The following information and story is highly conjecture and unfortunately none of the aircraft ever served with the Canadian Forces.
The design of the Electra was started by Lockheed in 1954, and the following year the company received a launch order from American Airlines. The prototype first flew on 6 December 1957. The aircraft is a low-wing monoplane with retractable tricycle landing gear, powered by four Allison 501D turboprops. Standard accommodation was for 66 to 88 passengers, with an optional high-density layout for 98 passengers. The initial production version was the L-188A. Later a longer-range L-188C was produced. A total of 170 aircraft were built, with production stopped earlier than planned due to the lack of confidence in the design after two fatal crashes. The aircraft were modified following the accidents but by then customers were interested in operating turbojets. Most of the aircraft currently in service are operated as freighters. In 1957 the United States Navy issued a requirement for an advanced patrol aircraft. Lockheed proposed a development of the Electra which was later placed into production as the Lockheed P-3 Orion.
In 1958 The Canadian Government ordered 4 bare-bones L-188A(F)'s from Lockheed, for evaluation to replace the CL-2 North Stars, and were delivered to Canadair in Montreal for outfitting. Originally two were scheduled to go to the Royal Canadian Air Force, 1 to the Royal Canadian Navy, and 1 going to the Army, and were designated CL-88A's by Canadair. The R.C.A.F. needed an airframe that could withstand the pressures of a higher altitude and endurance than the current CL-2 North Stars could handle.
Windows and removeable seating were added in the aft-section of the aircraft, making both 8801 and 8802 multi-function aircraft, that would be able to carry not only cargo in the front, but passengers in the back (the seating could be removed if more cargo space was needed). 8801 was used as a passenger/cargo hauler from Montreal to Winnipeg, and after refuelling, from Winipeg to Alberta (and back again). 8801 carried cargo than passengers most of the time. 8802 was equipped with wingtip fuel pods and had the unfortunate job of flying both cargo (aircraft parts and supplies), and passengers from Winnipeg to R.C.A.F. Station Churchill, Manitoba. With additional fuel tanks, 8802 was able to fly non-stop to Churchill, Manitoba, and she continued on this route for 6 years.
8803 was delivered to the Navy and she serves with MARFLTPAC in Esquimalt, B.C. flying mostly passengers from B.C. to Whitehorse, N.W.T. 8803 occasionally flew passengers from the U.S. Navy base in Washington State to either Esquimalt or to Alberta (to connect with 8801 to fly back to Ottawa).
8804 (below), was to be delivered to the Army, but due to a change of plans, 04 was given to the R.C.A.F. 04 was highly modified at Canadair and reconfigured as a tanker.
8801 was stricken from the R.C.A.F.'s records and returned to Lockheed, and ultimately sold to a South Pacific carrier. She flew numerous island hopping routes before crashing on take-off in Miami and was destroyed.
8802 remained with the Canadian Forces (then R.C.A.F.) the longest, flying the Winnipeg-Churchill route for 6 years before being decommissioned and sold to a private owner in Canada in 1965.
8803 remained with the Navy until 1962 before being retired and preserved as a Gate Guard at C.F.B. Esquimalt.
8804, one of the shortest-serving CL-88's, lasted only one year with the R.C.A.F. The last (and only) configuration as a mid-air refueller, was destined for an R.C.A.F. base in Europe, but was never deployed. Testing of the refueller in Canada didn't last long and 8804 was decommissioned and sent to Canadair who stripped it of all useful parts and removed the engines before maintaining it for fire-fighting instruction at Dorval, in Montreal. She was scrapped in 1972.
