Preserved at the Deutsches Museum in Munich from 1984. Moved to Oberschleissheim in 2017.

Messerschmitt produced 283 F-104s and, in total, West Germany received some 916 F-104s, of which 749 were F/RF-104G. The type entered service in July 1960, with deliveries continuing until March 1973. It remained in operational service until October 1987 but continued in use for test purposes until May 1991. The poor safety record in service is well documented with 110 Luftwaffe and Marineflieger pilots killed in the type.