Marville, France
CF-104 Photographs

In the days of the F-86, Sabre aircraft were assigned to squadrons and painted with appropriate markings. This made it easy to determine what squadron an F-86 belonged to. It appears as if this approach was to continue with the arrival of the CF-104. We understand, as an example, that CF-104 #12854 was initially allocated to 441 Squadron. Somewhere along the way, there was a change in plan and all CF-104 aircraft were amalgamagted and became part of a fleet.

Under the new concept, CF-104 aircraft had no tail markings other than the aircraft serial number and the Canadian flag. The two squadrons at Marville became Photo Reconnaissance Roll. All ground personnel became ASO (Aircraft Servicing Organization) with launch and recovery and small snags (under 8 hours) carried out in the old 439 Squadron hangar. Larger snags (over 8 hours) were repaired in the old 441 Squadron hangar and scheduled maintenance carried out in the old 445 Squadron (CF-100) hangar at the other end of the airfield. Aircrew remained specific to the two squadrons.

Aircraft Strength at 1 Wing RCAF as of 31 December 1964:

There were 20 CF-104 aircraft at 1 Wing Marville, with the following registration numbers:

12713 12730 12737 12739 12743
12747 12749 12756 12757 12759
12770 12846 12847 12854 12859
12860 12862 12868 12886 12898


Click on the description text to view the photograph.
  1. Aerial photo of CF-104 12868 fitted with its recce pod in level flight - September 1964.
    Courtesy Bernie Lind.

  2. Closer image of CF-104 12868 in level flight - September 1964.
    Courtesy Bernie Lind.

  3. CF-104 12770 breaks through the clouds in a climb - August 1964.
    Courtesy Bob Jackson.

  4. Aerial photo of CF-104 12713 in level flight - August 1964.
    Courtesy Roger Cyr.

  5. Tents set up at the 441 Squadron dispersal area during the summer - July 1964.
    Courtesy Roger Cyr.

  6. Starfighter 12868 fitted with its recce pod poses near Marville - June 1964.
    Courtesy Larry Milberry.

  7. A recce pod is ready for installation on 12854 - June 1964.
    Courtesy Larry Milberry.

  8. The first dozen or so 439 Squadron "jocks" at the Squadron back bar - May 1964.
    Back row (L-R) - Gary Sanderson, Ray Learmond, Doug Fenton, Gorm Jensen, Scott Clements, Ray Sawchuck. Center row (L-R) Bob Garry, F/L Marshall, Digger Graves, Ray Jessome, Romeo Lalonde. Front row (L-R) Bob Henderson (deceased), Jack Frazer, Jack Nichols. Missing from photo: Dave Huddleston.
    Courtesy Bill Best.

  9. CF-104 #854 making a low pass over Marville - 10 April 1964.
    Note that the aircraft is fitted with a camera pod.
    Courtesy Canadian Forces Joint Imagery Centre.

  10. Larger image of CF-104 #854 on a low pass over Marville - 10 April 1964.
    Note that the aircraft is fitted with a camera pod.
    Courtesy Canadian Forces Joint Imagery Centre.

  11. Tents set up at the 439 Squadron dispersal area after a good spring rain - April 1964.
    Courtesy Roger Cyr.

    First photo reconnaissance mission flown by CF-104 12854 over the Wing Headquarters Building by W/C Edwards, OC 441 Squadron - 3 March 1964

  12. Two CF-104's taking off from Marville - 3 March 1964.
    Note that the aircraft on the left (854) is fitted with a camera pod.
    Courtesy Canadian Forces Joint Imagery Centre.

  13. Larger image of the two CF-104's taking off from Marville - 3 March 1964.
    Note that the aircraft on the left (854) is fitted with a camera pod.
    Courtesy Canadian Forces Joint Imagery Centre.

    439 Squadron reactivated in Marville with the CF-104 Starfighter - 2 March 1964.
    The Squadron remained in Marville until March, 1967, at which time it moved to Lahr, West Germany.

  14. S/L JL Frazer assumes command as OC 439 Squadron - February 1964.
    Courtesy 439 Squadron Archives.

    441 "Silver Fox" Squadron was reactivated on 20 January 1964 with the CF-104 Starfighter and assigned a NATO photo reconnaissance role at Marville where it remained until moving to Lahr in March 1967.

  15. CF-104 pilots from 439 Squadron - 7 February 1964.
    Courtesy Norm MacSween.

  16. Prime Minister Lester B Pearson and his party looking over a CF-104 recce pod - 17 January 1964.
    (L-R) - W/C Bob Edwards (OC 441 Squadron), Prime Minister Lester B Pearson, G/C AF Avant (CO 1 Wing), A/V/M DAR Bradshaw (AOC 1 Air Division), F/L Don Francis (1 Wing Photo Officer).
    Courtesy National Archives of Canada PL-149879.

  17. CF-104 12854 was the "Queen of the Fleet" and originally assigned to 441 Squadron prior to amalgamation - January 1964.
    (L-R) Burrell Downing and an unidentified "break man" in the cockpit. We are advised that 12854 would seemingly fly forever and never snag.
    Courtesy Burrell Downing.


Photographic Credits

All photos are used with permission.

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Updated: June 16, 2005