SAM Modellers Datafile 12 Mcdonnell Douglas F 4 Phantom Part 1 USAF Variants

DATAFILE
THE McDONNELL DOUGLAS

F-4 Phantom II
A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE FOR THE MODELLER
Part 1: USAF Variants
by Andy Evans
SAM PU BL I CAT IONS
Cover:
'E's and 'D's combine for
a raid ( via Glenn Sands)
SAM PUBLICATIONS
Modellers Datafile No.12
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, Part 1: USAF Variants
by Andy Evans
First published in 2007 by SAM Publications
Medi a House, 21 Kingsway, Bedford, MK42 9BJ, United Kingdom
2007 SAM Publ ications
Andy Evans - Text
David Howley - Colour artwork
David Howley - Scale plans
All rights reserved. No part of thi s publi cat ion may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechani cal, including
photocopy, recording, or any ot her information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
ISB 0-955 1858-3-0
Typeset by SAM Publi cations, Media House, 21 Ki ngsway, Bedford, M K42 9B), United Kingdom
Designed by Simon Sugarhood
Printed and bound in the United Kingdom by PrinthaUs, United Kingdom
The Modellers Datafile Series
No.1 - De Havilland Mosquito '
No.2 - Hawker Hurri cane'
No.3 - Supermarine Spitfire (Part I: Merli n-Powered) '
No.4 - Avro Lancaster (Inc Manchester & Lincoln)
No.5 - Supermarine Spitfire (Part 2: Griffon-Powered)
No.6 - Bristol Beaufighter
No.7 - English Electric Lightning
No.8 - Gloster (& Armstrong-Whitworth) Meteor
No.9 - Messerschmitt Bf 109 (Part I Prototype to E Variants)
No.IO - Messerschmitt Bf 109 (Part 2 F to K Variants)
No.11 - British Aerospace Sea Harrier
Out of print
Acknowledgments
Thanks are due to the following for their assistance with information and the loan of images and diagrams that populate this Datafile:
Glenn Sands, Richard L. Ward, Mark Smith, Don Gi lham, Curtiss Knowles, Gary Chambers, Mark Carlisle, Dennis Robinson, Ken Withers, Ben Brown,
Larry McCarly, Gary Prettyman, Angelo Picardo, Phil Brandt, McDonnell Douglas Press Office, USAF Public Affairs and thanks are also due to
Nei l Robinson, Gary Hatcher and David Francis of SAM Publications.
Authors Note: Whilst every care has been taken in the gathering of images for this book. either from original sources. via third party collect ions or the authors own archives.
every effort has been made to identify and credit photographers responsible for the photograph and where possible and obtain the necessary permi ssions for their use.
However the publishers cannot accept responsibility for any omissions beyond their control and should any persons feel their copyright has been inadvertent,," breached.
please contact the author via the publisher.
,An;)'! t.uanJ
September 2007
Contents
Chapter1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Introduction 5
Glossary 7
The F-4C and F-4D - 8
The F-4C - 8
The EF-4C - 14
The F-4C In Detail - 16
The F-4 Ejector Seat - 21
The F-4D - 24
Deployment to Vietnam - 32
The RF-4C - 38
The RF-4C - 38
Camera Nose Details - 48
RF-4C Cockpit - 53
Colour Side-views - 54
The F-4E - 62
The F-4E - 62
The F-4E in Vietnam - 70
ADC F-4E Keflavik - 74
Sharksmouth F-4E - 76
F-4E In Detail - 79
TISEO F-4E - 84
ARN-l Ol F-4E - 86
F-4E Cockpit - 88
The F-4G - 92
The F-4G - 92
Gulf War F-4 - 98
The F-4G In Detail - 100
USAF Thunderbirds Display Team - 104
Thunderbirds - 104
QF-4 Drones - 106
QF-4 Drones - 106
ChaPler 7
ChaPler S
Test and Evaluation Phantoms - 110
Test and Evaluation Phantoms - 110
Phantom Kit Builds - 112
F-4D in 1/32 - 112
F-4G in 1/48 - 116
RF-4C in 1172 - 120
Appendices
Appendix I Kit Listing - 122
A guide to Phantom kits
Appendix II Accessories and Conversions - 123
Add-ons and enhancements
Appendix III Decals - 124
Available liveries for the Phantom
Appendix IV USAF F-4 Main Differences - 125
Type comparison
Appendix V Biblography - 126
A concise list of books, journals and periodicals
Index 127
Fold-out Plans - 1/72nd scale
Introduction
T
he F-4 Phantom is one of the most iconic and popular
aircraft ever produced, and in this Modellers Datafile
the USAF versions are those which command our
attention. As the history, development and prototypes of the
embryonic F-4 are beyond the scope of this book it is the
intention to concentrate of the on the USAF in service types
looking at each variant in turn. Within such a vast subject
area as the F-4 Phantom it is impossible to cover every single
aspect of the 'Spook' and its many makings options within
the pages afforded this Datafile, however, it is hoped that the
aircraft is given the fullest attention wi thin these constraints
and that a the ubiquitous Phantom will be further revealed to
both modellers and enthusiasts. The versions covered in this
Datafile include the F-4C, F-4D, RF-4C, F-4E and F-4G, and it
will provide photographic and diagrammatic details as well
as modelling the F-4C, RF-4C and F-4G, with additional
resources on Kits, Decals and Accessories. In addition there is
an exclusive decal sheet only available with this publication.
A Brief History
Under its own financing and initiative, McDonnell began
developing an all-weather attack fighter in August 1953,
shortly after it lost a competitive bid to build a Navy
supersonic air-superiority fighter. The McDonnell FH-l
Phantom, which made its first flight on January 26, 1945, was
first operated from a carrier in the summer of 1946, and
entered squadron service in 1948. The aircraft was
conventional in design and employed an un swept wing with
simple high-lift devices; manual flight controls were provided
about all three axes. However, by now newer the Navy had
released details of a desired new mission: an aircraft to be
deployed from a carrier, armed with air-to-air missiles
instead of guns, that could cruise out to a radius of 250
nautical miles, stay on combat patrol, attack an intruder
when necessary, and return to the carrier deck within three
hours. McDonnell responded with a new design for a two-
place fighter/bomber to respond to the Navy's need for an all-
weather fleet air defence aircraft, yet retaining attack
capabilities. In mid-1955 the full-scale engineering mock-up
of this new twin-engine was available, and featured a swept
wing with no dihedral, and the horizontal tails drooped down
at an angle of 15 deg. Results of the first phase of tunnel tests
indicated that the aircraft exhibited serious deficiencies in
lateral-directional stability characteristics at supersonic
speeds, including unstable dihedral effect and marginal
The first of the USAF's many!
( McDonnell Doug/as)
Preface
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- ------
A very nice anniversary Phantom as displayed at the London International Ai rshow in Ontario Canada in 1988 Cotlection)
Preface
directional stability. To cure these problems, McDonnell
introduced 12 deg of geometric dihedral into the outer wing
panels (which were foldable for carrier operations) and
increased the size of the vertical tail. First flown in May 1958,
the Navy awarded a production contract to McDonnell in
December 1958 and in July 1959, the aircraft was formally
chri stened the F-4 Phantom II in tribute to McDonnell's FH-l
Phantom. Thus a legend was created!
The McDonnell Phantom went on to be one of the most
successful post-war fighters, and the second most prolific
American jet fighter to be built, outnumbered only by the
North American Sabre. Total US product ion was 5057, with
another 138 being built under license in Japan. The Phantom
was in continuous production for 20 years (from 1959 until
1979) and during the Vietnam War, 72 Phantoms were
coming off the production line every month. Although
initi all y designed as an interceptor and later used primari ly
in the air-to-ground strike role, the Phantom proved to be
surprisingly successful in the air-to-air role when the correct
tactics were used. USAF, Navy, and Marine Corps Phantom lIs
achi eved 277 air-to-air combat victories in Vietnam. The
Phantom was the first naval fighter to dispense totally with
cannon armament and the first fi ghter that was able to
identify, intercept and destroy any target that came into range
of its radar without having to rel y on ground control and it
was first aircraft originall y designed solely as a carrier-based
fighter to be ordered by the USAF. It was also the first fighter
to have computer-controlled air inlets for optimum airflow to
the engines and finally, it was the first aircraft to be fl own
simultaneously by both the Navy's Blue Angels and the Air
Force's Thunderbirds fl ight demonstrat ion teams.
t.0411$
September, 2007
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Glossary
AAA .... . ... Anti-Aircraft Artillery
AAM . ... . ... Air to Air Missile
AB .......... Air Base (Non-US)
ADC ........ Air Defence Command
AFB . . . . . . . .. Air Force Base
AFRES . . . . .. Air Force Reserve
AGM ........ Ait to Ground Missile
AGM ........ Airborne Guided Missile
AIM ....... . Air Intercept Missile
ANG .... . ... Air National Guard
ARM ........ Anti-Radar Missile
CAP . . . . . . . . . Combat Air Patrol
Capt . . .. .. .. Captain
CO . .. ....... Commanding Officer
CORDS . ... . . Coherent On Record Doppler System
CW ......... Continous Wave
ECM ........ Electronic Countermeasuers
EWACS ...... Electronic Wide Angle Camera System
EWO . ....... Electronic Warfare Officer
FIS . ......... Fighter Interceptor Squadron
FUR . . . .. . .. Forward Looking Infra-Red
FS . ... . . .... Fighter Squadron
FW . . . . ... . . Fighter Wing
GIB .. ... . . .. Guy In Back
HARM . . . . . . High Speed Anti-Radar Missile
HAWC . . . . . . . Homing Radar And Warning Computer
LORAN .... . . Long Range Navigation
LOROP . . . . .. Long Range Oblique Photography
NOLO . . . .... No Onboard Live Operator
