Memory Alpha
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Memory Alpha
F-104 Starfighter

Bluejay 4, an F-104 Starfighter.

"Bluejay 4" was the callsign of the F-104 Starfighter (registry FG-70914) piloted by Captain John Christopher. Captain Christopher's aircraft was scrambled to intercept and investigate an apparent UFO contact in 1969.

The "UFO" was actually the USS Enterprise, which had accidentally been thrown back in time. Spock warned Captain Kirk that the closing aircraft may be equipped with nuclear warheads and could pose a real threat. Kirk used the tractor beam to hold the aircraft off, but due to the fragility of the jet, it began to break up under the force of the tractor beam. As a result, Captain Kirk beamed its pilot aboard the Enterprise. Christopher was saved, but the aircraft was demolished. Its wreckage fell back to Earth and landed in southern Nebraska. The flight recorder and footage from the wing cameras was taken to the 498th Air Base in Nebraska to be processed. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday")

The registry of the fighter is seen clearly in the remastered edition of "Tomorrow is Yesterday" as the plane approaches the Enterprise.

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