F-104G "R-700" 726 Esk of Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) in 1973

F-104G, construction number 683D-6052, serial number 63-12700, model 683-10-19, built by Canadair
manufactured by Canadair; first flight June 5, 1964; ready at Canadair on August 17, 1964; delivery date to USAF on August 17, 1964 coded "FG-700/32700, after 5 flights with 8:25 flight hours
via Langley AFB, Virginia flown to MOAMA Brookley, Alabama; MAP (Military Assistance Program) assigned at MOAMA, Brookley AFB, Alabama
shipped to Denmark on escort carrier USS "Croatan"; the aircraft arrived at Nørresundby, Denmark on December 19, 1964; MAP to Denmark December 19, 1964 coded R-700
delivery date for 726 Esk on January 25, 1965; December 17, 1968 painted in an all green camouflage scheme; Esk 723 on November 1, 1971; Esk 726 on July 1, 1972
repainted in glossy green camouflage scheme on March 23, 1983; crashed January 17, 1985 during the return to Aalborg AB into the Kattegat sea 6 NM east of Hjelm with 3.720 flying hours
the pilot was killed, written off.

R-700 crashed near Aebeltost into the Kattegat. Pilot was sadly killed in this accident. It happened during an air defense exercise when it crashed in the Kattegat, 10 km east of Helmet
shortly after the pilot had ordered his wingman to return to Aalborg Air Base due to fuel shortage. This wingman had then tried to get radio contact with R-700, but without response.
2 hours later the SAR team detected an oil slick at sea. The cause was likely a fuel leakage.

copyright © Erik Frikke