NULLO ...... Not Utilising Local Live Operator
NVA ........ North Vietnamese Army
PPI ........ . Plan Position Indicator
PUP . . . . . . . . Performance Update Program
RHAW ..... . Radar Homing And Warning system
RTAFB ... . . . Royal Thai Air Force Base
SAM ..... . . . Surface to Air Missile
SEA ......... South East Asia
TAC . ........ Tactical Air Command
TACAN ...... Tactical Air Navigation
TEREC ...... Tactical Electronic Recconaisance
TFW ........ Tactical Fighter Wing
TISEO ....... Target Identification system electro Optical
TRG .. . .. ... Tactical Reconnaisance Group
TRTS ... . .... Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron
TRW ....... . Tactical Reconnaisance Wing
USAF ....... United States Air Force
USA FE ...... United Satates Air Forces Europe
USMC . . . . . .. United States Marine Corps
USN .. . ..... United States Navy
Wizzo . ... .. .weapons Systems Officer/Operator
WSO ..... . .. Weapons Systems Operator/Officer
Glossary
The F-4C
and F-4D
119th FW 'Happy Hootigans'
were the proud owners of this
F-4C ( via Mark Smith)
63-596 wearing the colours of
the California Air Guard
( Author's Collection)
Chapter 1
The F-4C
T
he impressive performance of the US Navy's F4H
Phantom immediately caught the attention of the USAF,
which under normal circumstances would have never
considered any aircraft that had originally been conceived for
the Navy. However, under pressure from Secretary of Defence
Robert McNamara, who wanted to reduce defence expenditures
by achieving greater commonality between the aircraft fl own by
the various services, in 1961 the Air Force agreed to undertake
an evaluation of the F4H -I Phantom II and a comparative
assessment between the F4H-I and the F- I06A Delta Dart
which took place under the code name Operation Highspeed.
The F4H-I had better overall speed, altitude and range
performance than the F-I06A and in addition, it could carry
heavier loads over longer distances and had a 25 percent greater
radar range. The F4H-l was also much more versatile than the
Air Force's F-105 Thunderchi ef, since it could not only carry
similar external loads but was also potentially a much better ai r
superiority fighter due to its more favourable wing and power
loadings. Likewise in the reconnaissance role, the Phantom
offered a much better performance than the RF-IOIA/C, and
unl ike the Voodoo, could be fitted for night photographic
missions.
Since the Phantom had so much going for it, in January 1962,
President Kennedy requested Congressional approval for the
procurement of F4H-l derivatives for the Air Force under the
designati on F- ll O. The F-i l OA was to be the tactical fi ghter
version, with RF-I I OA being the tactical reconnaissance version
and the name 'Spectre' was assigned to the aircraft and in
support of this program, the Defence Department instructed
that McDonnell deliver two Navy F4H- Is to the Air Force for
evaluati on. On January 24, 1962, the two Navy F4H-I s (BuNos
149405 and 149406) were delivered to the Air Force at Langley
AFB in Virginia. The results of the trials were impressive. The
Phantom met or exceeded all the Air Force's expectations and in
March of 1962, the Defence Department announced that land-
based versions of the Phantom were to become the standard
tact ical fi ghter and tactical reconnaissance aircraft of the USAF.
t
In
n
---.
.-
-----
On March 30, McDonnell received a letter of intent for one
F-llOA (serial number 62-12199), and on May 29, another letter
was received for a pair ofYRF-IIOA reconnaissance aircraft (62-
12200 and 62-1 2201).
In order to formalise the F-11O project, the Air Force issued
Specific Operational Requirement 200 on August 29, 1962; this
called for an aircraft based on the F4H-I but with an added
ground attack capability. The folding wings, catapult attachment
points, and arrestor hooks of the naval version were to be
retained; however dual controls were to be provided for the
=
backs eater. The high tyre pressure of the Navy F-4B necessary
for carrier operations were unnecessary for the Air Force, and
new wider ones with lower pressures were fitted, along with
anti-skid brakes. On September 18 1962, the Defence
Department ordered that all Air Force, Army, and Navy aircraft
be designated under a common, universal system. In particular,
this meant that the F4H naval designation and the F-IIO Air
Force designation was abolished replaced by 'F-4' with different
service types being identified by a following letter. Thereby the
F4H -I Phantom was redesignated F-4B, the F-IIOA became
Looking pristine in its ADe
grey and wearing the
miniature 'FM' tailcode of the
482nd TFW is 63-537
( via Marl< Smith)
MiG Killer 63-589 based at
Keflavik in Iceland prepares
for a training sortie
( via Glenn Sands)
The F-4C and F-4D ---.!J
-----=:---
63-576 snapped on the ramp at Tyndall AF8 in 1979 ( via Marl< Smith)
One of the most colourful F-4C units was the Michigan Air National Guard with its yellow and black colours
A rather strange hue is evident here aboard 63-689 of the Texas Air National Guard ( Author's Cot/ection)
One of the European bases that operated the F-4C was Spangdahlem in Germany ( Wa Marl< Smith)
Chapter 1
known as the F-4C and the YRF- II OA became YRF-4C, and at
the same time both Ai r Force and Navy versions were christened
Phantom II.
The first producti on F-4C (62- 12199) took off on its maiden
fli ght on May 27, 1963. The F-4C was externally almost identical
to the naval F-4B, and came fitted with the same nosecone with
its associated AAA-4 infrared search and track fairing, which in
an effort to minimise production delays the Air Force accepted
but chose not to fi t any electronics within it. However, internally
it differed from the F-4B as it was fitted with dual cont rols, as
the Air Force intended to fly it as a two-pilot aircraft. As the need
for carrier landings was negated low-pressure tyres were fitted,
which required thicker wheels which in turn, required deeper
wheel wells which resulted in a slight bulge being added above
and below the inner wing panels. The probe-and-drogue aerial
refuelling system of the Navy version was replaced by the Air
Force's favoured boom system with a receptacle being mounted
on top of the fuselage behind the rear cockpit. The backseater
(who was now also a pilot) had new consoles, a lowered panel
for improved forward visibility, a relocated radar tracking
handle, attack switches, and other refinements. The F-4C also
had substantially different electronic equipment to its naval
counterpart, including a Westinghouse AN/ APQ- IOO radar
system with ground mapping capability, an AN/ APA-157 CW
illuminator for the AIM-7 Sparrow family of air- to-air missil es,
and an AN/AjB-7 all -altitude nuclear bomb control system with
low-altitude release capability. The aircraft also had a Litton
AN/ASN-48 (LNI2A/B) inertial navigati on system, and an
AN/ASN-46 navigation computer. Other systems included the
ASN-39 (later -46) dead-reckoni ng navigation computer, the
ALR-17 electronic countermeasures radar warning receiver,
APR- 25 radar homing and warning system, an APR-26 SAM
launch warning system, an APN-141 (l ater -159) radar altimeter,
an A24G cent ral air data computer, a General Electric ASA-32A
analogue autopilot and flight-control system, an ASQ- 19
communicati ons/navigation/identificati on package, and an
ARW-77 Bullpup missile control system. Some F-4Cs were
equipped wi th the SST- 18IX Combat Skyspot radar bombing
system. Furthermore the F-4C was powered by two General
Electric )79-GE- 15 turbojets and a built-in cartridge starting
system was provided, whilst the crew members sat on Martin-
Baker Mk H5 ejector seats. In the USAF F-4s, the rear seat
crewmember could perform virtually all of the fli ght
manoeuvres that the pilot could, with only a few exceptions. The
GIB or'Guy in Back', the Pilot Systems Offi cer (PSO) later call ed
the Weapons Systems Officer or 'Wi zzo" (WSO) in Air Force
at
!ned
n
ical
~ t
lin
ed
ally
s
leed
!d,
l'e
ial
:ed
'!S,
ith
1er,
A
he
!d
speak could even drop bombs if need be, but he could not fire
the gun and could not launch missiles. Furthermore the GIB
could not raise either the landing gear or the flaps, but he could
lower them both in an emergency by using a pneumatic charge
stored in a high-pressure bottle.
The F-4C was built at a time where the internal gun was
considered obsolete and the aircraft relied on an all-missile
armament consisting offour AIM-7D or 7E Sparrow missiles
mounted in recesses underneath the fuselage along with four
AIM-4D Falcon or AIM-9B or 9D Sidewinder infrared air-to-air
missiles carried in pairs on the inboard underwing pylon. Air-
to-ground missiles included the AGM-12 Bullpup, the AGM-45
Shrike, and the AGM-65 Maverick. Unguided rocket launchers
could also be carried, and a load of retarded and unretarded
bombs (conventional, cluster, fire, chemical, or leaflet).
Furthermore the Mk.28 'special store' could be carried, although
the F-4C did not have a nuclear mission as one of its primary
goals. In later years, the lack of an internal gun came to be a
problem, and a centreline SUU-16/A pod containing an M61AI
gun and 1200 rounds of ammunition was fitted to overcome this
problem. The F-4C could also carry a single 600-gallon drop
tank on the centreline rack and a 370-gallon drop tank
underneath each wing
In order to give the Air Force an early start in getting the
Phantom into service, the Navy temporarily loaned 27 more
F-4Bs to the USAF which were assigned the USAF serials 62-
63-426 in colourful garb
( via Mark Smith)
Caught at the 1977 William
Tell meet at Tyndal AFB (note
the apple on the drop tank) is
this Kellavik based bird 63-
