F-104G "6-18" 154°Gruppo of 6°Stormo from Ghedi AB at Bitburg AB, Germany in September 1975

F-104G, construction number 683D-6523, serial number MM6523, model 683-10-19, built by FIAT
delivery date AMI 8.7.1963; 154°Gruppo 07.1963-11.1963; delivery date 21°Gruppo from 9°Gruppo 3.3.1969; 53-07 04.1969-13.10.1969
IRAN from 13.10.1969; 4-1 08.1970; 4-15(?); 6-18 154°Gruppo from Ghedi AB crashed at Wenzelberg, south of Bitburg AB, Germany on 25.9.1975 with 1.726 flight hours.

15 till 25 September 1975 a squadron exchange took place between the USAFE 22 TFS/36 TFW based at Bitburg,
flying the F-4 Phantom and the Italian Air Force 154 Gruppo based at Ghedi flying the F-104G.
The Italians came to Germany with aircraft MM6508/6-19, MM6516/6-07, MM6523/6-18 and MM6575/6-03.
It was a very tragic event since all four Starfighters were lost on their way home on the morning of Thursday September 25th.
It was a day with low clouds and the four Italian F-104G departed Bitburg AB in two-ships homebound for Ghedi.
While trying to follow the SID (which was unsuitable for the aircraft configuration) and simultaneously perform a formation re-join
they hit raising terrain at Wenzelberg, SSW of Bitburg AB. All aircraft were destroyed, the pilots were sadly all killed instantly.

copyright © Helmut Baumann