The F-104 was designed as an all-weather interceptor, strike, and reconnaissance aircraft. It was the USAF's first Mach 2 fighter and held the world's speed and altitude records in the early 1960s. The Starfighter was used during the Cuban Missile Crisis and performed briefly in Vietnam.

The F-104 was used at Chanute Technical Training Center for aircraft inspection courses.

The aircraft on exhibit, F-104A-1-LO S/N 56-732, was manufactured by Lockheed Aircraft in Burbank, California, and delivered to the U.S. Air Force on 5 April 1957. It was transported by truck to Chanute AFB and assigned to the 3345th Technical Training Wing, Air Training Command. It was assembled here on base and used for various aircraft courses. In February 1963 it was dropped from the USAF inventory as surplus.

This aircraft is on loan to Octave Chanute Aerospace Museum from the National Museum of the United States Airforce.