685 (<:l via Mark Smith)
63-559 sporting a plethora of
stencil data (<:l via Mark Smith)
The F-4C and F-4D ---.!!J
63-576 from the 'Black
Knights' prepares for another
William Tell sortie in 1976
( via Glenn Sands)
64-915 looking rather weary.
Note the derivation of the
serial number (<I> via Glenn Sands)
63-829, the Commander's
aircraft from the 482nd TFW
AFRES and a double MiG-
Killer (<I> via Mark Smith)
Chaptet1
12170/12196. In November of 1963, these aircraft were delivered
mainly to the 4453rd Combat Crew Training Wi ng at MacDill
AFB in Florida and were soon followed by production F-4Cs.
Some of these borrowed aircraft later went to the 12th TFW, also
based at MacDill and which became the first operati onal user of
the F-4C, receiving its first machines in January 1964, replacing
the unit's F-84F Thunderstreaks. The 12th TFW achieved initial
operational capability in October of 1964.0n December 2,1964,
four F-4Cs set an unofficial endurance record for jet fighters.
They landed at MacDill after an 18-hour flight of nearly 10,000
miles during which they were refuell ed by KC-135 tankers. A
total of 583 F-4Cs were built and the last F-4C rolled off the
production line on May 4, 1966. The initial in-service Phantoms
wore the traditional Gull Grey and White US Navy colour
scheme with Air Force codes and markings, with later aircraft
sporting the tactical camoufl age schemes of the day.
F-4C Operators
The following USAF Wings operated the F-4C:
8th Tactical Fighter Wing
18th Tactical Fighter Wing (44th TFS, 67th TFS), Kadena AB,
Okinawa with detachments to Korat RTAFB.
32nd Tactical Fighter Wing
57th Fighter Weapons Wing
Ul,
57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing
81 st Tactical Fighter Wing
401 st Tactical Fighter Wing
405th Fighter Wing
3247th Test Squadron
4453rd Combat Crew Training Wing
4531st Tactical Fighter Wing
As F-4Cs were superseded in front-line service by later marks
of the Phantom, they were transferred to Air Force Reserve units
or to units of the Air National Guard. The first F-4Cs began to
reach Air Force Reserve units in 1978, initially equipping the
93rd TFS of the 915th Tactical Fighter Group based at
Homestead AFB in Florida. In 1981, the 93rd TFS of the 482nd
TFW (also based at Homestead) received F-4Cs. These were the
only Air Force Reserve units to get the F-4C version of the
Phantom, with most of the other Phantom-equipped AF Reserve
units getting later F-4Ds and Es. These units operated the F-4C
for only a brief time, converting during the early 1980s to F-4Ds.
Ex-USAF F-4Cs first began to reach units of the Air National
Guard in 1972. First to get the F-4C was the 170th TFS of the
183rd TFG of the Illinois ANG, which began to receive the type
in January of 1972. F-4Cs ended up serving with seven ANG
units in the tactical role. In addition, they served in the air
defence role from 1978 with seven ANG fighter interceptor
squadrons and with an air defence training squadron
Air National Guard Units
110th TFS, 131st TFW, Missouri ANG
III th FIS, 147th FIG, Texas ANG
113th TFS, 181st TFG, Indiana ANG
114th TFTS, 142nd FIG, Oregon ANG
122nd TFS, 159th TFG, Louisiana ANG
123rd FIS, 142nd FIG, Oregon ANG
136th FIS, 107th FIG, New York ANG
163rd TFS, 122nd TFW, Indiana ANG
170th TFS, 183rd TFG, Illinois ANG
l7lst FIS, 191st FIG, Michigan ANG
182nd TFS, 149th TFG, Texas ANG
184th TFS, 188th TFG, Arkansas ANG
196th TFS, 163rd TFG, California ANG
199th TFS, 154th CB, Hawaii ANG
Most of the ANG's F-4Cs were replaced in service by later-
model F-4Ds and Es (as well as by F-15s and F-16s) during the
mid- to late-1980s, The last ANG squadron to fly the F-4C, the
123rd FIS of the Oregon ANG, exchanged its F-4Cs for F-16s in
the spring of 1989.
63-776, a superb Bi-
Centennial F-4C (IJ:! via Mark Smith)
64-816 in colourful markings
(IJ:! Author's Collection)
The F4C and F-4D
63564 carrying the 'WW'
logo on its fin cap
(10 via Glenn Sands)
63423 'First of the Weasels'
Chapter t
F-4C Wild Weasel
T
he F4C Wild Weasel IV was a development of the
already inservice Phantom, unoffi ciall y call ed the
EF 4C, and designed in parall el with the F 1 05 Wil d
Weasel lII program. This aircraft, like the modified F IOOF
and F IOsF, was intended to detect and attack North
Vietnamese surface toair mi ssil e sites. These ' EF4C' aircraft
were modified F4Cs fitted with electronic equipment that
was designed to detect, identify, and locate enemy surface to
air missi le radar install ati ons. The aircraft carried an
AN/APR2s Radar Homing and Warning System (RHAWS)
with an antenna mounted on the top of the vertical fin as well
as inside the empty infrared seeker fairing mounted
underneath the nose. This system could give the directi on of
threats and could assign priority to them. An ANI APR 26
SAM launch warning system was also fitted, with a blade like
omnidirecti onal antenna install ed underneath the nose just
behind the infrared seeker fa iring. Also an ER 142 elect roni c
countermeasures receiver was install ed and frequently the
aircraft carried a Westinghouse ANI ALQ1 19 noise and
deception active electronic countermeasures pod underneath
the forward fusel age.
The F l OOF and F lOsF had always been viewed as interim
The aircraft carried an AN/APR25 Radar Homing and Warning System
(RHAWS) with an antenna mounted on the top of the vertical fin as well
as inside the empty infrared seeker fairing mounted underneath the nose.
Seen here as part of a restoration project ( Author's Cottection)
Wi ld Weasel aircraft, pending the avail ability of the F4C
Phantom. However, the entrance of the Wild Weasel F4C into
combat in Vi etnam was delayed by numerous problems.
Among these were insufficient internal space to house the
electroni c equipment, electronic interference between the
vari ous components of the system, and mechanical
vibrati ons of the panoramic receiver pod that was mounted
111
ell
ose.
nto
d
in the starboard rear Sparrow, recess and it was not until
1969 that these problems were fully resolved. The first Wild
Weasel F-4Cs entered service in June 1968 with the 4537th
Fighter Weapons Squadron, an operational conversion and
tactic development unit based at Nellis AFB in Nevada. At
that time, this squadron was part of the 4525th Fighter
Weapons Wing and the 4525th was redesignated the 57th
Fighter Weapons Wing in October of 1969, at the same time
the 4537th FWS became the 66th FWS. Overseas deployment
of the Weasels began in March of 1969 and with the 80th
TFS, 347th TFW at Yokota AB in Japan, however these aircraft
were transferred in March 1971 to the 67th TFS, 18th TFW
based at Kadena AFB on Okinawa. The 67th TFS relocated to
Korat RTAFB in Thailand in 1972-72 to take part in the
Linebacker raids.
The Wild Weasel F-4Cs were intended to detect and attack
the Fan Song track-while- scan radar that was used to guide
SA-2 Guideline surface-to-air missiles. The primary
armament of the aircraft therefore consisted of the Texas
Instruments AGM-45 Shrike anti-radiation missile, (the
aircraft could not carry or launch the AGM-78 Standard anti-
radiation missile) plus an array of cluster and conventional
iron bombs. The Shrike missile proved to be rather unreliable
in service, since it had to be preset before takeoff in order to
home in on a particular frequency. In December of 1969,
Wild Weasel F-4Cs were issued to the 81st TFS of the 50th
TFW, stationed at Hahn AFB in Germany which later
transferred to the 86th TFW at Zweibrucken AB in January of
1972. By 1973, the surviving aircraft were retrofitted with the
[tek ANI ALR-46 electronic countermeasures receiver which
provided fast digital processing in a bandwidth ranging from
2 to 18 GHz. Antennae for this system were placed on the
tailcone at the base of the vertical fin as well as on the lower
fuselage immediately aft of the nose radar. It interfaced with
a cockpit display and provided automatic control of jamming
assets. In addition, an ANI ALR-53 long-range homing
receiver was mounted which could guide aircraft toward
surface threats.
After being replaced by later Wild Weasel Phantoms, many
of the aircraft were returned to F-4C status and then turned
over to the 113th TFS of the 181st TFG and the 163rd TFS of
the 122nd TFW, both with the Indiana Air National Guard,
which received these planes in 1979.
Thirty-six F-4Cs were ultimately modified to the Wild
Weasel configuration.
Serials were 63-7423, 7433, 7437, 7440, 7443, 7447, 7452,
7459,7462,7467,7470,7474, 7478,7481,7508, 7512, 7564,
7565,7567,7574,7594, 7596,7607,7615, 7623 and 64-0675,
0741, 0757, 0781,0787, 0790, 0791 , 0815, 0840, 0844, and
0847.
An AN/APR-26 SAM launch
warning system was also
fitted ( Author"s Collection)
64-847 of the 35th TFW
( via Mark Smith)
Strike Camera
The F-4C and F-4D
F-4C/D in Detail
Looking at the arrestor hook and adjacent heat resistant panels ( Author's Collection) The open brake chute housing (IC> Author's Collection)
Cockpit air-intake on the fuselage side (IC> Author's Cottection) Vents atop the engine intake (IC> Author's Collection)
f'
,
l
J
+
-
Wingtip detail (IC> Author's Collection) Sparrow m s s l ~ actuating mechanism ( Author's Collection)
~ Chapter 1
F-4C/D in Detail
Soot stained panels behind the engines ( Author's Collecffon)
looking upwards and forwards into the nosewheel bay
Instruction panel on the main wheel strut ( Autho,'s Collection)
looking into the underwing braking flap ( Author's Collection)
Nosewheel oleo detai ( Author's Collection)
The mainwheel strut ( Autho,'s Collection)
PUSH TO
OPEN 000
Canopy jettison panel ( Author's Collection)
I
looking upward into the rear
port Sparrow recess ( Author's
Collection)
The F-4C and F-4D
F-4C/D in Detail
?
-
R

