F-104 Starfighters and their TLP participations

On this page an overview of all the events in which Starfighters played their own roles. The TLP (Tactical Leadership Program) is a specific exercise organised to train the more experienced pilots in high-level tactics and special techniques. Each event is/was divided in a number of weeks with each focussing on different areas.. First years (cold war period) it was mainly held at Jever AB until they finished late 80s. From early 90s the NATO restarted the initiative in a more modern layout and organised TLP programs focussing on the Belgium Air Base Florennes.


TLP 1982-2 - Jever AB - March 1982

Two unidentified CF-104s participated from 1CAG Baden-Sollingen.

TLP 1983-2 - Jever AB - 28 February till 18 March 1983

During this event Starfighters from Buchel based JBG33 participated. Aircraft seen were 24+98, 25+46, 21+68 and 26+53. (Some reports mention also 22+47 but this is not true, this aircraft was not operational anymore that moment anyhow)

TLP 1983-4 - Jever AB - 6 till 24 June 1983

Starfighters seen during this event were from the Canadian 1CAG and from the Lechfeld based JBG32. Aircraft seen were CF-104s 104756 and 104868 and F-104Gs 21+95, 23+94 and 25+21.


TLP 1983-6 - Jever AB - 29 August till 16 September 1983

During this TLP the German Air Force JBG33 was invited. Aircraft seen were 20+57, 22+04, 22+05 and 25+28. Also the German Navy sent two Starfighters being 26+65 and 26+78 from MFG2.


TLP 1983-7 - Jever AB - 10 October till 4 November 1983

The only participating Starfighters came from the Danish Air Force 723Eskader with F-104Gs R-699, R707, R755 and R756.

TLP 1984-1 - Jever AB - January till early February 1984

The Canadian Armed Forces 1CAG from Baden Sollingen brought CF-104s 104749 and 104806 while the German Air Force JBG34 flew missions with F-104Gs 20+38, and 22+90.

TLP 1984-2 - Jever AB - mid February till mid March 1984

The German Air Force and Navy participated during this event. F-104Gs 22+90 and 25+35 from JBG34 and 26+67, 26+72 and 26+78 from MFG2


TLP 1984-4 - Jever AB - 7 May till 25 May 1984

German Air Force JBG33 brought a large number of six Starfighters to Jever being 22+07, 25+18, 25+23, 25+61 26+03 and 26+05.


TLP 1984-6 - Jever AB - 13 Augustus till 7 September 1984

During this event German Air Force JBG34 participated with F-104G Starfighters 26+37, 26+41 and 26+47.


TLP 1984-8 - Jever AB - 12 November till 7 December 1984

During this event German Air Force JBG33 came along with 5 single and 1 two-seater Starfighter. Aircraft F-104Gs 25+45, 26+05, 26+28, 26+44, 26+52 and TF-104G 27+96.

TLP 1985-1 - Jever AB - 7 January till 1 February 1985

The German Air Navy MFG2 participated with four F-104G Starfighters 26+58, 26+65, 26+74 and 26+82.


TLP 1985-2 - Jever AB - 18 February till 15 March 1985

The Canadian Armed Forces 1CAG were available with CF-104s 104776, 104808 and 104835.

TLP 1985-6 - Jever AB - 23 September till 18 October 1985

The Canadian Armed Forces 1CAG were available with CF-104s 104716, 104751 and 104761.

TLP 1985-7 - Jever AB - 25 November till 20 December 1985

The Canadian Armed Forces 1CAG and German Air Force JBG34 participated this meet. Aircraft seer were CF-104s 104808, 104865 and F-104Gs 22+01, 22+35, 25+28, 25+30 and TF104Gs 27+98 and 28+15.


TLP 1993-4 - Ramstein AB?? August 1993

Not much known about this held TLP but at least at is known that a number of aircraft were seen on an open day held during this TLP exercise being MM6825/36-11, MM6701/36-13, MM6879/51-02 and MM6820/51-07.

