F-104G "D-8244" 311 squadron RNLAF at RAF Gutersloh 1983

F-104G, construction number 683D-8244, model 683-10-19, built by Fokker
Fokker factory construction number 10694; D-8244 taken on charge on May 27, 1964; June 2, 1964 to 311 squadron
March 1980 rotation between 311 squadron based at Volkel AB and the Royal Air Force 5 squadron based at RAF Binbrook flying the Lightning
April 1981 311 squadron from Volkel AB rotated with the Italian Air Force 155 Gruppo, based at Istrana, flying the F-104S
January 1982 to TTS at Leeuwarden AB; last flight November 21, 1983; November 21, 1983 arrival Deelen AB for Schaarsbergen (LETS)
D-8244 used as instructional airframe within the LETS in Schaarsbergen, where they painted over all the serial digits in red and
applied the well-known Russian Air Force star on its tail, soon it was nicknamed "Gorby Jet"
stored Militair Luchtvaart Museum Soesterberg 1998, ex LETS instructional "Gorby-jet" red serial 1991
inside building 33 at Soesterberg AFB, April 9, 2006 noted, April 2010 last noted
 to Everett, WA, USA September 2010; Snohomish County Airport-Paine Field, WA 30.10.2010
restoration at Wolf Aircraft in Denison, Texas June 2011; suspended the refurbishment in 02.2012
the Palm Springs Air Museum, CA bought the aircraft in early 2014, it arrived in June 2014
coded as USAF F-104C 57-913 at the Palm Springs Air Museum, California April 2016 noted; April 2024 noted.

33°49'58.4"N 116°30'14.3"W

copyright @ Thomas Westhoff-Düppmann