.R

2
.:.

R
Information panel attached to the inside of the nosewheel door ( AUlhor's Cotteclion)
I.AUJIICIIIGfonlSESTATlt*JII)TA/JTMOalZO'fMIW!OaIl'UTIOIOffIJOHTUrTl
+
R[f UEL ING
NAtO NO ' . 40
E
EXHR HAL u,ClRI CAL
1.-
CONNEC TI O N

HY DRAULIC OIL
.:.
N AT O NO H S1S

ENGI NE Oil

HATO NO 0 ' . 8
.:.
AI R CONDITIONING
E

PNUMAlIC ST ARTER
CONNECTIQN

.R
X
PNEUMATIC SYSTEM
OXYGEN ( BREATHING)
....
BATTERY INSPEC1 \ ON

GROUNDING
OANGER
EXPLOSIVE AClllATEO
o eevlCE
'9' 1,.; k' ..
Q'"

MOORI NG POI Nt
.,

HOISTING POI Nt

<>
R
JACKING POINl
T.O. 1
/ AIHPI.IIlIll.QAIJllld 7
I
AllcaA" '110. TOU.IU(aLOa: m WITHOUT T.O. ".4C.JI7 111C0IlI"QaATIO
..... CIl4l'T "'Tn 11Il.0CIt m AHD UP, AND AlL OTMUIAnlllMcolroUTlON 0" T.O. " C-111.
ALL .. oIO.ulc .... n . AMO'-4C A'lcun Ann IMCotIP'OUTIOti 0' T.O. ,, 4(.1%1
MOT E'UCTlVI '1II ..... ClAn ",no 11t..00t ., AN D UI>.
AlULUlI O, .... tIMG _liGHT ,"ole ._",_ ,I .... "' .... .4.11 .,._..4 ,_ .....
, .f(; ............................. .. It.,,,_."
,.., ......... . ... . ................
A1aI"LAMI loUIe T.ucIO" WISGHT ... ..,,1 .. 100111.,__ 1 .... 1 '-41
'.fC .. . ......
,...., .................... j 41."0
1 April 1967
Aircraft Loading chart ( McDonnell Doug/as) Ai rcraft Loading chart (@McDonn'"Doug/as)
Chapter 1
F-4C/D in Detail
AIRCRAFT MARKINGS
PNEUMATIC DRAIN
OIL AND HYDRAULI C DRAIN
FUEL COMPARTMENT DRAIN
FUEL DRAIN

o MARKED DRAINS OR VENTS
.UNMARKED MOISTURE DRAINS EXCEPT AS NOTE
_D):..... __ \
STATIC DRAIN (CAPPED)
(TOP WHEELWELL)
.UTlLlTY RESERVOIR DRAIN 24R
MOI STURE SEPARATOR BLOW DOWN
VAL VE VENT (AIR AND WATER) 22
X CANOPI ES NORMAL r
x PNEUMATI C BOTTLE
DRAIN (MANUAL) L
.ENGINE CLEAR BOX DRAIN 7.R ..... /
GENERATOR, CONSTANT SPEED DRIVEl
AND NOSE DOME DRAIN HR / /
ENGINE SUMP VENT
PC II RESERVOIR DRAIN l>(1

)/
RESERVOIR (lNBD) f"
DRAIN
(DUTBD) . /-11
o
ENGINE TURBINE AND

AFTERBURNER DRAIN 92R
ARRESTING GEAR SER_
VICING ACCESS DRAIN
External Drains and Vents ( McDonnell Doug/as)

BOTTOM VIEW
NOTES
1. NUMBERS FOLLOWING DR PRECEDING DRAIN
DESCRIPTION INDICATE ACCESS DOOR ON
WHICH DRAIN IS LOCATED
_ INFRARED DOME ON
62-12199, 63-H07 THRU 64_817.
_ 62_12199, 63-7407 THRU 64-928 .
16 LIQUID OXYGEN VENT
24L LANDING GEAR DUMP
VALVE VENT (AIR AND OIL)
22 AIR COMPRESSOR BLEED X
VALVE VENT (AIR AND OIL)X
HL ENGINE GEAR BOX DRAIN.
ENGINE SUMP VENT.
92L ENGINE COMBUSTION.
SECTION DRAIN
92L ENGINE TURBINE AND.
AFTERBURNER DRAIN
75L PC I RESERVOIR DRAIN.
MANUAL ff.
BLEED
DRAIN
( INBD) RESERVOIR
DRAIN
(OUTBD)
4C-2-1-!104-1I
The F4C and F4D
F-4C/D in Detail
F-4C Iront cockpit ( Author's Collection)
F-4D Iront cockpit ( Author's Collection)
F-4D rear cockpit ( Author's Cottection)
Chapter 1
_INfRARED DOME PROTECTIVE COVER
MDE32774-1 (62-12199 THRU 64-817)
Ground protective
devices ( McDonnell Dougtas)
ANGLE Of ATTACK
PROBE GUARD
MDE32S06- 303
STRIKE CAMERA WINDOW COVER ASSEMBLY
67f299SI-l0
RAM AIR OUTlET COVER
MDE32S9-303 AND -304
;',,:)1\
,11 1
rill
'., C'%- r N
,-;
I, ) "'-, ..""
..., . / :.. ' ZI
' :'j "
r
VIEW LOOKING AFT I N AFT COCKPIT
WITH SEAT REMOVED
INDEX NO.
22.
23.
".
25.
a u..
'Il.
28.
29.
JO.
31.
NOMENClATURE
I FFANTENN'
UHF COMMUNICATI ONS ANTENNA (UPPfI)
HEADSET-MlCItOPHONE ADAPTER
EMERGENCY IFF SWITCH
EMERGENCY IFF SWrTCH
COMM.,lNICATION5 COAX ltELAY
UHF ALTfl
EXTERNAlINTEReOM RECEPTACLE
CNI GND PWlSwtTCH
HEADSET_MlCIOPHONE ADAPTER
Integrated Electronic Component Locations ( McDonnell Douglas)
ACCBS
OOC>a 19
FIN CAP AND DOOR 68
AFT COCKPIT
AFT COCKPIT
FORWARD COCKPIT
AFT COCKPIT
AFT COCKPIT
LEFTWHEElWEU
LEFT WHEflWEll
LEFT WHEElWELl
F-4C/D Ejector Seat Diagrams
Early Phantoms used the Martin Baker H5 seat, which was later replaced by the Mk 7
T.O.IF-4C-2-1
SUItVIVAlKIT
RH US HoVIDU
1. DROGUE PARACHUTE PACK ASSEMBLY
2. FACE CURTAIN HANDLE
3. GAS POWERED INERTIA REEL
4. EMERGENCY OXYGEN CYLINDER
5. SEAT BUCKET POSITIONING SWITCH
6. EMERGENCY OXYGEN MANUAL RELEASE CONTROL HANDLE
7. FINGER TAB
8. LEG RESTRAINT CORD
9. LOWER EJECTION HANDLE
10. EMERGENCY HARNESS RELEASE HANDLE
11. SEAT BUCKET
12. PERSONNEL PARACHUTE
13. LUMBAR PAD
14. ROCKET MOTOR FIRING MECHANISM
15. ROCKET MOTOR
16. ROCKET MOTOR FIRING LANYARD AND DISPENSER
17. ROCKET MOTOR F IRI NG MECHANI SM PROTECTIVE BOOT
18. O-RING AND PLATE
19. CANOPY INTERLOCK BLOCK
20. CANOPY INTERLOCK BLOCK AND CATAPULT
GUN FIRING MECHANISM (INTERDICTOR) SAFETY
PI N ASSEMBLY
FIRING MECHANISM GUARD (AFT SEAn
NOTES
D BEFORE T.O. IF-4-832
I AFTER T.O. IF-4-832
DAFTER T .0. IF-4-926 AND T .0. 15X11-19-504
D BEFORE T.O. IF-4-898
II AFTER T.O. IF-4-898
Rocket mechanism
( McDonnell Douglas)
4C-2-1-U06-1l
Figure 3-4. Rocket Assist Ejection Seats (Sheet 1 of 2)
The F-4C and F-40
The Phantom Crew sit on a pair of Martin-Baker Mk 7 zero-zero ejector seats ( Au/hor's Collection)
WARNING
WHEN REMOVING FACE CUITAIN
SAFETY PIN, INSPECT SAFETY
PI N HOLE ON SEAr TO ENSUlE ALL
PORTIONS OF SAFETY PIN HAVE
BEEN lEMOVEO FROM SEAT.
' /
TO INADVERTENT fiRING OF SEAT,
DO NOT RfMOVE CANOPY INTERLOCK !LOCK
AND CATAPULT GUN FiliNG MECHANISM
.. (INTERDICTOR) SAFETY PIN ASSfMBl Y EXCEPT
DEARMING CATAPULT GUN.
. CANOPY INTEUOCK 'LOCK
. . AND CATAPULT GUN filiNG-

}j

2. FACE CUITAIN
. GUlLlOTINE AND
'Sr; , .) p lOCKET PACK STREAMEIl
PI
"
5' \ GUILLOTINE FIRING
MECHANISM
8. LOWER
7. EMERGENCY
OXYGEN
CYLINDER
3. SEAT MOUNTED
INITIATOR
CANO'Y
INITIATD ..
,- STREAMER
..:{ :
WARNING
ENSURE ROCKET PACK FIliNG MECHANISM SAFETY PIN
IS INSTALLED AND fULLY SEATEO. FAlWRE TO INSTALL
SAFETy PIN COULD LEAD TO ROCKET MOTOR ACTUATION
AND RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO PERSONNel ,
DEPIIESS eunoNs ON HEAD OF SAFETY PINS
PIIIOR TO PULLING PINS FROM THE VAlIOUS
UNITS WHEN REMOVING SAFETY PIN ASSEMBLY,
DO NOT PULL AITACHING lANYARD WHEN
REMOVING SAFETY PINS FROM SEAT MOUNTED
ANO COCKPIT MOUNTED INITIATORS, GItASP
SAFETY PIN TO ENSUIIE PIN IS REMOVED.
DDSAFETY PIN ASSEMBLY MDE32722-J2 9
R

