Where Have All the Phantoms Gone?

Air and Space Magazine ^ | 01/01/2010 | Ralph Wetterhahn

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The F-4 Phantom II lives. But the life it leads today is an odd one.

It still flies in other countries; in northern Iraq, for example, the Turks use it in combat with the Kurds. But in the United States, it leads a twilight existence. It’s a warplane, but it no longer fights. Its mission is weapons testing, but no pilot flies it. Mostly, you’ll find these F-4s either sitting in the desert or lying at the bottom of the sea.

The F-4 entered service in 1960, flying for the U.S. Navy. After studying its potential for close air support, interdiction, and counter-air operations, the Air Force added the F-4 to its fleet in 1963. Eventually the Phantom ended up even in the U.S. Marine Corps’ inventory. In four decades of active service to the United States, the aircraft set 16 world performance records. It downed more adversaries (280 claimed victories) than any other U.S. fighter in the Vietnam War. Two decades later, it flew combat missions in Desert Storm.

In 1996 the aircraft was retired from the U.S. fleet. But the venerable McDonnell design has one last mission to perform for the military: to go down in flames.

Since 1991, 254 Phantoms have served as unpiloted flying targets for missile and gun tests conducted near Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida and Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. The use of F-4 drones (designated QF-4s) is expected to continue until 2014.

[Mr Inviso]

I think the Phantom would make a great armed UAV. Just because.

[Westlander]

[wolfpat]

America’s proof to the world that, given enough horsepower, even a brick can fly.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Neat site...
http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/gallery/images/f4/f4.htm

[Pentagon Leatherneck]

I always found the Phantom to be an excellent target.

Skyhawks forever!

TC

[alfa6]

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Great Photos.

[Artie]

The sound of twin phantoms, racing overhead at almost supersonic is, to say the least, devastating.

[Rummyfan]

[Rummyfan]

F-4Js of VF-96 fly over San Diego harbor in 1969. During the squadron’s 1972 deployment to Southeast Asia aboard the USS Constellation, LT Randy Cunningham and LTjg Willy Driscoll became America’s first Vietnam aces while flying the lead airplane in this photo.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Can you post this one???
http://www.boeing.com/companyoffices/gallery/images/f4/d4c-78267.htm

[dancusa]

I remember seeing the Thunderbirds flying F-4’s at an air show in 1971. It was great.

[TangoLimaSierra]

---

To: All

There you go..

There you go..

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

I'll never forget when I first saw an F-4, but more importantly, "Heard it!"

I was a Crew Chief stationed at Hickam AFB, Hawaii, in 1964 and while on the Flight Line one day, heard a real strange, high-pitch, somewhat "screeching" sound; something I'd never heard before, though we had some Fighters transitioning thru Hickam.

I looked up and saw a flight of F-4's fly over and peel off to land.

They were a beautiful sight and ended up seeing many more, especially after I got stationed in Nam in 1966.

Anyway, after first hearing one, they could easily be distinguished from other Fighters when they flew over.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Awesome! Thanks!!!

[2nd Bn, 11th Mar]

IIRC, there were two squadreons of Phantoms in the Coral Sea’s Air Group, when I was aboard in 1973-74.

Got a lot of great pictures of flight ops from a perch up on the island.

As an aside, I was once able spend about an hour on the LSO platform during a night recovery. This is when I learned to have great respect for Naval Aviators.

[joe fonebone]

F-4 Phantom.......physical proof that if you put big enough engines in a brick it will fly.....

[joe fonebone]

Try standing 5’ behind one on a cat at full military power sometime......

[joe fonebone]

"they could easily be distinguished from other Fighters when they flew over."
yeah, they left a trail of smoke you would have to be blind not to see....