TLP 1993-6 - Florennes AB December 1993

One Starfighter was seen during this TLP being F-104S/ASA MM6722/5-45 from 23Gruppo, Italian Air Force. It was seen on the 6th of December flying a mission from Florennes.


TLP 1994-3 - Florennes AB - 18 April till 13 May 1994

The Gioia Del Colle based Starfighters from 12Gruppo participated with two Starfighters. MM6732/36-02 and MM6908/36-16. Both were first noted on 25 April and last noted on 5 May, both flying a mission.

TLP 1994-5 - Trapani-Birgi AB - October 1994

Two unidentified Gioia Del Colle based Starfighters from 12Gruppo participated. Likely also 18Gruppo Starfighters were used as well during this meet.

TLP 1994-6 - Florennes AB - 14 November till 9 December 1994

The Italian Air Force 9Gruppo participated with two Starfighters. MM6760/4-50 and MM6761/4-3. Both aircraft arrived the 14th November and departed on 9 December.

TLP 1995-6 - Florennes AB - 13 November till 8 December 1995

The Cameri based 21Gruppo participated with 2 aircraft being MM6800/53-03 and MM6848/53-04. The latter one had a tiger-striped rudder. Aircraft arrived the 13th of November and departed 8 December.


TLP 1996-1 - Florennes AB - 22 January till 16 february 1996

The Istrana based 22Gruppo participated with two aircraft and one two-seater. MM6764/51-03, MM6932/51-05 and TF-104G MM54258/4-40. There are rumours that also MM54257/4-29 has been seen at Florennes during the meet but this is not confirmed. The Istrana aircraft arrived 22 January.

TLP 1996-2 - Florennes AB - 11 March till 5 April 1996

The Grazzanise based 10Gruppo participated with two aircraft being F-104S/ASA MM6740/9-35 and MM6808/9-30. Both flew at least a mission on the 28th of March.

TLP 1996-4 - Florennes AB - 17 June till 12 July 1996

The Grosseto based 9Gruppo participated with some aircraft being F-104S/ASA MM6890/4-11, MM6912/4-20, MM6774/-, MM6805/4-10 and TF-104G MM54553/4-44. The aircraft MM6774 was just new with 9Gruppo and did not yet carry squadron serial. MM6890 arrived on 8 July likely together with MM6774. The MM6805, MM6912 and the TF arrived 28 June. On 2 July aircraft MM54257/4-39 visited Florennes and stayed the night. Some believed also 4 aircraft from 23Gruppo participated but these aircraft visited Florennes between 19 and 28 June because of a squadron exchange (MM6770/5-30, MM6812/5-33, MM6881/5-42 and MM6920/5-35).

TLP 1997-2 - Florennes AB - 3 till 27 March 1997

The Istrana based 22Gruppo participated with five aircraft being F-104S/ASA MM6721/51-06, MM6776/51-15, MM6804/51-07, MM6850/51-12 and MM6929/51-11. Aircraft 51-06 and 51-11 both flew at least a mission on 7 March. All aircraft arrived on the 3rd of May except 51-06 which flew to Belgium on March 7th.

TLP 1997-3 - Florennes AB - 21 April till 16 May 1997

The Grosseto based 9Gruppo participated with four aircraft being F-104S/ASA MM6774/4-1, MM6890/4-11, MM6923/4-21 and MM6930/4-12. Aircraft 4-11 and 4-21 arrived the 30th of April replacing the other two who left that day.

TLP 1997-6 - Florennes AB - from 17 November till 12 December 1997

The Trapani based 18Gruppo participated with two aircraft being F-104S/ASA MM6800/37-25 and MM6844/37-23. Aircraft were seen at Florennes on 14th of November and also early December.

TLP 1998-1 - Florennes AB - 26 January till 20 February 1998

The Grosseto based 9Gruppo participated with two aircraft being F-104S/ASA MM6926/4-56 and TF-104G MM54226/4-23. Both aircraft arrived on 6 February and departed again on the 20th.