Figure 1-21, Ground Safety Devices - Canopy , Cockpit. and Seat (Sheet 3 of 3)
Ground Safety Pin chart Douglas)
Chapter 1
! IISOIl NU'UAtllun
WHHOAAWA,lllNE
OVlUDISCOIfII(CT
Off Whlte
W/ BlackP\alZ,C

SH.-.II'IN
' Qa/OIt . ,
..... "10
r' ,'--""""'" '-'" '" "' ....
; PROCEDURES 7
SEfORE EJECTION
SIT (UCT.IUTTOCU , .. Cit
IIUJ)EIIECl,ltlJfESlRAIGII1 , LEOSEXTENDEDANDTHIGII$OPl
SEATCUlHIOII .
C.
S(QUNtJNG, HOWEVER, THE JoFT tAfWWUllfR IlAY INITIAn
SINGLE OR IIEOUIRED THE CII EWMUiIUII
1I0TINITIATlNGTHI EJ ECTIOHSHOULDSEAlHlIHOANOASSuWETM
PIIO'EIIIODV!'GSII'OIlWlTHH,I,/rIOSOH THf HANDLE TO AVOIO
I'OSSltl(tllIURV
1. Ejection Handle PUll . . ,
lOWU HANDH METHOD
B
If TII(PllDr " USlNlifUtLBAU:
STICK. USE TH[ LOWE ll
EJ(tT'DfiM-.fiDL( lfiTI1IIUR
CCCl"T ... AVSRuTRlcnD

,n SlICl
TI1[ LOWEll U(C1 10NKAl la[ USING ATWO HANDEO
GIII'WlfHTH THUMBAND-.TlE,l,STTWQfllfGIISOFfACH
IWID. PUUS'lRAIGIfTU'OWlOWEIiHAIfDLtAIfD MAIIfTAIIf
ACGlfliIfUDl'UlL. WIiENCANOI'YJrnIInN5.CDNTlHUE
UlfTilFUll TII"'Yl
1$ IIE,l.CMED
I WARNING I
F-"lINGTOPIJllTNlawEIIEJtCflOh'MAh'DU
STIiAIGHTU'CAlISUBIHCINGWHICIICA,,'REYElI'l
THlOWE II EJECTIOHH.fJIDl(JADMWl TNDIIA"",NG
fllDIilIISlotKINGOHUT
fACE CURT AIN MET HOD
IIEACMCYIIM.I..OWlTM'AlMS.I.ITlUI'INOEleDW.i
SIlCL/ lO(R WiCTIIAP-'RT. GIIAS,fACECUIITAJltNANDlE
PU ll FOIiWAIIC-.h'O OOWNA.fIDM,AJIITAI NACOltfilfUED
I'Vl L. W14(lItAh'OI'YJf.nISllIlS. COIfTIHUIPlJllINOFACI

I WARHING I
DNteFACECUIIT.lt.IHHA.5IEINUTIUZED,DONOT

IT .....VBECOIIIEf/tT4.JtGUC INTMES.I.TOIlOGUf
CHL/ TfDUIII NGTHEUtcnONSEOUfNCe.
I WAI N.NO I
MINIIIIUMAlnTUOESARIOPENOEK1L/I'ONDIII( ... NGlE,AJRSI'lED.ANO .... NKA.fIGl E.. R{COIli MENOEO

3-14
Ejection Procedure ( McDonnell Douglas)
TJIIE II ELEASEMECHlIUSU TII)PROD
ISECURfD TO RULKH(ADI
Ejector Seat detail diagram ( McDonnell Douglas)
AFTER EJECTION SEQUENCE
8 !lIlOGU! .... HC[)"O .flU fJIECTIOII . Of'LOYI COMUOLLU DIlOGllf . .... '(H IN
TURH, Ofl'LOYSn."l lzrIlOIlOGUf . \tAT'S1UI'lIUOAMOOlCltfll,t. lfOIYDRoc.UfCHUTU.

D U lt KU 0.("'11" lHO(K .... s ..... ,s itAT .. , ....
LO.ALTI TUOE SEQUEIICE
Figure 3-4 (Sheel 2 of 3)
Ejection Sequence ( McDonnell Douglas)
I MK #7 EJECTION SEIIT/

