left|thumb|alt=XB-70 Valkyrie flying in formation with an T-38 Talon (far left), F-4 Phantom (near left), F-104 (near right), F-5 Freedom Fighter (far right)|The second XB-70 Valkyrie prototype flies in formation with other GE-powered aircraft for a photo shoot, 8 June 1966. Shortly after this photograph was taken the F104 (red tail, on the XB70's right) and XB70 collided, killing the F104 pilot Joe Walker and the copilot of the XB70. Some operators lost a large proportion of their aircraft through accidents, although the accident rate varied widely depending on the user and operating conditions. The German Air Force and Federal German Navy, the largest combined user of the F-104 and operator of over 35% of all airframes built, lost approximately 32% of its Starfighters in accidents over the aircraft's 31-year career.Paloque 2012, p. 43. The Belgian Air Force, on the other hand, lost 41 of its 100 airframes between February 1963 and September 1983,Paloque 2012, p. 36. and Italy, the final Starfighter operator, lost 138 of 368 (37%) by 1992.Paloque 2012, p. 56. Canada's accident rate with the F-104 ultimately exceeded 46% (110 of 238) over its 25-year service history,Bashow 1990, pp. 210–219. though the Canadian jets tended to be flown for a greater number of hours than those of other air forces (three times that of the German F-104s, for example).Paloque 2012, p. 40. However, some operators had substantially lower accident rates: Denmark's attrition rate for the F-104 was 24%, with Japan losing just 15%Paloque 2012, p. 62. and Norway 14% (6 of 43)Paloque 2012, p. 70. of their respective Starfighter fleets. The best accident rate was achieved by the Spanish Air Force, which ended its Starfighter era with a perfect safety record: the Ejército del Aire lost none of its 18 F-104Gs and 3 TF-104Gs over a total of seven years and 17,500 flight hours.Paloque 2012, p. 74.
left|thumb|alt=xb-70 valkyrie flying in formation with an t-38 talon (far left) f-4 phantom (near left) f-104 (near right) f-5 freedom fighter (far right)|the second xb-70 valkyrie prototype flies in formation with other ge-powered aircraft for a photo shoot 8 june 1966 shortly after this photograph was taken the f104 (red tail on the xb70's right) and xb70 collided killing the f104 pilot joe walker and the copilot of the xb70 some operators lost a large proportion of their aircraft through accidents although the accident rate varied widely depending on the user and operating conditions the german air force and federal german navy the largest combined user of the f-104 and operator of over 35% of all airframes built lost approximately 32% of its starfighters in accidents over the aircraft's 31-year careerpaloque 2012 p 43 the belgian air force on the other hand lost 41 of its 100 airframes between february 1963 and september 1983paloque 2012 p 36 and italy the final starfighter operator lost 138 of 368 (37%) by 1992paloque 2012 p 56 canada's accident rate with the f-104 ultimately exceeded 46% (110 of 238) over its 25-year service historybashow 1990 pp 210–219 though the canadian jets tended to be flown for a greater number of hours than those of other air forces (three times that of the german f-104s for example)paloque 2012 p 40 however some operators had substantially lower accident rates denmark's attrition rate for the f-104 was 24% with japan losing just 15%paloque 2012 p 62 and norway 14% (6 of 43)paloque 2012 p 70 of their respective starfighter fleets the best accident rate was achieved by the spanish air force which ended its starfighter era with a perfect safety record the ejército del aire lost none of its 18 f-104gs and 3 tf-104gs over a total of seven years and 17500 flight hourspaloque 2012 p 74