Missing in Inaction: F-104

The Museum Vliegbasis Deelen in The Hague, Netherlands, is missing its F-104 Starfighter. The 33-foot-long model of D-8105, with dummy missiles on the wingtips, had been mounted on tripods outdoors — until Sunday morning, when museum workers tweeted what they call an Amber Alert:

“A shocking discovery! Our Starfighter has fallen prey to people who use the current high metal prices to earn their keep. Or is it a practical joke? To kidnap the model, you need some seriously heavy machinery. If you see a Starfighter in a parking lot or on a flatbed trailer, contact us.”

Museum chairman Edwin van Brakel told reporters, “It would not fit in the back of a Fiat 500,” adding that it may be a prank because a note said, “Fly away. See you next year.”