The Starfighter Serials

dd 10aug63, 331skv "FN-H" lateron "631" (aug63-jul81) to Turkey on 15jul81

Note: This Starfighter was one of many delivered to Norway via the USS Croatan which arrived at Agag harbour on August 6th, 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). In August 1976 it received overhaul (IRAN) at Fokker-AvioDiepen, Ypenburg, Holland. This 61-2631 has been participating in a squadron exchange in June 1979 with a RAF squadron based at Wildenrath Air Base. Also it participated in Exercise Taceval in July 1969. It brought visits to Twenthe Air Base in January 1971 and to Aalborg during the open house (static show) in September 1975.
After phase out in Norway (total flying hours 3372,0) the aircraft was transferred to Turkey under MAP regulations (via the USAF). It was flown over just as other Norwegian MAP aircraft to Sculthorpe, UK where it arrived July 8th, 1981. At Sculthorpe the aircraft received Turkish markings and was flown over to Turkey on July 15th, with a nightstop at Grosseto, arriving at Murted Air Base July 16th.

Accident Reports:

28 April 1980 (F-104G)

This day it was damaged after en emergency landing due to a unique situation. 2nd Lt. Roar Strand inside Starfighter "633" and Lt Geir Haugland in "631" were on approach to Bodø when both planes experienced loss of hydraulic power. Strand touched down first and skidded off the runway before the plane came to a stop. Immediately afterwards Haugland came. Unable to control the F-104 he stayed on board as it also run off the runway and actually hit the halted "633". Miraculously, both aircraft were slightly damaged and both pilots escaped unhurt.

61-2631

Very nice photo of F-104G 61-2631 over the Norwegian environment. Aircraft shows the old code "FN-H". (Photo: Erik Dahlen)

F-104G 61-2631 on the static show at Aalborg Air Base in September 1975. It still has the blue lightning strikes painted on the tiptanks.

F-104G 61-2631 on the platform of Sculthorpe Air Base, UK in July 1981. Soon after it would receive Turkish markings and flown over to Murted Air Base.

dd 15jul81, 4AJU (jul81-jun83), 9AJU (jun86-jul87) likely wfu/scrapped

Note: This Starfighter flew from Norway to Sculthorpe (UK) on July 8th, 1981. There it was prepared for delivery to Turkey. It flew from Scultorpe (15th July 1981) via Grosseto AFB (nightstop) to Murted Air Base where it arrived on July 16th, 1981. We have no information about this Starfighter since July 1987.

After some years the aircraft received a traditional German Air Force camouflage scheme after transfer to 9AJU based at Balikesir Air Base. It has code "9-631" and seen here taxying to the runway in July 1987.

The last photo known of this F-104G 61-2631, at the flightline of Balikesir Air Base in 1987.