F-104S "51-55" 155°Gruppo of 51°Stormo at Aviano AB 1979

F-104S, construction number 1244, serial number MM6944, model 783, built by Aeritalia
production line 25.9.1978; delivery date AMI 19.12.1978; delivery date 155°Gruppo 25.1.1979, 51-55 19.2.1979-24.8.1983; stored Istrana 09.1983-7.5.1985
IRAN from 7.5.1985; 5-03 102°Gruppo of 5°Stormo Rimini AB 12.1986-19.1.1990; modified to F-104S.ASA at Alenia till 19.12.1991
5-24 15.10.1993-01.1994; 5-44 07.1994-11.4.1996; IRAN + F-104S.ASA-M conversion 11.4.1996-2.10.1998
grey camouflage scheme; delivery date 18°Gruppo 2.10.1998; 37-24 of 18°Gruppo crashed on November 4, 1998,
the Starfighter came down near the island of Marettimo into the Sicilian Channel.
Flying with three other F-104s from Trápani, the engine of MM6944 lost power and the pilot had no other option than to eject.

copyright © Sergio Gava