The Starfighter Serials

dd 01nov63, 331skv "FN-K" lateron "625" (nov63-sep74) w/o 18sep74

Note: This Starfighter was one of many delivered to Norway via the USS Fiddler which arrived at Torp harbour on October, 26th 1963. It also had a RF-104G camera housing like lots of the early Norwegian Starfighters did. They did not wear camera's and soon were removed during the first maintenance cycle (or IRAN). This 61-2625 has been participating in a squadron exchange in October 1965 at Twenthe Air Base, Holland. On the day it was lost it had clocked a total of 1878.1 hours.

Accident Reports:

18 September 1974 (F-104G)

The aircraft, operated by 331st SKV based at Bodo AFB, was lost in a crash near Fauske, North Norway. While decending through clouds on approach to Bodø Air Base from the East, the aircraft crashed about 2,7 kilometers East of Setså in Saltdal. The pilot, Lt. Trond Sæthrum managed to eject, but the seat failed to separate from the pilot. He was tragically killed on the ground.

61-2625

Two photos showing the F-104G 61-2625 while wearing the old squadron code FN-K. On top was taken at Bodo Air Base in 1966 and the second one was taken in 1972 just before the old codes were removed.

Here a photo showing F-104G 61-2625 in 1974 when the old codes had been replaced by the new serial notation with the last three USAF serial digits written on the tail. Note the "K" still written on the fin of the tiptank.