Canadian Warplanes 6a: Canadair CF-104 Starfighter Squadrons in Europe, 1963-1986

RCAF and CF Canadair CF-104 Starfighter Squadrons in Europe, 1963-1986

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighters, RCAF (Serial Nos. 12747, 12737, 12847 and 12759 visible), equipped with Vinten Vicom camera recce pods, in formation.  These fighters were based at No. 1 (F) Wing, 1 Air Division, RCAF Station Marville, France, May 1965. 1 Canadian Air Division (1 CAD), 1 Canadian Air Group (1 CAG), Canadian Forces Europe (CFE), served 1952-1993.

RCAF commemorative plate with the 1 Air Division base crests for France and Germany.

No. 1 Air Division, RCAF (1952-1967)

The division traces its origins to the activation of Headquarters No. 1 Air Division, Royal Canadian Air Force in Paris, France on 1 October 1952.  No. 1 Air Division headquarters was relocated to Metz, France in April 1953.  No. 1 Air Division was established to meet Canada's NATO air defence commitments in Europe.  It consisted of four wings of of three fighter squadrons each for a total of twelve squadrons located at four bases in France and West Germany.  These included RCAF Station Marville, No. 1 (F) Wing, and RCAF Station Grostenquin, No. 2 (F) Wing in France, RCAF Station Zweibrücken, No. 3 (F) Wing, and RCAF Station Baden-Soellingen, No. 4 (F) Wing in West Germany.

‍No. 421 Squadron, 2 (F) Wing, Grostenquin, France, 1963. 4 (F) Wing, Baden-Soellingen, Germany, 1964-1971. CFB Baden-Soellingen, Germany, 1972-1984.

Having been disbanded shortly after the war the squadron was re-activated on 15 September 1949 at Chatham flying Vampire aircraft. It moved overseas flying from RAF Odiham in the UK between January and November 1951. The squadron returned to Canada still flying Vampires from RCAF station St-Hubert until September 1952 when it returned overseas flying Canadair Sabres from Grostenquin, France. In 1962 it was equipped with CF-104 Starfighters and in 1967 the squadron moved to Zweibrücken becoming part of 1 Air Division RCAF (later renamed 1 Canadian Air Group) based at CFB Baden-Soellingen, West Germany. During the early 1980s it was equipped with CF-18 Hornets. At the end of the Cold War the squadron was disbanded and its aircraft and personnel returned to Canada.

(Royal Danish Air Force and Information IFS Photo)

The Canadian Armed Forces No. 421 Squadron, based at Baden-Sollingen exchanged with a Danish Air Force No. 725 Eskadrille based at Karup and flying the North American F-100D Super Sabre. It was a 2-way shifted exchange. First the Danish aircraft flew to Germany in February and later on the Canadian Starfighters flew to Denmark in July. One of the participating Canadian aircraft, CF-104 (Serial No. 104831), was lost in an accident on 9 July (1968?). It crashed after an in-flight fire due to foreign object damage after take-off from Karup, Denmark. The pilot, Capt. John R.Dunlop ejected safely.

(Tom Svendsen Photo)

The Canadian 421 Squadron based at Baden-Sollingen, flying the CF-104 Starfighter, exchanged with the Norwegian Air Force 332 SKV based at Rygge flying the F-5A. It was a two-way exchange. Two visiting CF-104s with two F-5s over the Rygge runway on August 1968.

(RCAF Photo)

LAC Roy Smalley, a Photo Technician with 421 Fighter Squadron, based at Grostenquin, France, removes an exposed cine film magazine from the gun camera in the cockpit of a Sabre jet fighter that has just completed air-to-air gunnery exercises over the Mediterranean Sea. The flights were flown from Decimomannu, Sardinia.

(CAF Photo)

Canadian Skies Calendar 1985. This superb echolen formation, shown over the Bavarian countryside, is being flown by 421 Sqn aircraft, featuring their second distinctive all red squadron bird in the lead. Photo taken by 421 Sqn for Canadian Skies in 1984.

(Mike Freer, Touchdown Aviation Photo)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104720), No. 421 Squadron based at Baden Soellingen, Germany.

(RuthAS Photo)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104795), No. 421 Squadron visiting RAF Greenham Commo, UK, 7 July 1973.

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104776), No. 421 Squadron based at Baden-Soellingen seen taxiing to the EOR during IAT 73. 7 July 1973. Later operated by the Turkish Air Force as 62-776.

(Mike Freer - Touchdown-aviation)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104805), No. 421 Squadron based at Baden Soellingen, Germany, 29 May 1983.

(CAF Photo)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighters, Nos. 421, 439, and 441 Squadrons.  Nicknamed the Purina puppy chow bird, the Tiger bird, and the toothbrush, ca 1986.

