CF-104 "838" 439 "Tiger" squadron passing castle "Schloss Hohenzollern" 1977

F-104, Canadair model CL-90, Lockheed model 683-04-12, Canadair construction number 683A-1138, RCAF serial number 12838, built by Canadair
first flight on September 13, 1962 and was received on May 22, 1963; first assignment was 1 Air Division at Sollingen in Europe
December 14, 1965 the left landing gear collapsed during an engine test at Sollingen; December 22, 1965 to SAL for incident repair, return to Sollingen
reserialed as 104838 effective June 1970; September 22, 1971 to SAL for DLIR; November 20, 1973 to SAL for wing change
Tactical Weapons Meet with 1 CAG special painted white with red maple leaf rudder at Sollingen AB late May 1974
it was 439 (TF) Squadron's entry in the "Tiger Meet" held at IAT at RAF Greenham Common in 1977, with Canada winning the Silver Tiger Trophy (the first year it was awarded)
crashed with 439 Squadron March 7, 1978 after engine failure due to a series of compressor stalls; the pilot ejected successfully; written off, struck off service September 20, 1978.

copyright @ Günter Grondstein