Posted on 12/02/2014 4:30:59 AM PST by nuconvert
An Iranian McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II jet has struck Islamic State targets in the eastern Iraqi province of Diyala, footage shot by regional media shows.
At least one F-4 is seen conducting a bombing run against ground targets in the footage shot by Al Jazeera , which erroneously identified the aircraft as an Iraqi fighter. Iran and Turkey are the only regional operators of the F-4, and the location of the incident not far from the Iranian border, and Turkey's unwillingness to get involved in the conflict militarily, indicate this to be an Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) aircraft.
While the IRIAF is known to have contributed Sukhoi Su-25 'Frogfoot' ground attack aircraft to the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq (ostensibly donated to the Iraqi Air Force, but believed to be crewed by Iranian pilots), this footage is the first visual evidence of direct IRIAF involvement in the conflict.
(Excerpt) Read more at janes.com ...
They’re still flying those pieces of crap? WOW.
The flying brick??? Funny, my dad said the F-105 was a flying tank.
With out forces conducting missions in that area, I don’t want an Iranian fighter within 10,000 miles of them.
I was in Austin before Gulf war 1 and remember watching the F4s and A10s practicing maneuvers over Bergstrom AFB. The F4 has always been one of my favorite warbirds and being able to watch them and the Warthogs at the same time was way too cool.
There are hundreds of these F-4 model aircraft sitting out in the desert near Tucson in storage at AMARC. They could be put back into service in minimal time and some would be flying within a few days. The problem for us would be finding the people to fly them. They are a great aircraft and we still have many around. They are just not in service.
If 0bama sent Iran spare parts, that is likely where the parts came from - our own war reserve stock.
“60 years in combat service and they still do the job.”.....
IF the plane indeed was Iranian, is it possible it was one of those same planes Hussein quickly moved to Iran when the SHTF in Iraq?
“...60 years in combat service and they still do the job...”
Of course! It’s American! :^)
One tough warbird.
Don’t trust ANY Muslim. The Shah was toying with Zoroastrianism which was one of the reasons the Muzzies took him out.
I’m not sure who to root for!
Unlikely. We never sold any of these to Iraq. We sold them to the Iranians when the Shah was in power. We also sold some to Turkey, so is it just possible the strike could have been Turkish? Again, unlikely, but... this is the Middle East!
ABSOUTELY
They’re old, but I wouldn’t call them pieces of crap.
Even at the time they were new they were. Not my opinion.
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