The Starfighter Serials

dd 10aug63, 331skv "FN-U" lateron "633" (aug63-jul81) to Turkey on 08jul81

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).
This 61-2633 has been participating in a squadron exchange in October 1965 with the Dutch Starfighter Wing at Twenthe Air Base and in August 1980 it participated in the squadron exchange with nr 17 Squadron based at Bruggen, Germany.
After phase out in Norway (total flying hours 3373,7) 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 June 26th, 1981. At Sculthorpe the aircraft received Turkish markings and was flown over to Turkey on July 8th, with a nightstop at Grosseto, arriving at Murted Air Base July 9th.

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.

61-2633

F-104G 61-2633 as "FN-U". This particular aircraft flew most of its years with a light grey area over the forward fuselage. It is unknown why. (Photo Erik Dahlen)

F-104G 61-2630 during a squadron rotation at Bruggen n 1980.

dd 08jul81, 4AJU (jul81-jun83), 9AJU (80s) instructional Gaziemir Technical School, currently preserved.

Note: This Starfighter flew from Norway to Sculthorpe (UK) on June 26th, 1981. There it was prepared for delivery to Turkey. It flew from Scultorpe (8th July 1981) via Grosseto AFB (nightstop) to Murted Air Base where it arrived on July 9th, 1981.
After its operational career with the Turkish Air Force it became an instructional airframe inside the Technical School at Gaziemir. It's code was changed from 9-633 to E-633 (E=Education). It was first noted in July 1990 and has been phased out in between. Nowadays it can be found preserved outside at the school premises, first noted in April 1999.

The F-104G 61-2633 was assigned to the Sahin Kitah training squadron within the 4th AJU (Wing) at Murted Air Base. Here it is seen returning from a mission at Murted Air Base in 1983 wearing code "4-633".

Aircraft 633 has been used as instructional airframe inside the technical school at Gaziemir. After it was not used anymore they decided to repaint the aircraft and put it on display at the entrance. Here it is seen just after it was repainted.

Nowadays aircraft 633 can be found preserved at the entrance of the school.