Nickdc,
As ORAC says, there was nothing wrong with the F104 Starfighter - the WGAF lost a lot in the early days due to inexperience...remember that the Germans were prohibited after WW2 from reconstituting the Luftwaffe until the mid-50's....but other air arms had no more attrition than would have been usual for the era.
Many colleagues of mine flew it in various NATO air forces; it was one of the best a/c for escaping the enemy, just get low down and open the taps. Nothing could catch it.