alOIC"'fO.
}
C==:J
ALL NUST
IIEFLIJSH
The F-4C and F-4D
67-716 resplendent in its AOC
grey caplured at Eglin AFB in
1978 ( via Mark Smith)
One 01 the most eye catching
of the 'Hill Gray or Egypt 1 '
coloured aircraft were the
markings of the Minnesota
ANG ( Author's Collection)
66-723 wearing the UP
tailcode taken at Clark AFB in
1974 ( via Mark Smith)
Chapter 1
F-4D
T
he F-4D was an improved version of the F-4C which was
better suited to the specific requirements of the Tactical
Air Command. Although it was externally almost identical
to the F-4C it was very different internally. The F-4D was
authorised in March 1964, and the first example flew on
December 7, 1965 with deliveries beginning in March 1966. The
first aircraft arrived wi th the 36th Tactical Fighter Wing based at
Bitburg in Germany followed by the 4th TFW based at Seymour
johnson AFB in North Carolina in January of 1967, and an
impressive total of 793 F-4Ds were built. The F-4D had the same
engines and basic airframe as the F-4C, and had the same
internal fuel capacity as that of the RF-4C, the major difference
being in the avioni cs. The most signifi cant change was the
replacement of the APQ-I00 radar of the F-4C by the small er
and lighter partly solid-state AN/APQ- I09A which introduced
an air-to-ground ranging mode using movable cursors. The
F-4Ds fitted with the AN/APQ-I09A radar set could be
externally distinguished from the F-4C by the presence of a
larger radome, however, some F-4Ds were fitted with the
AN/APA-157 radar similar to that fitted to the F-4C and were
hence externally identical to the F-4C, also the undernose fairing
for the AAA-4 infrared search and track system was removed on
earli er models, but later reinstated. The Collins ASQ-19
miniaturized communication/navigation/identifi cation suite
became standard and the Litton ASN-48 inertial navigation
system of the F-4C was replaced by an ASN-63 set, which was
also upgraded and made lighter. An AJB-7 all-altitude bomb
delivery system was provided, which was connected to an ASQ-
91 weapons release computer for delivery of laser-guided
bombs. The F-4D retained the AIM-7 Sparrow capability of the
F-4C, but it deleted the Sidewinder capability on the inboard
underwing pylon in favour of the Hughes AIM-4D Falcon
infrared-homing missile.
As already noted, and starting with Block 27, the infrared
search and track pod under the radome was reinstall ed, but not
to house the AAA-4 infrared search and track system, but rather
to carry the forward amplifier and antenna of the ALR-25/26
radar warning system. Later, this system was replaced by APS-
107 A with fin antennae and ALR-69(V)2 with its antennae
blistered around the chin pod and brake chute housing. The
aircraft coul d also carry externally hung jammer pods including
the ALQ-87 FM barrage jammer, the Westinghouse ALQ- l 0 1
noise/deception jammer, and the Westinghouse ALQ-1 19
noise/deception jammer capable of covering three bands, and a
multiple ejector rack was provided for the centreline pylon and
triple ejector racks were provided for the inboard underwing
stations, furthermore the weapons system officer was often
given a TV display fed from the seeker of a homing bomb
system, initially for the GBU-8 and later for the GBU-15. For
:ing
on
Ie
01
ler
ng
a
A fine in-flight study of F-4D
65-662 (<I:> ~ Mark Smith)
66-708 a double MiG Killer
seen in April 1989
(<I:> via Mark Smith)
66-587 showing an intriguing
camoullage paHern and
colour scheme (<I:> via Gtenn Sands)
65-764 caught on camera in
1972 (<I:> via Gtenn Sands)
The F-4C and F-4D ~
=
Wearing wrap-around SEA
camouflage is 66-704 from its
home base at Tinker
Another Bentwaters based
'Spook' prepares for launch
( via Glenn Sands)
The Commander's aircraft of
the 31 sl TTW ( via Mark Smith)
66-472 wearing black low-vis
insignia ( via Glenn Sands)
Chapter 1
~ ~
------
A Spangdahlem based bird
66-790 showing its LORAN
'towel rail ' aerial on the spine
( via Mark Smith)
Wearing 'Lizard' colours and
looking a bit tired 65-662 gets
some deserved attention for
its groundcrew ( via Glenn Sands)
The Alabama ANG also had a
unique nose marking on its
F-4D's as 66-610
demonstrates
Based at RAF Lakenheath in
the UK 65-777 taxies in with
braking chute bay open
( via Glenn Sands)
The F4C and F4D ~
Two of the colour schemes
worn by the Texas AFRES unit
( Author's Coffection)
Carrying a towed target dart
this F-4D was based at RAF
Bentwaters in the UK
(IC> ~ Glenn Sands)
~ Chapter 1
weapons aiming, the F-4C had relied on a fIxed sight and a
simple chart on which the image of the target was projected, and
the operation of this system made accurate bombing very
difficult, and therefore the F-4D had improved avionics to
increase the accuracy of its air-to-ground weapons. These
included an ANI ASQ-91 weapons release computer system
whi ch measured various aircraft parameters such as speed,
attitude, and climbing rate, and combined it with radar data on
the slant range to the target to tell the bomb when to drop from
the aircraft. Also fItted was an AN/ASG-22 lead computing
optical sight with ampli fIer and gyro designed to improve the
effectiveness of the Phantom in air-to-air combat.
The F-4D In Service
3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Korea, 1971-1974.
35th TFS, 36th TFS, 80th TFS.
4th Tactical Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC, 1967-
1970. 334th TFS, 335th TFS, 336th TFS. Deployments to
Kunsan AB, Korea.
8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. 433rd
TFS, 435th TFS, 497th TFS, 555th TFS(l967-1968)
12th Tactical Fighter Wing, Phu Cat AB, South Vietnam.
Assumed control of the former 37th TFW and its F-4Ds
fl own by the 389th TFS,and 480th TFS. Inactivated Nov
1971.
18th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kadena AB, Okinawa. 25th TFS
(1975- 1979). Several detachments to Korat RTAFB, Thail and.
Inactivated Aug 1980.
31st Tactical Training Wing, Homestead AFB, FL, 1981-1987.
306th TFTS, 307th TFTS, 309th TFTS.
33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, FL.
35th Tactical Fighter Wing, Phan Rang AB, Thailand.
36th Tactical Fighter Wing, Bitburg AB, Germany. Elements
of the 36th fl ew F-4Ds between 1966 and 1973.
48th Tactical Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, UK. Assets
reassigned to 474th TFW at Nellis AFB, NV
49th Tactical Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem, AB, Germany.
50th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hahn AB, Germany, lOth TFS,
496th TFS.
52nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem AB, Germany.
480th TFS (1976-1980).
54th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Korea. Activated Jun
1970, taking place of 354th TFW. Inactivated Oct 1970.
56th Tacti cal Fighter Wing, MacDill AFB, FL, 1978-1980.
