Hobby Master 1/72 HA1062 F-104G Starfighter 27+79, MFG 2, Marineflieger, 1985

The F-104 Starfighter was a revolutionary design with short razor-sharp wings. It was the first aircraft to be able to maintain Mach 2 not just in short bursts. The Starfighter shattered speed and rate of climb records that still are impressive today. This extremely high speed earned the plane the nickname “The Missile With A Man In It”. Because of financial considerations 15 or more countries purchased the F-104. The Starfighter flew with the USAF in 1958 and the last airplane was decommissioned in Italy in 2004.

Of the 916 F-104s Germany received 137 of the 220 TF-104G variants produced. The TF-104G was designed as a training aircraft that had no cannons, no center-pylon and reduced internal fuel. About 151 F-104Gs were assigned to the Marineflieger’s two naval attack squadrons, Marinefliegergeschwader MFG 1 and 2 for maritime strike and reconnaissance roles. Both squadrons were based at Naval Air Station Eggebeck. Deliveries of the F-104 took place from 1960 until 1973. F-104G 27+79 was manufactured as 5908 and at the end of its German service it went to Greece.