F-104C "FG-897" 476th TFS "Blue Knights" in winter 1959/60 at Moron AB, Spain

F-104C, construction number 183-1185, model 483-04-05, US serial number 56-0897, built by Lockheed
delivery date November 17, 1958; 479th TFW November 1958-June 1961
476th TFS "Blue Knights" (blue); deployed Moron, Spain; crashed June 15, 1961 in Spain.

copyright @ Norm Filer

Note to the interesting tail markings:
TAC had edicted that ALL unit markings would be removed and replaced with the TAC emblem with
the yellow lightning bolt behind it. Needless to say, it was a very unpopular order.
The squadron decided to ignore the new order and hoped at least to defer it until it returned to the States.
The result was that the first markings were overlayed by the reversed lightning bolt

Note as well the two stripes over the fuselage, indicating that 897 was the Ops officer bird of 476 squadron