57th Fighter Weapons Wing, Nellis AFB, NV414th FWS
(until 197\).
81st Tactical Fighter Wing, RAF Bentwaters, UK. 78th TFS
(1966-1979) 91 th TFS (1973-1979), 92nd TFS (1973-1979).
354th Tactical Figher Wi ng, Kunsan AB, South Korea. 560th
TFS, 33rd TFS, 335th 16th TFS, 478th TFS. Wing assets
passed to 54th TFW Jun 1970, when wing transferred to
Myrtle Beach AFB, SC with A-7Ds.
366th Tactical Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, NM. 389th TFS,
e
ld.
:7.
The matt paint finish aboard
this Phantom from the Oregon
Air Guard was common
across its fleet
(It> Author's CoHection)
66-739 again, this time note
the 'Pave Spike' designator
pod ( Auttio", Col/eetion)
66-739 wearing the 'Cloud'
variation olthe Hill Grey
scheme ( Auttio", Col/eetion)
The F-4C and F-4D
66-768 of the 924 TFG on the
Nellis ramp at 'Gunsmoke'
A good view of the upper
pattern of the 'Cloud' scheme
Catteenan)
A brace of F-40's carrying
GBU-8 HOBOS munitions
( via Tony Thomborough)
Chapter 1
390th TFS, 480th TFS. Operated F-4D from 1968 to 1972.
Deployments to Phu Cat AB, Vietnam, Takhli RTAFB,
Thail and.
388th Tacti cal Fighter Wing, Korat RTAFB, Thail and. 34th
TFS(l 974) 35th TFS (1972). Reassigned to Hill AFB, Utah
Dec 1975, and acquired 4th TFS, 34th TFS, and 421 th TFS.
Convertd to F-16 Jan 1979.
40 1st Tacti cal Fighter Wing, Torrejon AB, Spain, 1978- 1983.
405th Fighter Wing, Clark AB, Philippines. 1st Test Squadron
(1970), 523rd TFS (l970-1 973( inactivated)), 90th TFS
(1 973- 1973) . 64th FIS and 509th FIS operated F-l02s.
Detachments to Taiwain, Thailand, South Vietnam. Replaced
by the 3rd TFW in Sept 1974.
432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, Udorn RTAFB,
Thailand. 13th TFS equipped with F-4Ds in Oct 1967.
Redesignated 432nd Tacti cal Fighter Wing Nov 1974.
Inactivated Nov 1975.
474th Tacti cal Fighter Wing, Nellis AFB, NY. 428th TFS, 429th
TFS, 430th TFS. Acquired Lakenheath F-4Ds in 1977, and
fl ew them until converting to F-16s in 1982.
475th Tactical Fighter Wing, Misawa AB, Japan. Inactivated
when assets were used to reform the 3rd TFW in Mar 1972,
and 475th inacti vated.
479th Tacti cal Fighter Wing, George AFB, CA. 1965-1972. Re-
equipped with F-4Es in 1972.
In the early 1980s, F-4Ds began to reach Air Force Reserve
units. The uni ts obtaining the F-4D incl uded:
89th TFS, 906th TFG
93rd TFS, 482nd TFW
457th TFS, 301 st TFW
465th TFS, 507th TFG
704th TFS, 924th TFG
!ron
ced
19th
d
'2,
Re-
By the late 1980s, most of the AF Reserve units had
exchanged their F-4Ds for F-16A/Bs. The last AF Reserve unit to
USe the F-4D, the 482nd TFW, converted to F-16A/Bs in
of 1989. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, ex-USAF
F-4 Ds began to reach the Air National Guard. The first ANG unit
:0 operate the F-4D was the 178th FIS of the I I 9th FIG of the
Dakota ANG, which got its planes in March of 1977. ANG
F-4Ds served both in the tactical fi ghter role and in the
interceptor role.
ANG units Operators
Illth FIS, 147th FIG, Texas ANG
121st FIS, 113th TFW, District of Columbia ANG
127th FIS, 184th TFG, Kansas ANG
128th FIS, 116th TFG, Georgia ANG
134th FIS, 158th TFG, Vermont ANG
136th FIS, i07th FIG, New York ANG
14lth TFS, 108th TFW, New Jersey ANG
160th TFS, 187th TFG,AlabamaANG
I 70th TFS, 18erd TFG, Illinois ANG
171st FIS, 19lst FIG, Michigan ANG
I 77th TFTS, 184th TFG, Kansas ANG
178th FIS, 119th FIG, North Dakota ANG
I 79th FIS, 148th FG, Minnesota ANG
194th FIS, 144th FIW, California ANG
During the early 19905, the F-4Ds in the ANG were all
/
withdrawn from service and replaced by F- 16s and by 1992, the
last F-4Ds had been withdrawn from the fighter interceptor
groups of the Air National Guard.
Matching one of the
Phantom's nicknames is this
'Rhino' nose art aboard 66-
491 from the Niagra Falls Air
Guard ( Author's Collection)
An F-40 at Eglin AFB where
tests were carried out with
the ' Pave Knife' pod
( via Tony Thornborough)
One of the F-40's based at
Lakenheath in the UK
( via Glenn Sands)
The F-4C and F-4D
A heavily laden F-4C at Cam
Rahn Bay in 1968, note the
underfuselage gun pack
~ via Glenn Sands)
Taken early in the war, an
ADC grey Phantom takes on
gas from a KC-135 ( Boeing)
~ Chapter 1
- ~ - - - -
Deployment to Vietnam
The F-4C
A
long with the US Navy versions, the USAF Phantoms
became the mainstay of air combat operations in
South East Asia. The 15th TFW deployed its 45th
Tactical Fighter Squadron to Thailand in 1965 and on Jul y 10,
scored their first kills of the Vietnam War when they
destroyed two MiG-1 7s over North Vietnam with Sidewinder
mi ssil es. In time, the F-4C took over the bulk of the heavy
fighting over Nor th and South Vietnam. On a typical mission
over the North, an F-4C would carry four Sparrows, four
Sidewinders, and a load of eight 75D-pound bombs. The
AIM-7D/E Sparrow gave the Phantom a beyond visual range
capability at distances of up to 28 miles, however, such
launches were very rarely permitted under the terms of the
rules of engagement. When it was fired, the Sparrow turned
out to be virtually useless against fi ghter-sized targets,
especially at low altitudes, which made the small er AIM-9B/D
Sidewinder the weapon of choice and it scored more aerial
victories than any other weapon. On the other side of the coin
on July 24 1965, F-4C 63-7599 of the 47th Tactical Fighter
A gaggle of Phantoms drop their ordnance guided by an EB-66 Destroyer
( USAF)
Squadron was the first Ameri can warplane to be downed by a
surface- to-air mi ssil e. In the first two years of combat in
Vietnam, the casualti es among the first F-4C squadrons had
reached almost 40 percent, for a total of 54 aircraft. Mos t
were lost to AAA, but a few were lost in stall /spin accidents at
low altitude. The F-4C lacked the guns of a compl ete fighter
system, which was found to be a serious deficiency in close-
in air-to-air combat. The addition of a SUU- 16A gun pod on
the under fuselage centerline compensated for the lack of a
gun, but it seriously degraded overall performance and in
addition made the aircraft somewhat unstable and difficult to
recover from a spin.
The early F-4Cs deployed to Vietnam had problems with
leaking wing tanks, these problems being so serious that they
needed to be carefully resealed after each flight. The radar
too had a tendency to malfunction far too easily, the humid
air of Southeast As ia being a persistent problem. Earl y F-4Cs
also suffered problems with cracked ri bs and stringers on the
outer wing panels, and later aircraft were equipped with a
heavier stringer and an additi onal wing rib, whilst the earlier
aircraft had this mod retrofi tted. A number of F-4Cs were
equipped with a radar homing and warni ng (RHAW) system,
which enabled these fighters to act as killer pack leaders for
air st rikes on radar and surface -to-air sites.
rer
ya
d
at
n
to
ey
:5
he

