by Lockheed
[N813NA] F-104N (F-104G type), Construction Number: 683C-4058 4058 delivery date October 22, 1963 to the NASA
arrived at the Flight Research Center on October 22, 1963 with 4.75 hours on the airframe for high speed chase flights
It was piloted by Joseph A. Walker, and wore NASA tail number 013. Within a week, four other NASA pilots also flew 013
On November 1, 1963 Walker flew NASA 013 to "Yuletide" Special Operations Area northeast of Groom Lake, Nevada
The flight was in support of the X-15 program. Groom Lake was a contingency landing site for the rocket plane
following launches near Delamar, Nevada. NASA 013 frequently served as chase or weather observation aircraft for the X-15
The aircraft made its 235th flight coded NASA 013 on March 5, 1965, again piloted by Walker
On its next sortie, flown by Milton O. Thompson on March 8 1965, the aircraft had been redesignated NASA 813
On November 29, 1965, Joe Walker flew NASA 813 as chase for the XB-70. Walker had been selected to become NASA's chief XB-70 pilot
He made four additional XB-70 chase flights in November and December 1965, and seven more in March 1966
The aircraft was lost in a midair collision during a photo mission with the XB-70A-2 Valkyrie bomber (62-0702) on June 8, 1966
in a tragic accident killing Joe Walker. It was during its 409th flight. It was replaced by NASA 820
During its three-year service life, NASA 013 (later 813) flew a total of 409 NASA sorties and logged 627.7 flight hours.
t was flown by nine different NASA pilots including Joseph A. Walker, Milton O. Thompson, Bruce Peterson, John "Jack" McKay, Donald Mallick, William H. Dana, Fred Haise, John Manke,
and flight surgeon Dr. James Roman. Walker made 165 of the flights, more than any other pilot.

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