I've met a few Italian pilots who flew the F104 prior to the MoD fobbing the F3 off to them and despite the annoyance of having a chap in the back talking non-stop about pasta, they were more than happy to be rid of the 'Widow Maker' and move onto an aircraft which did not go out of its way to kill you whilst in the circuit. "F3? Bella Bella!" was often the reply when asking about the F3. Desperate times, desperate measures...
Perhaps some of the more experienced chaps such as Beagle may be able to offer a first hand account of the F104.
Edited for crap tpying.