739 was the 30th Argus built by the Canadair Plant in Cartierville, Quebec. It was Taken On Strength (TOS) by the RCAF on the 22nd of February, 1960. It was then accepted by the 404 Marine Patrol (MP) Squadron based at RCAF station in Greenwood, Nova Scotia. Then in 1965, Argus 739 was re-assigned to 415 (MP) Squadron, RCAF station in Summerside, PEI. In Summer 1966, Argus 739 made the flight from Summerside to Pisa, Italy and was likely the only Argus to ever visit Italy. While in Italy Argus 739 participated in NATO exercises which consisted of torpedo exercises that took place on a range near Pisa. Argus 739 returned to regular operations until 1975 when it was placed in short-term storage at CFB Greenwood. It returned to service at CFB Summerside in 1977 before later being returned to CFB Greenwood.
On June 5, 1980, Major Bill Naylor took Argus 739 on her final flight to Summerside. Argus 739 retired with 15,087.4 flying hours, and average flying speed of 200 mph which could represent around 3,017,480 miles. Argus 739 had 20 years and 4 months of flying.
In 1980 Lowell Huestis led a group of local Summerside citizens and petitioned DND to have an airframe for Argus 739 preserved and mounted outside the gate of CFB Summerside. Major Wayne Griffith of the 415 (MP) Squadron was assigned to assist with the project. Cement was generously donated by Curran & Briggs Ltd and MF Schurman Ltd.
Argus 739 was moved to its present location by a BAMEO tow crew. This was its final resting place 21 years and 1 day from her first flight. In 1990 it was refurbished and repainted as well as minor repainting in 2008. In 2010 a full-scale refinishing was preformed and that is the plane that is seen today at the Air Force Heritage Park.
Canadair provided the metal plaque and those listed on the monument provided the carved granite slab.
