Dutch Lawn Darts
Over 2,500 Lockheed F-104 Starfighters were constructed across 30 years between 1954 and 1984– a lengthy run only bested in recent years by the F-16 and F-15 series. Of these, some 949 F-104G variants were built under license for West Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy by the ARGE consortium in Western Europe of which the Dutch firms of Fokker and Aviolanda were major partners.
F-104G starfighter diagram, April 1999 Flight magazine
In all, the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (Royal Netherlands Air Force) operated no less than 120 F-104Gs including 95 8000-series Fokker-built models and 25 Italian Fiat-built 6000-series birds, augmented by 18 Lockheed-built 5000-series two-seat TF-104G trainers in five squadrons (306, 311, 312, 322, and 323) in a mixture of recon, fighter bomber, and interception roles.
First ordered in 1959, the initial airframes started to trickle in by 1962 and they would remain in service until 21 November 1984, chalking up over 345,000 cumulative hours.
Drie Lockheed F-104 Starfighters van vermoedelijk 312 Sqn bevinden zich in een steile klim boven de wolken. NIMH 2157-048-021
Fokker F-104G Starfighter D-8098 of No. 322 Sqn at Leeuwarden. NIMH 2157_016018
The Fokker F-104G Starfighter with registration number D-8319 of No. 323 Squadron in a dive between the villages of Lies (right) and Formerum (left). Note the center double AIM-9 Sidewinder rail arrangement. NIMH 2039-02-01-01
Three Fokker F-104G Starfighters (D-8318, D-8061, D-8244), above the Air Force Electronic and Technical School (LETS) in Schaarsbergen, November 1983. The bottom two are marked to No. 312 Squadron of Volkel Air Base. NIMH 2156_023496
Early USAF F-105 FH-436; British Gloster Javelin XH771, Netherlands F-104G, D-8060 Canadian CF-104, 815 Belgian F-104G, FX07 German F-104G, DA+243 French Mirage IC 2-EI, Operation Seven-Up an international formation flown to mark the 13th anniversary of Allied Air Forces Central Europe on April 2nd 1964, taken at Voelkel. NIMH 2157_130-018
In the 1970s, they started to use the excellent Dutch-Italian-designed NVOI Orpheus Recce pod, which included five high-speed daylight cameras and an infrared scanner, for photo recon work.
Fokker RF-104G Starfighter D-8273 of No. 306 squadron with Orpheus pod (no.28), circa 1983. NIMH 2157_052451
A well-mustachioed Dutch recon pilot of an RF-104G of No. 306 Squadron preparing for a mission a Volkel. Note the squadron emblem on his helmet: a giraffe with the numbers 3-0-6 and a piece of film. Circa 1978. NIMH 2157_054096
A Lockheed RF-104G Starfighter from 306 squadron with a Giraffe in the cockpit, October 1974. NIMH 2157_050643
Dutch F-104G Koninklijke Luchtmacth RF-104G “D-8145” 306th Squadron, Volkel A.B. in 1978 markings via the Italieri kit
Replaced by early (Block 5) Fokker-built F-16A/Bs in the early 1980s, the last Dutch F-104s were flown by “The Sons of Bonzo” in No. 312 Squadron out of Volkel.
A Fokker F-104G Starfighter (D-8114) of No. 312 squadron with a General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon (J-232 #78-0232) of No. 323 squadron in the foreground with a target tow modification under the wing, circa 1984. NIMH 2157_063-013
The farewell flight of the last five No. 312 Squadron Starfighters over the Netherlands on 21 November 1984: three Lockheed-built TF-104 two-seaters (D-5804, D-5803, and D-5810) and two Fokker-made F-104 (D-8063 and D-8258) single-seaters, all camouflaged, fly in formation at low altitude. NIMH 2157-048-007
Same as above, 2157_048-008
Correspondingly, The Sons of Bonzo will be the final Dutch F-16 squadron, with the last Viper replaced by F-35s in the coming months.
Sadly, as in many others, the F-014 in Dutch service had a terrible safety record, with no less than 43 written off while in service to the Queen.
For more images of the Starfighter in Duch service, the NIMH has over 800 of them digitized or about six for every airframe they flew.
laststandonzombieisland 
Long and lean, a silver queenHave you ever seen such a flying machine?Hits the ground as fast as soundSeven hundred thousand pounds of little pieces lying aroundThe Widowmaker is a real brain-shakerThe Widowmaker is a silver queenThe Widowmaker is a real heartbreakerThe Widowmaker is long and lean
Captain Lockheed & The Starfighters (1975)
Robert Calvert