No. 422 Squadron, 4 (F) Wing, Baden-Soellingen, Germany, 1963-1970.

The squadron was reformed at RCAF Station Uplands in January 1953 as 422 Fighter Squadron. The squadron went to 4 Wing RCAF Station Baden-Soellingen in August 1953, becoming part of the Canadian Armed Forces in 1968. Becoming 422 Fighter Squadron, CAF, it remaining there until deactivation in July 1970.

(James Craik Photo)

CF-104 Starfighters (Serial No. 12805), No. 422 Squadron dispersal, 4 (F) Wing, RCAF Station Baden-Soellingen, 1965. 12805 carries the post Feb 1965 roundel.

(James Craik Photo)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (Serial No. 12751) taking off. Likely No. 422 Squadron, 4 (F) Wing, RCAF Station Baden-Soellingen, c1965.

(James Craik Photo)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighters (Serial Nos. 12720, and 12839) preparing to take off. Likely No. 421, 422, 427 or 444 Squadron, 4 (F) Wing, RCAF Station Baden-Soellingen, c1965.

No. 427 Squadron, 3 (F) Wing, Zweibrücken, Germany, 1963-1968. 4 (F) Wing, Baden-Soellingen, Germany, 1969.

The squadron was reformed on 1 August 1952 at RCAF Station St. Hubert (Saint-Hubert is a borough in the city of Longueuil, Quebec) as 427 Fighter Squadron, flying Canadair Sabres, and was transferred to No. 3 (Fighter) Wing at Zweibrücken in March 1953. Selected as the first European RCAF squadron to receive the Canadair CF-104 Starfighter for the nuclear strike role, the squadron was stood down from its day-fighter role on 15 December 1962 and reformed as 427 (Strike-Attack) Squadron two days later. On 1 February 1968, unification of the Canadian Armed Forces integrated 427 into the new Canadian Armed Forces. The squadron was again disbanded on 1 July 1970.

(RCAF Photo via James Craik)

CF-104 Starfighters of No. 427 Lion Squadron arrive at their new home at Baden-Soellingen, Germany.  The squaron formerly operated out of Zweibrucken, Germany, which was now being closed after 16 years as a Canadian air base.

(Weathersfield Airfield Museum Photo)

Zweibrucken based Canadian CF-104s from RCAF No. 427 Squadron visited Wethersfield between 27th May and 11th June 1968. No. 427 Squadron re-visited RAF Wethersfield twice in 1967 between the 13th and 22nd June and then again from the 14th to 20th September.

(CAF Photo via James Craik)

36 Canadair CF-104 Starfighters in formation for the colours presentation by Prince Philip, Germany, 4 May 1973. Apparently there were 42 in the air with six acting as a backup!

(CAF Photo)

36 CF104 Starfighters doing a flyby in honour of Prince  Phillip who was present to mark the colours presentation on 4 May 1973  to the Wing in Badenbaden, Germany.

(RCAF Photo via James Craik)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (Serial No. 12890), the last to leave 3 (F) Wing, Zweibrücken, Germany. No. 427 or No. 430 Squadron.

No. 430 Squadron, 2 (F) Wing, Grostenquin, France, 1963. 3 (F) Wing, Zweibrücken, Germany, 1964-1968, 1 (F) Wing, Lahr, Germany, 1969.

In the Cold War period, the squadron was reformed in November 1951 at RCAF Station North Bay, flying the Canadair CL-13 Sabre. It was given the nickname Silver Falcon. 430 Fighter Squadron went to 2 Wing RCAF Station Grostenquin near Grostenquin, France in September 1952. The squadron was located at Grostenquin until deactivation in September 1962. 430 Fighter Squadron was reactivated at 3 (F) Wing Zweibrücken, West Germany in February 1963, and transitioned to the Canadair CF-104 Starfighter. The squadron moved to 1 Wing Lahr, West Germany in February 1969 until it was disbanded in May 1970.

(DND Photo via Darryl Pajot)

Canadair CF 104 Starfighters of No. 430 Squadron over 3 (F) Wing Zweibrücken, West Germany.

(RCAF Photo via James Craik)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (Serial No. 12893), No. 430 Squadron, 3 (F) Wing, Zweibrücken, Germany.

(RCAF Photo via James Craik)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (Serial No. 12797), in Sardinia. Either from No. 427, No. 430 or No. 434 Squadron, all 3 (F) Wing, Zweibrücken, Germany.

(DND Photo via Darryl Pajot)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter with Fern Villeneuve CO of 430 Sqn at 3 (F) Wing Zweibrucken_{, along with his 430 Squadron pilots.}

No. 434 Squadron,  3 (F) Wing, Zweibrücken, Germany, 1963-1967.

