It was supposed to become the super aircraft for the young Bundeswehr: the “Starfighter” from the US manufacturer Lockheed, which was incorporated into the Air Force in 1962. But the jet developed into a “widow maker”.
In autumn 1959, the Federal Republic of Germany signed a contract for the purchase of the “Starfighter” F-104, the version F-104 G (for Germany) should be further developed so that it would be able to fulfill several functions at the same time: that of reconnaissance, des Interceptor and fighter-bomber. The then Defense Minister Franz Josef Strauss (CSU) had pushed through the project. As the Federal Audit Office later found, the planned modification actually became “a new design”. On paper, the aircraft did its job, and it had gigantic flight performance to offer – more than twice the speed of sound. Nevertheless, the F-104 G turned out to be a breakdown aircraft: difficult controls that overwhelmed many pilots, and repeated engine problems. To mark the official launch of the aircraft, a demonstration was held on June 20, 1962, to get journalists excited about the new aircraft. But it turned out differently: One of four “star fighters” suddenly tipped backwards when a formation was flying steeply and dragged the other three planes with it – the four pilots were killed.
A bad omen: by the time the jet was decommissioned in May 1991, 292 aircraft (one third of the F-104 G in use) crashed, 116 pilots were killed. For years the “Starfighter Crisis” accompanied the everyday life of Germans. Episode 24 of the DAMALS podcast with David Neuhäuser and Felix Melching focuses on why politics, the Bundeswehr leadership and, last but not least, most of the pilots stuck to the “Starfighter”.
And here is the podcast: