CF-104 "846" 1 Air Division 439 ST/R Squadron of 1 Wing from Marville, France at the Tiger Meet at RAF Leuchars, Scotland in July 1966

CF-104, Canadair model CL-90, Lockheed model 683-04-12, Canadair construction number 683A-1146, RCAF serial number 12846, built by Canadair
first flight October 2, 1962 with Canadair, Montreal, delivery date July 22, 1963 and transported to Europe
assigned to 1 Air Division and shipped to France in an RCAF C-130. For the next eight years, 846 flew in photo reconnaissance roles from bases
in France, first at 2 Wing Grostenquin for July 4,1963, then to 1 Fighter Wing, Marville December 5, 1963 and was flown by both 439 and 441 Squadrons.
Flown at the 1966 Tiger Meet at RAF Leuchars, Scotland. In 1967, along with the rest of 1 Wing, it changed location to Lahr, West Germany and
846 remained in the Recce role. In later years, this was changed to conventional support as Canada changed its commitment within NATO and reduced the number of European bases and aircraft.
sold to Denmark on September 24, 1971 and overhauled by Scottish Aviation, struck off service by the CAF on May 16, 1972
taken on service by the Royal Danish Air Force (Kongelige Dansk Flyvevaaben) coded “R-846” on May 16, 1972
with 1.821 hours by 726 Esk at Aalborg; struck off service on July 10, 1984 with 3.553 flight hours; on July 10, 1984 flown to Vaerlose AB; on July 11, 1984 put in storage
and stored in RDAF Museum at Billund AB on June 7, 1988 where it stayed until the museum closed in 1998; 1998 stored at Vandel AB; last noted at Vandel AB October 2002
stored Karup AB 2003; was first noted without radome inside shelter in July 2007; R-846 stored Flyvestation Karup April 26, 2008 last noted
bought by Steve Alex; December 19, 2010 R-846 arrived at old home base Aalborg Airbase to be shipped out in containers
July 14, 2011 arrival at Maine, USA; purchased by the Air Force Museum Society of Alberta in 2012 and transported by truck to Calgary in June 2013
where an extensive restoration (5,000 hours) took place; January 2014 under restoration noted; October 22, 2014 Air Force Museum of Alberta in Calgary, Alberta unveiling the Cold War icon.
September 26, 2015 official opening of the Ken and Roma Lett "Cold War Exhibit" at the Air Force Museum of Alberta; November 2022 noted.

Claim of fame: the 1966 TM at Leuchars saw the cartoon type tiger head applied only on the port intake of Starfighter 12846

51° 0'51.54"N 114° 6'57.80"W

copyright © Gary Watson