183-1005 (YF-104A)

USAF 55-2959/FG-959

d/d 28jun56, General Electric (jun56-jun58), declared w/o in jul60 and airframe was scrapped in Oct60.

Note: This Starfighter has been selected to be used specifically for engine testing. For this reason it was assigned to General Electric immediately after delivery. It arrived at General Electric on June 27th (the day before the official USAF adminstrated delivery date) and was used by General Electric until July 1958. On the tail a special General Electric logo was applied during the test-period. The airframe was prepared as JF-104A for this purpose but people at General Electric never saw this specific designation.
In July 1958 its career with General Electric ended when it was destroyed by a fire while landing on 10 July 1958. It went to Lockheed, Burbank in February 1959, likely for repair, but this was not possible anymore. It was transferred to Lockheed in Palmdale in July 1960 followed by a transport to McClellan. It looks like it was dismantled for spare parts. The rest of the aircraft was scrapped later in October 1960.

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Accident Reports:

10 July 1958 (YF-104A)
During a testflight the pilot experienced a fire. The pilot made a normal landing but the aircraft was partially destroyed by the fire. The airframe was scrapped at AFFTC a short time later.
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55-2959
YF-104A seen here at the General Electric engine testcenter on a special photo regarding all the used jet-engine test aircraft by GE in February 1958. (Photo by General Electric, thanks to David Markley)
55-2959
On this official USAF photo which was released early 60s the YF-104A 55-2959 is seen while taking off from Edwards AFB. Note the initial shaped nosewheel doors and the lacking ventral fin and arrestor hook. Also the typical yellow "General Electric" band can be seen which was applied on the tail.
55-2959
YF-104A 55-2959 seen from the starboard side at the ramp of the General Electric testcenter, Edwards California. It was taken on February 14th, 1958. Note the wonderful yellow band markings on the tail. (Photo thanks to Chris Baird)

With many thanks to David Markley and Jason Chapman for the General Electric historical details and a number of unique photos!!

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