d/d 25jun57, 3415th TTW (aug57-jan59), ARDC & General Electric (dec59-oct60) w/o 21oct60

Detailed history :
This 56-751 came from the productionline on 29 April 1957 and after some testflights it was accepted by the US Air Force on 24 June 1957. One day later it was delivered to the USAF. In August 1957 it was transferred to the 3415th Technical Training Wing (Air Training Command) at Lowry AFB already as JF-104A testbed. In January 1959 it went to Mc Clellan AFB (Sacramento Air Material Area) and in December 1959 it was transferred to the AFFTC (ARDC) at Edwards Air Force Base where it was modified back to F-104A.
Sadly no photos are known of this aircaft. The aircraft coded "56-751" currently preserved at Grass Valley is a different aircraft with a fake serial.

Accident Reports:

21 October 1960 (F-104A)

This day Capt. Robert A. Rushworth of the 6512th Test Group, AFFTC took off with F-104A 56-751 at 1530 PST from Edwards AFB for a functional check flight (FCF) after a stabilizer servo change. At the end of the flight the pilot flew a Simulated Flame-out Pattern. During the go-around the gear warning light came on. At altitude he cycled and checked the gear several times, but it indicated unsafe in the down position. A T-38 pilot visually checked the F-104 and noted the gear doors open with the gear retracted. Pulling the manual landing gear release handle (free fall) was no help. Capt Rushworth tried to force the gear down be applying maximum load (Gs) to the aircraft. This caused the left main gear to extend to what looked like the extended position. The right main and the nose gear remained up. At that time “Edwards Test” operations advised a controlled bail-out.
Capt Rushworth positioned the aircraft over the Edwards Bombing Range and ejected at an altitude of 5.000 feet and an airspeed of 240 knots. The ejection was normal and Capt Rushworth was picked up by a helicopter. The F-104 crashed into the Edwards Bombing Range.