In use Royal Canadian Airforce 1962-1973

CAF  864

CF-104 , Canadair Construction Number  683A-1164

Former Serial  12864 , from 18.05.1970 Serial Number 104864

Crashed on 10-may-1973 This starfighter pitched up in landing-pattern of Bodo AB, Norway. Arriving at Bodo after a DACT mission with another CF against two F5's of 334squadron during a squadron exchange the accident took place in the landingpattern. The pilot, Capt. Paul Rackham approached the overhead break followed by an 180degr turn, which seemed in no way unusual, except that he appeared to be a little closer to the runway than normal at the downwind position. The landing gear folded down, and after a suitable interval which would account for Land Flap transition time, he started a right-hand turn to final. As he started a tight descending turn toward the runway, the nose of the CF104 quickly rised, then abrubtly felt (classic symptoms of an aerodynamic pitch-up)  Stalled, nose low and descending, the pilot must have realized the gravity of his situation, and attempted to eject. After the pilot was seperated from the seat, his parachute streamed, but failed to deploy before he impacted the water. He was unfortunately killed. Source International F-104 Society database ,with permission.

Styrtet 10.mai.1973.Dette flyet fikk pitch up i landingsrunden i Bodø.Piloten fikk skutt seg ut , men befant seg for lavt slik at fallskjermen ikke foldet seg nok ut , piloten Paul Rackham ble desverre drept.

.......................................RCAF 864 .... Photo: Bob Mcintyre through Klaas Folkersma
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.............................................CAF 848 and 864 at Soesterberg 1970........ Photo: Eric Tammer