No. 434 Squadron was reformed flying the Canadair CL-13 Sabre and stationed as part of 3 (F) Wing Zweibrücken, Germany on 7 March 1953, but was stood down on 16 June 1962. It was re-activated on 8 April 1963 as a Canadair CF-104 Starfighter unit in the strike/attack role and disbanded again on 1 March 1967.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (Serial No. 12811), No. 434 Squadron.

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (Serial No. 1281), No. 434 Squadron.

(RCAF Photo via Ken Murphy)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (Serial No. 12815), No. 434 Squadron (1 of 2), USAF Republic F-105 Thunderchief, RAF Gloster Javelin, RNAF F-104, GAF F-104, French AF Mirage III.

(RCAF Photo via James Craik)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (Serial No. 12815), No. 434 Squadron

(DND Photo via James Craik)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (Serial No. 12815), No. 434 Squadron.

No. 439 Squadron, 1 (F) Wing, Marville, France, 1964-1966. 1 (F) Wing, Lahr, Germany, 1967-1969. 4 (F) Wing, Baden-Soellingen, Germany, 1970-1971. CFB Baden-Soellingen, Germany, 1972-1984.

Disbanded shortly after the end of the Second World War, the squadron was reformed in 1951, operating the Canadair Sabre from England and France until 1963, when it was disbanded. It was quickly reformed as 439 Reconnaissance/Attack Squadron, operating the CF-104 Starfighter. Moved to Germany in 1967, it underwent several redesignations before assuming a ground attack mission at CFB Baden–Soellingen as 439 Tactical Fighter Squadron. After converting to the CF-18 Hornet in the mid-1980s, the squadron participated in the Gulf War.

In the late 1970s, the New Fighter Aircraft program was launched to find a suitable replacement for the CF-104, as well as the McDonnell CF-101 Voodoo and the Canadair CF-5. The winner of the competition was the CF-18 Hornet, which began to replace the CF-104 in 1982. All of the CF-104s were retired from service by the Canadian Forces by 1987, with most of the remaining aircraft given to Turkey.

(DND Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104838), 1 CAG, No. 439 Squadron, CFB Baden-Soellingen, Germany, 1969.

(Master Sgt. H.D. Robinson, U.S. Air Force photo 342-C-KE-62480)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (Serial No. 104859), No. 439 Tactical Fighter Squadron at Kleine Brogel Air Base, Belgium, in July 1970, during the "NATO Tiger Meet '70", a weapons competition involving fighter squadrons from NATO countries who bear the Tiger symbol.  Note the reconnaissance pod.

The CF-104 was very successful in operational exercises held by NATO. The Canadians first took part in the AFCENT Tactical Weapons meet in 1964 and did so every year after that. This meet was a competition between squadrons from Belgium, France, Germany, the United States, Britain, and the Netherlands. Scores were based on several factors. Bomb accuracy, time on target, navigation, mission planning and aircraft serviceability. Pilots were chosen at random from the various squadrons to accurately represent operational capabilities.

(Mike Freer, Touchdown Aviation Photo)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104733), No. 439 Squadron based at Baden Soellingen, Germany.

(John Davies Photo)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104838), 1 CAG, No. 439 Squadron, CFB Baden-Soellingen, Germany, 31 Dec 1976.

(John Davies Photo)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104838), 1 CAG, No. 439 Squadron, CFB Baden-Soellingen, Germany, 31 Dec 1976.

(Steve Fitzgerald Photo)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104838), 1 CAG, No. 439 Squadron, CFB Baden-Soellingen, Germany, 25 June 1977. 104838 was the Silver Tiger Trophy winner at the 1977 Greenham Common Tiger meet. It crashed on 7th March 1978 after suffering an engine failure due to compressor stall.

(Henk Schakelaar Photo)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104770), No. 439 Squadron, 1972 NATO Tiger Meet at Base Aérienne de Cambrai, France.

No. 441 Squadron, 1 (F) Wing, Marville, France, 1964-1966. 1 (F) Wing, Lahr, Germany, 1967-1969. 4 (F) Wing, Baden-Soellingen, Germany, 1970-1971. CFB Baden-Soellingen, Germany, 1972-1986.

