Koksijde 07-84, long shot.....

[Buccaneer S.2B]

Good morning all,

I want to raise a question, from something seen a long, long time ago:
The 24th of July 1984 we cycled along the West-side of Koksijde airbase.
Somewhere between point 2 and 3 of the Scramble Airfield Guide a row of 10 stored Starfighters was seen.
Due to our "poor" gear (read: cheap binnoculars) we were only able to indentify two of them,
being the FX62 & FX80. Is there anyone around who can provide the missing 8 serials?
I would be very thankful if so............

with kind regards,
Remco

[Rene Klok]

According to the showreport from 5-7 July 1984 there were a lot more F-104's in storage than the approximately 10 you refer to.

40 Sm hangar:
RS-02 Sea King Mk.48 40 Sm
FC-08 TF-104G ex 10 Wing
FC-11 TF-104G ex 10 Wing

Storage hangar:
F-104G 1 Wing: FX-44, FX-48, FX-57, FX-59, FX-72, FX-74, FX-80
F-104G 10 Wing: FX-03, FX-62, FX-64, FX-67, FX-76, FX-85, FX-89
TF-104G 10 Wing: FC-12

Open storage:
F-104G 10 Wing: FX-02, FX-07, FX-41, FX-45, FX-47, FX-51, FX-52, FX-60, FX-65,
FX-70, FX-78, FX-81, FX-82, FX-83, FX-84, FX-90, FX-93, FX-94,
FX-99
F-104G 1 Wing: FX-10, FX-58, FX-69,
TF-104G 10 Wing: FC-01, FC-02, FC-03, FC-04, FC-06, FC-07, FC-10

[Buccaneer S.2B]

I also found this showreport, and also many pictures on the Koksijde Spotting site. With the showreport in hand, I started to wonder if my FX62 and FX80 weren't actually misspoles for the FX52 and FX60. But 33 years after being there, it probably will be unsolved (at least for me). The only thing found out for sure so far was the Starfighters stored outside were divided in two rows, unfortunately no separation is known.

[Heron]

Bij de Open Dagen 1986 stond het volgende rijtje bij elkaar:
FX-45, FX-51, FX-60, FX-65, FX-69, FX-81, FX-82, FX-84, FX-90; allemaal F-104G met 10 Wing badge en de FX-93 met 31 Sqn badge.

De andere 104's stonden elders geparkeerd.
Nu weet ik niet hoeveel er met die buizen gesleept werd, maar vast niet veel...

[skippyscage]

I have photos of the open storage line-up from the previous year - looks like a line of 13 and a line of 12.

I can't read all the serials in the line, but I may be able to piece together what the line up looked like from individual shots.

Not sure if that helps or hinders to be honest.

[skippyscage]

6 August 1983 F-104 outside storage line up in order (2 lines) - compiled from photos

FX83, FX100, FX58, FX60, FX84, FX93, FX81, FX82, FX51, FX65, FX45, FX69, FX90
FC10, FC03, FC01, FX10, FC06, FX41, FX52, FX94, FX02, FX70, FX78, FC02

plus FX07 in a hangar

this may help or may hinder, but if someone has similar in 1984 who knows.

[Buccaneer S.2B]

Hi Heron and Skippycage,

thx for the responses !
@ Heron: 10 104's exactly ! My FX62 & FX80 might have been the FX82 & FX60.............
@Skippycage: the first row of 13 also contains these two (82 & 60)
And judging the fact the FX62 & FX80 were 2 weeks prior to our visit logged in the storage hangar,
this row of 13 (1983) / 10 (1986) aircraft indeed seems the row we have seen.

wkr.,
Remco

[Buccaneer S.2B]

To be more precise:

Heron's row of 10 in 1986:
FX-45, FX-51, FX-60, FX-65, FX-69, FX-81, FX-82, FX-84, FX-90; all F-104G with 10 Wing badge and the FX-93 with a 31 Sqn badge.
Skippycage's row of 1983: the same 10, plus the FX58,83,100
Looks like the "problem" is solved.................!

many thanks guys !
wkr.,
Remco

[skippyscage]

Excellent news! Glad my old photos could come in useful after all these years.