History Dutch F-104s

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I have a question concerning the Dutch F-104s. Were they delivered fresh from the factory (if so, where were they built?) or did they have a history with other Air Forces before they flew for the KLu?

[pjotrtje]

The RNLAF operated 138 F-104s. The TF-104s (D-58**) were all built by Lockheed, the D-6*** series was built by Alenia, and the rest was built by Fokker. All were delivered factory fresh.

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What's with the German serials some of them were supposed to have had before they got their Dutch serials? You know, the KG+... ones?

[frank kramer]

As far as I remember, the case is as follows: The KG+ code was used for German F-104's produced by the Arbeitsgruppe Nord, of which Fokker was one of the contractors. They were sequential codes applied by the manufacturer to aircraft before they were delivered to the German client. Fokker built aircraft for both the German AF and for the KLu. Sometimes, switches were made on the production line or aircraft were produced without a final customer having been decided, in which case aircraft received a KG-code but were delivered to the KLu. Also, in the early stages of production aircraft were "loaned out" for publicity purposes; one of the first Dutch formation photo flying and parade sessions used both Dutch and KG+ coded aircraft (with the + removed) in the practice sessions.

You'll find a lot of usefull info in the book on the Dutch Starfighter in the series "Vliegend in Nederland", written by the late Ton van der Zeeuw (who owned KG+101, the first F-104G built by Fokker) published by Flash Aviation. Unfortunately, you will have to find this on e-bay or marktplaats as it is no longer available with the publisher.

For history's sake only: the Italian-built Starfighters operated by the Dutch were built by Fiat, as Alenia did not exist at the time...; also, there was one Dutch TF-104G that had a "prior history". This was D-5702, which was the Lockheed company demonstrator before it was taken on strength by the KLu.

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Thanks very much!