TLP 1998- 20yrs anniversary - Florennes AB - 27 till 30 April 1998

During this celebration also two Starfighters were seen from 20Gruppo being TF-104G MM54226/4-23 and MM54232/4-29. They arrived the 28th and departed the 30th of April.

TLP 1998-3 - Florennes AB - 4 till 29 May 1998

The Rimini based 23Gruppo and Grazzanise based 10Gruppo participated with both two aircraft being F-104S/ASA MM6822/9-30, MM6934/9-51 and F-104S/ASA-M MM6848/5-46 and MM6880/5-36. The Grazzanise Starfighters arrived the 15th of May while the Starfighters from 23Gruppo arrived on the 30th of April. They stayed at Florennes for TLP 1998-3 starting a few days later. All four Starfighters departed again on 29 May 1998.

TLP 1998-4 - Florennes AB - 22 June till 17 July 1998

The Grosseto based 9Gruppo participated with two aircraft being F-104S/ASA MM6774/4-1 and MM6930/4-12 both arriving the 3rd of July and departing the 17th.

TLP 1998-5 - Florennes AB - 14 September till 9 October 1998

Four Trapani based 18Gruppo Starfighters participated during the meet. First two aircraft being F-104S/ASA MM6825/37-10 and MM6943/37-15 (special color scheme) which arrived already the 11th September then they were replaced on the 29th of September by two others being F-104S/ASA MM6795/37-11 and MM6944/37-23. These aircraft departed again on the 4th of October. (PS MM6944 would be lost in an accident exactly 1 month later)

TLP 1999-3 - Florennes AB - 26 April till 21 May 1999

The Rimini based 23Gruppo participated with two aircraft being F-104S/ASA-M MM6719/5-40, MM6737/5-46 and MM6870/5-45. Aircraft 5-40 and 5-46 arrived on 26 April while the third one (5-45) arrived the 17th of May replacing aircraft 5-40 which departed a day later. Finally 5-45 and 5-46 flew back home on 21 May 1999.

TLP 1999-4 - Florennes AB - 21 June till late 16 July 1999

The Grosseto based 9Gruppo participated with totally 4 aircraft being F-104S/ASA MM6817/4-55, MM6825/37-10 and TF-104G-M MM54254/4-36, MM54237/4-32. Aircraft MM6825 was used by 9Gruppo on loan from 18Gruppo and arrived 6 July. TF-104G 4-36 replaced 4-32 on the 23rd of June. Aircraft 37-10 replaced 4-55 on the 6th of July. The last two Starfighters departed on the 16th July.

TLP 1999-5 - Florennes AB - 20 September till 15 October 1999

The Grazzanise based 10Gruppo participated with 3 aircraft being F-104S/ASA-M MM6720/9-51, MM6787/9-32, MM6929/9-43. Aircraft 9-32 and 9-43 both arrived on 20 September and on 4 October aircraft 9-32 was replaced by the arriving 9-51. The remaining two Starfighters both departed again on 15 October.

TLP 1999-6 - Decimomannu - 15 November till 10 December 1999

The Tarpani based 18Gruppo participated with 3 aircraft being F-104S/ASA-M MM6762/37-02, MM6775/-, MM6876/37-21. Both aircraft 37-02 and 37-21 arrived on 26 November while the third uncoded Starfighter arrived 3 December. All three departed again on the 10th of December. The MM6775 had just been arrived within 37 Stormo after being modified to ASA-M.

TLP 2000-2 - Florennes AB - 6 March till 31 March 2000

The Grazzanise based 10Gruppo, Cervia based 23Gruppo and Grosseto based 9Gruppo participated with 4 aircraft being F-104S/ASA-M MM6719/9-52, MM6770/9-35 and F-104S/ASA MM6875/4-14 and MM6816/4-6. The 23Gruppo aircraft arrived 17 March, the 9Gruppo aircraft arrived the 6th. All departed again on the 31st of March.

TLP 2000-4 - Florennes AB - 19 June till 14 July 2000

The Trapani based 18Gruppo participated with 2 aircraft being F-104S/ASA-M MM6775/37-10 and MM6925/37-15. They arrived 19 June and left July 14th. Aircraft MM6775 arrived using callsign "I 6775".

TLP 2000-5 - Florennes AB - 18 September till 13 October 2000

The Grazzanise based 10Gruppo participated with 2 aircraft being F-104S/ASA-M MM6719/9-52, MM6778/9-40, both arriving 18 September and leaving on October 13th. A day earlier they made a mission to Lakenheath in the morning, and returning back to Florennes after overshooting Coningsby runway.

TLP 2000-6 - MonteReal AB - 13 November till 8 December 2000

Two Cervia based 23Gruppo Starfighters participated being F-104S/ASA-M MM6717/5-41 and MM6739/5-47. Some believed it started already the 10th of November.

TLP 2001-1 - Florennes AB - 15 January till 9 February 2001

The Grazzanise based 10Gruppo and Grosseto based 9Gruppo participated with F-104S/ASA MM6713/4-2, MM6816/4-6 and F-104S/ASA-M MM6936/9-41. The Grazzanise Starfighter arrived already the 12th and departed the 17th of January. A few days later, 26th, the two Grosseto aircraft arrived. These stayed until the end, on 9 February.

TLP 2001-2 - Florennes AB - 12 March till 6 April 2001

The Grazzanise based 10Gruppo participated with 2 aircraft being F-104S/ASA-M MM6764/9-39 and MM6778/9-40. Both arrived the 26th of March and flew back home on April 6th.

TLP 2001-3 - Florennes AB - 9 July 2001 till 3 August 2001

The Trapani based 18Gruppo participated with 2 aircraft being F-104S/ASA-M MM6732/37-04 and MM6767/37-05. These arrived on July 20th and departed again on August 3rd.

TLP 2001-5 - Florennes AB - 15 October till 9 November 2001

The Cervia based 23Gruppo participated with 3 aircraft being F-104S/ASA-M MM6739/5-47, MM6756/5-42 and MM6881/5-44. Aircraft 5-42 and 5-47 arrived the 12th while 5-42 was replaced on the 29th October by 5-44. The remaining 2 aircraft departed November 9th.

TLP 2001-6 - Florennes AB - 26 November till 21 December 2001

The Trapani based 18Gruppo participated with 2 aircraft being F-104S/ASA-M MM6767/37-05 and MM6939/37-22. Aircraft arrived the 27th of November and flew back on 18 December.

TLP 2002-2 - Florennes AB - 4 March till 29 March 2002

Two Starfighters from 9Gruppo were seen at Florennes being F-104S/ASA-M MM6838/4-58 and MM6873/4-7. They arrived already the 1st and departed the 7th of March.

TLP 2002-3 - Florennes AB - 22 April till 17 May 2002

The Grosseto 9Gruppo and Grazzanise based 10Gruppo participated with 2 aircraft each being F-104S/ASA-M MM6733/4-51, MM6873/4-7, MM6778/9-40 and MM6940/9-50. On the 2nd of May aircraft MM6778 and MM6940 flew to Leeuwarden AFB where MM6778 crashed on the runway during landing and 9-50 had to divert to Wittmund AB. All participating aircraft arrived the 19th of April, just before the weekend and departed again on 17 May.

A video taken at Florennes on 24 April 2002 by Manfred Poznanski can be found here

TLP 2003-2 - Florennes AB - 3 March till 28 March 2003

The Grosseto 9Gruppo participated with 2 aircraft being F-104S/ASA-M MM6733/4-51 and MM6914/4-1. Aircraft arrived the 14th of March and flew back on March 28th.

TLP 2003-3 - Florennes AB - 22 April till 16 May 2003

The last time that Starfighters particioned inside a big NATO exercise. TwoGrosseto 9Gruppo Starfighters being F-104S/ASA-M MM6914/4-1 and MM6926/4-12 arrived the 23rd of April and flew missions until early May.



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