Nederlandse Modelbouw en Luchtvaartsite

Dutch Modelling and Aviation

In Memoriam

Klaas Willem Jonker
(Wilko)
† April 30, 2018

On Monday 30 April 2018, Wilko Jonker died after a long illness at the age of 58. He leaves behind a wife and two children. The Dutch military aviation and plastic modeling were his hobby and on this website he shared all the knowledge he has collected over the years. His hobby has been able to distract him from the persistent disease in his body until the last week of his life. The contacts with other hobbyists were a major support for him.

This website will be maintained by different people for as long as possible, so that other enthusiasts can continue to benefit from extensive content.

1962

Soon after the introduction of the Lockheed Starfighter within the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the type was flown during a parent day at air base Eindhoven.

1963

This year the Dutch Air Force celebrated its 50th birthday on July 1 during the Open Day at Soesterberg air base. The Lockheed Starfighter was then flown on a large scale, namely no less than twelve aircraft in three formations of each four aircraft.

1964 - 1973

During this period, the Starfighter was also demonstrated during Open Days of the Dutch Air Force.

During the Open Day at air base Leeuwarden on July 1, 1968, the demonstration was performed by Glenn 'Snake' Reaves. His Starfighter was equipped with tip tanks that had been sprayed in overall orange day glo. Under the fuselage two dummy Sidewinders were taken, which were also overall orange day glo.

Lockheed F104G Starfighter Display 1968 SMALL
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter: Display July 1968, pilot Glenn Reaves.

Later that year, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of 322 squadron on September 14, 1968, a display was flown with a Starfighter by captain De Ridder.

In addition to solo performances, four-tier formation displays were also flown.

1974 - 1979: Hans van der Werf.

Early 1974, the Dutch Air Force received a request from England to participate in the so-called "Battle of Britain Days".

Now air base Volkel was assigned to take care of a display with the Starfighter. Until that time, it was always done by the squadrons of the Leeuwarden air base.

The choice for the display pilot soon fell on lt. Hans van der Werf.

Together with an experienced test pilot and the air safety officer, the program was studied and discussed. After a short period of about two weeks, Van der Werf flew his first show over RAF base Finningley on September 21, 1974.

This show made very much impression, especially because the Starfighter did not have such a good name.

The first show in the Netherlands was on 19 June 1975 because of the presentation of the prototype of the F-16 in the Netherlands. In August 1975, the first major performance during the Open Day was at Volkel air base.

In the years after, Van der Werf performed many shows at home and abroad.

In 1978, the Dutch Air Force was 65 years old and Van der Werf received a specially painted machine, D-8091. This was fitted with a red-white-blue tail. The first performance with this aircraft was on June 17, 1978 during the Open Day at airb base Deelen.

Lockheed F104G Starfighter Display 1968 SMALL
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter: Display July 1978, pilot Hans van der Werf.
Lockheed F 104G Starfighter Demo 65 AKleijn
A model of a Lockheed F-104G Starfighter in KLu 65th anniversary paint scheme, built by Adri Kleijn.

1/72nd Scale

Decals

  • Dutch Decal
    • Set 72006: Decalset for F-16 and F-104G; contains decals for F-104G: D-6680 (OCU); D-8022: three colour camouflage; D8091 and D-8343: overall grey; D-8331: farewell scheme display pilot H v.d. Werff; D-8300: with grey tail of D-6666; D-8091: KLu 65; RF-104G: D-8065: with ECM; TF-104G: D-5806: grey. [Stencilling for two aircraft].

 

1979 was Hans van der Werf's last year to fly with the Starfighter. This year he also had a specially painted aircraft, the D-8331. This was fitted with a red-white-blue rudder and a shark mouth.

Lockheed F104G Starfighter Display 1968 SMALL
Lockheed F-104G Starfighter: Display 1979, pilot Hans van der Werf.

 

When Hans van der Werf left the Royal Netherlands Air Force in October 1979, he received a satisfaction statement from the Commander of the (Dutch) Air Forces for "representing the KLu in a very good and worthy manner, by the F 1975 in 1979 with the F -104G, to provide pre-flight demonstrations at international and national fly shows. These demonstrations showed very high professionalism and were carried out with great personal dedication and devotion. "

The years after that, the Starfighter was still flown at shows, but because the type was to be phased out and replaced by the F-16 in the early 80's, these displays were slowly reduced and so came an end to an era.