Hobby Master Archive

The German Air Force purchased about 1/3 of all F-104s produced, 915. The first operational unit to receive the Starfighter was Jagdbombergeschwader 31 “Boelcke” (JBG31), in 1961. This is the oldest flying unit in the present day Luftwaffe and named in memory of Hauptmann Boelcke who was a WWI ace many times over. He also helped develop many of the fighter tactics still used today. April 1982 Luftwaffe F-104Gs surpassed 200,00 flight-hours. Because the F-104 was such a difficult aircraft to fly JGB 31 lost 18 planes killing 14 pilots.

Hobby Master advises that the finished model will have the word “MARINE” outlined in white.