No 441 Squadron reformed at RCAF Station St. Hubert on 1 March 1951 and went to No 1 Wing, then located at RAF North Luffenham, in Rutland, England on 13 February 1952. The squadron was temporarily situated at 3 Wing Zweibrücken on 21 December 1954, before moving to their intended destination, RCAF Station Marville, France. They were deactivated (disbanded) on 1 September 1963 at Marville and then reactivated (reformed) as No 441 Strike/Attack squadron on 15 September 1963, then moved with 1 Wing to Canadian Forces Base Lahr in April 1967. In 1971 the squadron moved to CFB Baden-Soellingen and changed its name to 441 Tactical Fighter Squadron. They disbanded again in 1986 and then finally reformed at 4 Wing Cold Lake on 26 June 1986.

(DND Photo via Chris Charland)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104785), No. 441 Silver Fox Tactical Fighter Squadron, CFB Baden-Soellingen, Germany.

(DND Photo viaJames Craik)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104785), checkerboard paint scheme, No. 441 Silver Fox Tactical Fighter Squadron, CFB Baden-Soellingen, Germany.

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(Philippe Colin Photo)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104---), No. 441 Silver Fox Tactical Fighter Squadron, CFB Baden-Soellingen, Germany.

No. 444 Squadron, 4 (F) Wing, Baden-Soellingen, Germany, 1963-1967.

444 Fighter Squadron was formed in March 1953 at CFB St. Hubert, Quebec and moved to CFB Baden-Soellingen in West Germany. Disbanded 1967, it was re-formed as 444 Tactical Helicopter Squadron at CFB Lahr, West Germany in 1972 as part of Canadian Forces Europe until 1991.

(CAF Photo)

A pair of Canadair CF-104 Starfighters flanking a parade of armour at CFB Lahr, Germany, 1979.

(RCAF Photo via James Craik)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter (Serial No. 12838), No. 444 Squadron.

(Mike Freer, Touchdown Aviation Photo)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104830), based at Baden Soellingen, Germany, 29 May 1982.

(Mike Kaehler Photo)

Lockheed CF-104D RCAF (Serial No. 10463600), CFB Baden-Soellingen, Germany.

(Mike Freer, Touchdown Aviation Photo)

Lockheed CF-104D Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104653), based at Baden Soellingen, Germany, 3 July 1976.

Starfighter Squadrons at home in Canada

No. 417 Squadron CF

No. 417 Squadron was reformed as a part of the Canadian Forces in 1970 it operated as an operational training squadron on the Lockheed CF-104 Starfighter at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta. The squadron disbanded in 1983 with the retirement of the CF-104 fleet.

(USN Photo)

Three Canadair CF-104 Starfighter from No. 417 Squadron in formation with three U.S. Naval Air Reserve McDonnell F-4N Phantom II of fighters over CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, 1977.

(DND Photo)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104774), with Captain Don Robinson going through a Pre-Flight Check in the cockpit, with No. 417 Tactical Fighter Squadron, CFB Cold Lake, Alberta, 1978. Don wears his 439 Sqn decorated helmet, is going through 20% RPM on the start sequence and his mission is to fly low-level route number 16. During the start sequence the pilot uses his hand to signal the percent RPM to the tech as it winds up. In this photo the blurred middle finger shows me that the RPM has just achieved 20%. At 50% the signal to disconnect the external air is given and the engine winds up to speed under its own power. The pilot's route map with the number 16 is visible in the right forward windscreen. (Daryl Pajot)

‍

(RCAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104730), No. 417 Squadron, at the head of the flight line at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta.

(CAF Photo via Mike Kaehler)

Canadair CF-104 Starfighter, CAF (Serial No. 104731). The pilot is about to board 731 for a flight. His parachute is all done up and his spurs are on. Cold Lake flight line in front of No. 417 Squadron, c1970.

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Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment CF

AETE is part of the Canadian Flight Test Centre at No. 4 Wing Cold Lake, located 300 km north-east of Edmonton. The Primrose Lake Evaluation Range provides one of AETE's greatest advantages: the large volume of airspace available for its flight test operations. The newly renovated hangar, one of the largest in the world, named the Jan Zurakowksi Building, provides floor space for offices, laboratories, and aircraft as large as the C-130 Hercules and the CP-140 Aurora. AETE provides flight test services and expertise to the Canadian Forces and other government departments. It conducts flight and ground testing involving every aircraft type in the Canadian Forces inventory, and the evaluation of new systems to be installed on these aircraft. Its extensive infrastructure also supports civil flight testing.

(RCAF Photo)

Lockheed F-104A Starfighter, RCAF (Serial No. 12700).

Lockheed F-104A Starfighter (Serial No. 12700), was flown by W/C Bud White to set a Canadian altitude record for a jet aircraft. This was a Centennial Project of the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment which was located at RCAF Station Uplands in Ottawa, Ontario at that time.

(DND Photo)

A dramatic view of a CF-104 Starfighter from the Aerospace Engineering Test Establishment carrying a full load of BL-755 cluster bombs.