lockheedstarfighter

F-104C-5-LO, s/n 56-0903. Assigned 436th TFS, 479th TFW. W/O 27 July 1966. Crashed after aircraft control stick kicker activation 16 NM SW George AFB, CA. F-104C-5-LO, s/n 56-0908. Assigned 436th TFS, 479th TFW. To 476th TFS 6252nd TFW, South Vietnam. W/O 22 July 1965. Aircraft damaged by small arms fire over Quang Tin Province. Swerved off runway and crashed into sand dune during emergency gear up landing at Chu Lai MCAS, South Vietnam. The pilot was fatally injured. F-104C-5-LO, s/n 56-0906. Assigned 436th TFS, 479th TFW. W/O 19 July 1960. Aircraft encountered engine nozzle problem during gunnery practice. Crashed while attempting emergency landing on Cuddeback Dry Lake 24 miles SE of China Lake. The pilot, Capt. John Houston, was fatally injured. F-104C-5-LO, s/n 56-0907. Assigned 434th TFS, 479th TFW. W/O 29 January 1959. Crashed after takeoff 5 miles SW of George AFB following compressor stall and loss of power. The pilot, Capt. Ed Skelton, ejected safely. This was the first F-104C lost due to a crash.

This is a Lockheed F-104G Starfighter "DA+101" of the GAF prior to Jan '68 when they switched to a four-number format ("XX+XX").

On the far left is Lockheed Test Pilot Tony LeVier, on the far right is another legendary aviator and test pilot, Herman R. 'Fish' Salmon (See: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Salmon ). Salmon would take the F-104 up on its first flight on February 17, 1956. What is also interesting about this photo is if you look over LeVier's right shoulder, you will see a fairing covering this F-104 Starfighter's jet intake. The F-104's intake design was initially classified, and early publicity photos featuring the aircraft were made with these fairings concealing the aircraft's intake configuration. Accordingly, it is very likely that they aircraft they are standing in front of is one of the first two service test Lockheed YF-104A Starfighters (USAF Ser. Nos. 55-2955 or 55-2956). Here is a lowered-resolution photo in the SDASM Photostream better illustrating the fairings (also possibly featuring Salmon in the pressure suit): The gentleman in the suit is the (then) long-time president of the Lockheed Corporation, Robert E. Gross. Since the YF-104A first flew in February 1956, and Robert Gross' last year leading Lockheed was 1956, we can be relatively confident that this photo was taken that year as well. I am unable to identify the other pilot in the photo at this time.

The pilot standing next to the 104's needle is "Fish" Salmon, my dad

Hi Renne Salmon, Its me Rozie Recchia! I saw this picture online and wanted to know more about it.I saw your name and just wanted to say hello. I hope you and your family are doing well.