The Starfighter Serials

d/d 02aug56, AFFTC (1956-1958), AMC storage (late58), delivered to USNAVY 09apr59

Note:
This aircraft was the very first Starfighter which was shown to the public. Since the inlet structure was still a big secret the inlets were shielded by closed cones.

Accident Reports:

It never encountered any accident (as far as we know) while serving the US Air Force.

	YF-104A 55-2956 hiding its technical secret during the first press-photos. Large cones have been added over the inlets and gives the aircraft a very strange look. Photo was taken in April 1956.
	Here the aircraft with fake cones towed out of the big Lockheed hangar on 17 April 1956. This day the aircraft was shown to the public for the very first time.
	The 55-2956 was used for tests at Edwards with AFFTC for more then 2 years. Here it is still lacking the arrestor hook and ventral fin.

US NAVY 55-2956/"956"

d/d 09apr59, ex-USAF 55-2956, ChinaLake (apr59-jun59) w/o jun59

Accident Reports:

June 1959 (F-104A)
While belonging to the US Navy China Lake AIM9 test team it crashed during take-off. Pilot CMDR Herkimer Kamp gladly survived the accident. The aircraft was lost during this accident at NAF and was declared w/o although the fuselage still looked in one piece on photos known of the wreck .The tail section seems to have been broken. The aircraft encountered engine trouble and ran off the end of the runway.

Note:
Prior to delivery to the US Navy the aircraft had been modified to F-104A standard including specific test facilities which made is officially a JF-104A.

	After the US NAVY had used the XF-104 FG786 on loan for testing missiles they got officially a Starfighter delivered in April 1959. Here the aircraft is seen at China Lake NAS where it was testflown for a number of months before it was lost in a crash. The US Navy outfit looks rather strange on an F-104 Starfighter, never designed to operate from aircraft carriers...
	Here a shot of the tailsection of this 55-2956. It shows the type "F-104A" although officially the aircraft had been configured as JF-104A testbed.
	A very interesting photo showing the aircraft and its testteam. Note the interesting badge (China Lake NAS) on the nose of the aircraft.
	Very unique photo of the 55-2956 at China Lake NAS after it was declared w/o during a crash during the take off at China Lake. (Photo courtesy of Larry Raybal, thanks to Gary Verver).