A little aviation input from Al Ditter.
To welcome the newcomers to Baden, the Air Force displayed their CF-104 Starfighters. Just as the Brigade lost its Honest John SSM Battery in the 1971 Defence White Paper, the Air Force also abandoned it's 'strike' role (delivering nuclear weapons via the parabolic 'toss bomb' technique) and post-strike reconnaissance using high-speed camera pods. The aircraft were unpainted, the theory being that post-detonation heat would reflect off the surface. They were later painted in earth tone camouflage suitable for the new close air support role and fitted with a rapid-fire 20mm cannon and wing racks for bombs and rockets. The three Squadrons remaining in 1 CAG at Baden-Soellingen were 421 and 441 (Attack) and 439 (Recce). The next week 3 Mech Cdo hosted Air Force families with static and mobile displays of APCs and weapons. AldiFall 1970, the Air Force welcomed 3 Mech Cdo by showing the CF-104 to the Army families.
The Starfighter's J79 engine easily powered it to twice the speed of sound.
Still in their bare reflective skin from the nuclear strike role, the CF-104s would later be equipped
with a 20mm Gatling gun, bomb and rocket racks for close air support and be painted dull olive green.
Then we showed them ours.
Cheers,
Dan.
