QF-104A "0-60737" 3205th Drone Squadron in overall Day-Glo color scheme 1962

F-104A, construction number 183-1025, model 183-93-02, US serial number 56-0737, built by Lockheed
accepted by USAF May 23, 1957; delivery date May 24, 1957
AFFTC ARDC (Air Research and Development Center), Edwards AFB, CA (1957-April 1958) (to JF-104A)
1958 at NAF China Lake with Navy Missile Center (NMC) for supersonic Sidewinder missile tests of USAF
83rd FIS Hamilton AFB, California; TPS (Test Pilot School); TTF (Target Towing Flight) at McClellan AB, California 1959
QF-104A QFG-737 on October 31, 1961; May 4, 1971 porpoised (bounced) on landing; 3205th DS June 25, 1971 hit by AIM-9, but recovered
shot down on July 3, 1972 by AIM-9 after 21 drone flights.

That was the last day that a QF-104 was lost during the QF-104 program
QF-104 56-737 flew an unmanned mission and was killed by an AIM-9J sidewinder missile at 10.000 feet at 0.95 Mach speed.

copyright © Ken Luedeke