Wally Niemi Memorial Starfighter Project

UPDATE 2021-12-01

The wing project has received council approval and additional details are being worked on.

UPDATE 2021-10-14

Unfortunately the opportunity to purchase 644 is no longer available. The seller was offered the immediate purchase of by a museum in Australia and he reluctantly agreed to it.

We haven’t lost hope! We now have our sights on either #104701 or #104643, which 644’s seller potentially has access to. More details to come as they become available.

We have also started a new project that will bring a “wing memorial” to Birsay, SK. The project will potentially be privately funded and is currently pending council approval. More details to come here also.


Original Posting

I am the sister of Capt. Wally Niemi, who was killed in the crash of his CF-18 Hornet on 11 January, 1989 at CFB Cold Lake, Alberta. Before the Hornets, he flew the CF-104 Starfighter both at Cold Lake and then in Baden-Soellingen Germany from 1982 to 1986.

I and Wally’s family – his wife Mary and sons Nick and Jonathan -- have recently been offered an exciting opportunity that we want to share with you. We have been offered the purchase of a CF-104 Starfighter!

The sum of $53,000 USD (approx. $63,500 CAD) will cover the total cost of the minimal restoration work needed, plus delivery and set up to her final home – Wally’s hometown area near Birsay, Saskatchewan.

We are undertaking a fundraising drive to make this once in a lifetime dream become a reality. Starfighter 644 will reside in a very appropriate location and will honour the memory of Wally, as well as the memory of all fallen Canadian Forces aircrew.

Something that makes #104644 special is the fact that Wally’s flight log shows that he actually flew this aircraft.

Check out our RememberingWally site for a more complete story of Wally and the Starfighter 644 project.