Subject: Re: For Silly Week...
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 1 Jan 2013 23:09:14 -0800

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
ARC Air - Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.arcair.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: [email-masked] 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2012 9:39 AM
  Subject: For Silly Week...

  Gallery Article Template
  Royal Canadian Air Force CF-117 Phantom

  by Mike Murphy
  --------------------
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  On 20 February 1959, Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, cancelled the Avro Arrow project. With his announcement, the Prime Minister relegated Canada to a third world air power. In the decade that preceded the announcement, Canada had one of the largest Air Forces in the world and was a force to be reckoned with with the 12 Squadrons of 1 Air Division in Europe and other squadrons at home here in Canada. Although the Arrow was designed for the defense of Canada, it was hoped that the sleek interceptor would be deployed to augment the ranks of 1 Air Division.

  The decade that followed the Arrow's cancellation saw much global turmoil. With the launch of Sputnik, the space race had already begun. October 1962 saw President Kennedy and the United States go toe-to-toe with Premier Khrushchev and the Russians during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Throughout the 1960's, the Soviets were increasing the size and power of their aerial arsenal. The Warsaw Pact was becoming a juggernaut. 1967 saw the Six Day War, among other battles and skirmishes, within the Middle East. 1969 Saw the famous "Soccer War" between El Salvador and Hondouras. Things finally hit home in Canada, albeit on a minor scale, with the FLQ Crisis in October 1970.

  Having been elected to office in the late 1960's, Canada's new Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau, at the desire of some politicians, opted to impose the War Measures Act to help quell the riots and civil unrest that was part of the FLQ Crisis. One journalist asked Prime Minister Trudeau how far he was willing to go to meet the growing domestic threat. His response?..."Just watch me."

  Eying the opportunity to bring Canada back to the forefront of being a strong military power, Prime Minister Trudeau entered into secret negotiations with the United States government about increasing the size of our air force. After the Arrow project was shut down, many of Canada's top minds in aviation engineering, design and construction went to the United States and easily found jobs with Northrop, Grumman, McDonnell-Douglas, NASA, and General Dynamics to name but a few. While the R.C.A.F. had the venerable CF-101 Voodoo and the Bomarc missiles for the defense of Canada and its NORAD obligations, they were looking to add a second punch to their repertoire; something with speed that presented a 'Don't mess with us!' image. The Department of National Defense suggested that the Government purchase enough aircraft to equip six squadrons, plus spares, of course.

  In the spring of 1973, the Canadian government chose the F-4 Phantom II to augment Canada's CF-101 Voodoo as its front line fighter. There was much back-slapping and many huzzahs at the decision to make Canada a force to be respected again. The first Phantom was received on 01 July 1973; Dominion Day - Canada's 106th birthday. 409 'Nighthawk' Squadron was chosen as the first squadron to be equipped with the 'new' Phantoms which were given the Royal Canadian Air Force designation CF-117. The Nighthawks were transferred to C.F.B. Uplands in Ottawa. C.F.B. Rockcliffe in Ottawa's east end was to be given new life as an emergency airstrip for Phantoms in trouble and unable to make it back to Uplands.  The nation's capital would once again see and hear the spectacle of jet fighters flying over the Peace Tower; giving Ottawan's a sense of security that defenders were right in our own back yard, rather than having to depend on other squadrons based hundreds and even thousands of miles away for protection.

  Despite the jubilant mood among the politicians and the general public, all was not roses as there were dark storm clouds on the horizon. 1973 and 1974 signaled the beginning of the global oil crisis. This quickly led to a severe domestic economic crisis in Canada. The government had to make some tough decisions. Once again, the military and the Department of National Defense were left holding the bag and the second national dream was nothing but a nightmare. The F-4 deal was cancelled.  Only 12 Phantoms had been delivered when the decision to scrap the deal was announced.  These airframes were returned to the United States for use in their Armed Fores or for resale to other nations.  Canada soldiered on with the CF-101 until the mid-1980's when the One-Oh-Wonder was replaced with the latest McDonnell-Douglas offering, the CF-188 Hornet.

  It could have happened...

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  409 Squadron was recently re-activated and the Nighthawk is their emblem. They are flying the CF-188 Hornet.

  The tail code on this Phantom is an amalgam of my badge number (117) and my late father's badge number (230).

  I painted the model with Model Master enamels (Voodoo Grey and Flat Black) and Alclad II (Aluminum and Duraluminum).

  C.F.B. Uplands is a shell of its former (military housing only) self but 412 Transport Squadron has a satellite office at the Transport Canada hangar there and Hangar 14  of the now decommissioned C.F.B. Uplands is used by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade as the Canada Reception Centre for visiting heads of state and other dignitaries.  It's not uncommon to see military aircraft of foreign governments parked outside C.R.C.

  C.F.B. Rockcliffe has been completely demolished, except for one runway used by the Rockcliffe Flying Club and the Canada Aviation Museum, and will be redeveloped as a residential and commercial community by the Canada Lands Corporation.

          
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  I finished my Phantom this way on a whim.  I had a spare set of Mike Belcher's Voodoo decals and I thought, "What the heck!"  I built it as an entry in the F-4 Phantom 50th Anniversary Group Build back in 2008.  This is the Revell F-4J Phantom 'Blue Angels' boxing of this kit.  Although it has fit issues, this was a fun build because of my last minute decision but build a 'what if' R.C.A.F. Phantom.  The Phantom was on the R.C.A.F.  'want list' but the powers that be decided it wasn't the right fit for our needs.

  Happy New Year everyone!

  Mike 'AX 365' Murphy

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  Just delete any of the boxes below you don't need.....it's not important to include them.....they are there to give you an idea of the finished article.  It is best to limit your article to no more than 60 or so photos, so the finished webpage won't take too long to open.
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  Photos and text © by Mike Murphy