RF-104G "D-8133" 306 squadron RNLAF landing at Volkel AB in April 1981

RF-104G, construction number 683D-8133, model 683-04-10, built by Fokker
Fokker factory construction number 10583, RF-104G taken on charge by RNLAF October 31, 1963
November 8, 1963 coded D-8133 to 306 squadron; June 1981 squadron exchange with USAF squadron 1 TRS of 10 TRW, based at Alconbury AB
crashed December 1, 1981 after it developed a fuel-leak caused by a bird strike and caught fire after landing at Jever AB, Germany, written off.

This F-104 was one of two aircraft on a mission above the North German area. The mission was making pictures by Orpheus of specific SAM-sites.
All went ok until during flying back to Volkel the 8133 encountered a birdstrike. The bird, an eider duck, hit the right inlet cone resulting
in the creation of a big hole between the inlet and the fuselage. A white stripe-track coming from the gap indicated also a damaged fuel system,
but the pilot noticed on his instruments there was no abnormal fuel dissipation going on. Also red "Fire" indication lights were burning,
and the pilot decided to make an emergency landing at Jever. This landing went ok at the beginning but half way the runway the F104 caught fire near the right inlet.
When he selected the drag chute it refused to deploy and the pilot selected the hook. After stopped 'roughly' by the barrier-cable a bulk of fuel went out of the hole and exploded.
The pilot opened the canopy to leave the aircraft as soon as possible. However the F104 was burning heavy so he closed it again.
Then he blew the canopy away to create a way to leave the aircraft at the other side. The pilot was ok although he had some fire-wounds at 2nd degree.
he aircraft burned out completely at the right side and was written off.

copyright © Gerben Groothuis