The Starfighter Serials

d/d 03aug56, AFFTC (aug56-1958), 83rd FIS (1958), 3205th DS (mar61-jul67) w/o 08aug67

Note:
This Starfighter became famous when Howard C Johnson broke the record (91243 feet) on 7 March 1958. The aircraft was officially assigned to 83 FiS at Hamilton AB but had special equipment being a JF-104A. The aircraft stayed JF-104A until it was modified into QF-104A at Palmdale in March 1961. Aircraft was delivered as QF-104A on 10 March 1961 and assigned to the 3205th Drone Squadron at Eglin AB. A few times it was modified to JQF-104A. For example on November 1st, 1961 at Eglin AB and later on January 18th, 1963 at McClellan AB for specific testing and optimizing the QF modifications. This testing ended in the summer of 1965. This 55-2957 was modified back to standard QF-104A and entered again the normal drone-fleet at Eglin Air Base. Two years later it was shotdown.

Accident Reports:

8 August 1967 (QF-104A)
It never encountered any accident but was shotdown as drone on 8 August 1967, serialled as "QFG-957". Sadly there is no information available about where it was shotdown and how. It was on its 4th drone flight.

	Here YF-104A can be seen taxying towards the runway in 1956. It shows also the factory production code nr "3" being the 3rd produced YF-104A.
	Here the 55-2957 is seen taking off for its record flight on 7 March 1958. It shows the markings of 83 FiS.
	On 7 March 1958 Major Howard C. Johnson managed to break the altitude record by reaching 91243 feet. On this photo he is celebrating his record with (left) Capt Walter Irwin and (right) Capt James Low.
	Early 1963 the aircraft was modified to JQF-104A to test the remote control system. This 55-2957 was the first Starfighter flying unmanned. On this photo the aircraft is seen during one of its first missions. Note the remote control unit.
	During the tests also pilots flew the aircraft to assure that the aircraft could safely return to the airbase when the system should fail
	On this photo the typical QF-104A dayglow colorscheme can be seen. Later aircraft got black serials in stead of the white ones on this 55-2957.