JF-104A "60755" XB-70 Valkyrie chase The North American Aviation XB-70 Valkyrie was the prototype version of the planned B-70 nuclear-armed, deep-penetration strategic bomber for the United States Air Force Strategic Air Command. Designed in the late 1950s by North American Aviation, the six-engined Valkyrie was capable of cruising for thousands of miles at Mach 3+ while flying at 70,000 feet (21,000 m). F-104A, construction number 183-1043, model 183-93-02, US serial number 56-0755, built by LockheedIt was available after manufacturing at Lockheed Burbank on May 29, 1957 and accepted by the USAF on August 15, 1957 and August 19, 1957 delivered to the AF Operational Test Center (Air Research and Development Command (ARDC) section) at Edwards AFB (AFOTC: Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center). December 1957 (as JF-104A test aircraft) coded FG-755 it was transferred to the Air Force Proving Ground Center at Eglin AFB for several test programs (3201st Air Base Support Squadron). In February 1963 it was transferred back to Edwards AFB and delivered to the 6501th OMS (Air Force Logistics Center) and modified to F-104A. In February 1966 it was handed over to the Air Force Flight Test Center until it retired from active duties in late 1966. In the 60s it was used several times during chase flights during X-15 rocket flights and XB-70 test flights. In 1963 used by the TPS at Edwards AFB. After retirement it arrived at MASDC storage facility on February 4, 1970 where it stayed until January 1974 after it had been sold to DELCON. It departed MASDC via transport on March 16, 1974 and moved to Tucson because the aircraft was bought from this scrapdealer by Consolidated. Early 80s it was stated that it was sold to an unknown new owner. So in 1990 this F-104A showed up as F-104A "60752" at the Travis Air Museum, Travis AFB, Fairfield, CA being restored and receiving serial "56-752". noted at Travis Air Force Base Heritage Center (aka: Jimmy Doolittle Air & Space Museum) 2005, February 2007 noted August 2009 being prepped for new paint; March 2017 last noted (83rd FIS emblem on it). They stated it was on loan from the USAF museum at Wright Patterson but this is something which sounds unlikely looking at the civil sell to DELCON many years ago. On July 9, 2018 the aircraft arrived at March Field Air Museum, Riverside, CA; F-104A 56-0755 seen at March Field Air Museum February 2018 with the correct serial number; May 2022 noted.
33°53'13.0"N 117°16'05.8"W copyright © Chris Baird