TF-104G "D-5702" at Leeuwarden AB in July 1980

TF-104G, construction number 583D-5702, model 583-10-20, built by Lockheed
5702 was manufactured in 1962 and planned to be delivered to the German Air Force as KE+202. However Lockheed decided to keep the aircraft for promotion purposes for
foreign sales of the F-104G "Super" Starfighter version, registered N90500. The aircraft was nicknamed "Free World Defender" and carried a special logo.
One of the projects run was promotion activities like the record flight by Jacqueline Cochran in 1963.
On May 1, 1963 she won back the women's world speed record over a 100 km closed course, once held by France (by Jacqueline Auriol).
She took off from Edwards Air Force Base and recorded an FAT-observed speed of 1,203.94 mp/h. Two weeks earlier, on April 12,1963 she already had beaten her own held record over
the 15/25 km straight course with a speed of 1,273.10 mp/h (= 2,048.875 km/h).
coded N104L it arrived in Holland in August 1965 and was assembled with Fokker Avio Diepen and flown over to Volkel Air Base, in light grey color scheme on August 23, 1965.
On October 25, 1965 the aircraft was transferred to the TDM at Twenthe Air Base were it flew until it was transferred to TCA at Leeuwarden Air Base on October 7, 1968.
On July 6, 1971 it went to Fokker Avio Diepen (Ypenburg Air Base) for an anti-corrosion treatment and receiving a new camouflage paint).
It arrived back on September 2, 1971 at Leeuwarden with engine 414-230. On March 2, 1976 this aircraft reached 2000 hours as the first Dutch Starfighter!!!
The aircraft was seen a lot of time outside Holland. Examples are its participation during a squadron rotation in Grazzanise in 1976, a visit to Lossiemouth in August 1977 and participation
during a squadron exchange with Belgium Mirages at Florennes in September 1979
delivery to Turkey started on August 25, 1980 when it departed with other Starfighters from Leeuwarden Air Base to Grosseto Air Base in Italy for a fuel stop.
Then it continued flying to Gioia del Colle Air Base, Italy for a nightstop. The next day it flew from Gioia to its new homebase Murted after 1 more fuelstop at Balikesir in Turkey.
Soon after arrival its serial D-5702 was removed and replaced by its new operational code "4-702".
It flew with 4 AJU with code "4-702" at least till 1981. In 1987 it was seen serving 9 AJU at Balikesir with code "9-702". With that Wing it flew till 1989.
In August 1989 it was seen withdrawn from use at Eskisehir Air Base (storage area). It is very likely that it was scrapped around mid 90s because it was last noted in October 1993 (storage).

claim of fame:
May 29, 1963: Lockheed Test Pilot Anthony M. "Tony" LeVier and his 18 years old daughter, Toni Ann LeVier, flew the TF-104G Starfighter company demonstrator, FAA registration N104L,
from Air Force Plant 42, Palmdale, California to Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. They made fuel stops at Kirkland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Tinker Air Force Base,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton Ohio.

copyright @ Harry Prins