916 Starfighter

F-104G "9-631" of 191 Filo of 9.AJU at Balikesir AB in July 1987

F-104G, construction number 683C-4031, model 683-10-19, US serial number 61-2631, built by Lockheed
MAP (Military Assistance Program) to Norway August 7, 1963, coded "FN-H" August 10, 1963 to 331 squadron at Bodø AB, delivered to Norway with escort carrier USS "Croatan",
which arrived at Agag harbor on August 6, 1963. It also had a RF-104G camera housing like lots of the early Norwegian Starfighters did.
They did not wear cameras and soon were removed during the first maintenance cycle (or IRAN)
from 27 May till 4 June 1970 the Norwegian Air Force 331 Skv at Bodo AB exchanged with RAF 11 Squadron flying the Lightning F.6, based at RAF Leuchars.
In August 1976 it received overhaul (IRAN) at Fokker-Avio Diepen, Ypenburg, Holland
participated in a squadron exchange in June 1979 with a RAF squadron based at Wildenrath Air Base. Also it participated in Exercise Tac Eval in July 1969.
It brought visits to Twenthe Air Base in January 1971 and to Aalborg during the open house (static show) in September 1975.
After phasing out in Norway (total flying hours 3.372) the aircraft was transferred to Turkey under MAP regulations (via the USAF).
It was flown over just as other Norwegian MAP aircraft to Sculthorpe, UK where it arrived July 8, 1981.
At Sculthorpe the aircraft received Turkish markings and was flown over to Turkey on July 15, 1981 with a nightstop at Grosseto,
arriving at Murted Air Base July 16, 1981; MAP (Military Assistance Program) to Turkish AF on July 16, 1981 (TuAF serial number 61-2631); coded "4-631" at Murted AB to Sahin Kita OCU on August 21, 1981
coded "9-631" on July 1, 1985 to 192 Filo of 9.AJU at Balikesir AB; withdrawn from use July 17, 1987; CFE cut-up at unknown date; scrapped.

Accident Report:
April 28, 1980 it was damaged after an emergency landing due to a unique situation. 2nd Lt. Roar Strand inside Starfighter "633" and Lt Geir Haugland in "631" were on approach to Bodø when both planes experienced loss of hydraulic power.
Strand touched down first and skidded off the runway before the plane came to a stop. Immediately afterwards Haugland came. Unable to control the F-104 he stayed on board as it also run off the runway and actually hit the halted "633".
Miraculously, both aircraft were slightly damaged and both pilots escaped unhurt.