After a tremendous amount of research and consultation with the Curator and Board of Directors the soon to be received Starfighter at the Alberta Aviation Museum is going to be restored to represent...
CF-104D MkII serial number 104651
Originally:
Starfighter 12651 (RCAF)
No. 6 Squadron Strike/Recce OTU Cold Lake, Alberta
583A-5321 Lockheed
Came into service26-Jun-63
Re serial numbered as 104651 (CAF)
No. 417 Squadron, Cold Lake, Alberta
583A-5321 Lockheed Aircraft
Crashed 24-June-1980 engine failure due to bird strike, both pilots ejected successfully
Crew at time of incident
Pilot in Command:
Canadian Armed Forces
Captain (at the time) Rick Wall served in the Canadian Air Force and flew the CF-104 with 441 Squadron in Germany & 417 Squadron at Cold Lake, Alberta. Surpassed 2000 Starfighter hours.
Ejected successfully from CF104D 104651 in 1980 after a bird strike.
Second Pilot
Luftwaffe
Captain/ Hauptmann (at the time) H Riedel
(currently seeking additional information)
Ejected successfully from CF104D 104651 in 1980 after a bird strike.
The reason this aircraft has been chosen is as follows:
1) Our aircraft is substantially the same aircraft short of some avionics details.
2) It was an Alberta based aircraft operating from Cold Lake it's complete life
3) It is one of three dual seat Starfighters lost in service with 417 Squadron, so it will
not be confused with an existing aircraft.
4) There were no fatalities in the loss incident
5) It has the most interesting story with a RCAF Pilot in Command and a
Luftwaffe pilot in training in the rear.
As such it provides an Edmonton story (having been serviced at North West Industries), an Alberta story with 6 Squadron Strike/Recce Operational Training Unit, the Canadian Starfighter story, an International story with the Canadian/German crew at the time of loss and it's Dutch history as Starfighter D5805 of the RNAF.
This allows us to make what we believe is the most complete presentation
of the aircraft type.
The final decision will be which era colours the aircraft will be presented in:
RCAF/CAF Polished aluminum, link to picture of exact aircraft:
http://www.916-starfighter.de/916sta...e/104wC651.jpgor
CAF Camouflage, link to similar aircraft:
http://www.i-f-s.nl/exerc/TIGER/104785.jpgBut that decision will be made after the paint is tripped and the skin condition is determined.
Which do you prefer?
- Polished
-Camouflage