n,
The F-4D
F
rom the spring of 1967, the F-4D graduall y began to
replace the earlier F-4C in combat in Vietnam. It
initially appeared over Vietnam with the 8th TFW,
commanded by Lt. Col. Robin Olds. The first F-4D MiG kill
took place on June 5, 1967, when crewmen Maj. Everett T.
Raspberry and Capt. Francis Gullick shot down a MiG- 17
near Hanoi and the F-4D went on to destroy 45 enemy
aircraft, and Captain Steve Ritchie of the 432nd TFW got his
lifth kill in F-4D number 66-0167 on August 18,1972.
However, the infrared Falcon proved relatively unsuccessful
in air-to-air combat in Vietnam, shooting down only four
and one MiG-21 between October 26,1967 and
February 5, 1968. The Falcon proved to be somewhat
temperamental in service, requiring a lot of careful setting up
and tweaking and had a limited manoeuvrability regime and
had a tendency to cause engine flameouts when fired!
Perhaps the most significant problem with the AIM-4D was
that its fire control system required 6-7 seconds to actually
launch the missile after the firing button was pushed, which
Heavily laden Phantoms take
on gas from a KC-135 Tanker
before heading to target
USAF)
Complete with LORAN 'towel
rail' 66-761 sits in a
revetment at Ubon RTAFB in
the August of 1971
via Glenn Sands)
Another heavily laden F-4D
67-707 seen at Da Nang in
1968 via Glenn Sands)
The F-4C and F-4D
F-4D 67-696 'The Blue Max'
at Da Nang in March 1968
( via Mark Smith)
F-4D, F65-683/DC, Of the
13TFS, 432TRW, based at
Udorn, Thailand and the
personal mount 01 Aircraft 01
Col. W.E. Bevan ( APiccirillo)
'Triple Nickel' MiG Killer 01
Captain Steve Ritchie, with
live Kill-Stars ( via Glenn Sands)
Chapter 1
is an eternity in a dogfight. Plus the Falcon required a direct
hit to explode, since there was no proximity fuse and the
expl osive warhead was quite small , onl y about 4 pounds. In
later years, the absence of an internal cannon was seen as a
liability in close- in air-to-air combat. The F-4D could carry
an external centreline SUU-23 pod containing an M-6IAI
cannon, but it was bulky, provided lots of drag which
seri ously compromi sed performance, and was rather
inaccurate. The Westinghouse ANI ASQ-152(V) -2 Pave Spike
laser target designator was fitted to several F-4Ds. The
cylindri cal Pave Spike laser designator pod was mounted
inside one of the Sparrow missil e wells on the fuselage
underside. The system used television optics, which made it
daylight-capable onl y. Alternatively the ANI AVQ-I 0 Pave
Knife laser target designator could be carried on the inboard
underwing pylon of specially modified F-4Ds. This pod had a
stabilised head housing a boresighted TV camera and laser;
attempts were made to slave the pod's optics to the aircraft
radar, but these were not successful. The system operated by
having the pod look in the same direction as the pilot' s bomb
sight, with the weapons system offi cer then finding the target
on his monitor screen as the pil ot pointed his aircraft at it.
Combat mi ssions with the Pave Knife began on May 23, 1968,
initi all y in conjuncti on with the GBU-IO/B laser-guided
bomb and all aircraft so equipped were assigned to the 433rd
TFS of the 8th TFW. Perhaps the most spectacul ar use of Pave
Knife was the dropping of a span of the Paul Doumer Bridge
near Hanoi on May 10, 1972 whi ch had survived literall y
hundreds of previous attacks .
Two F-4Ds (66-8738 and 66-8812) were fitted with the
AVQ-II Pave Sword precision attack sensor whi ch consisted
of a modified AIM-9 Sidewinder seeker head as a laser spot
tracker for targets designated by AVQ-12 Pave Spot laser
designators carried by 0-2As. The system was mounted
inside a modifi ed SUU- II gunpod suspended from the right-
forward Sparrow well or from the ri ght inboard underwing
pylon. F-4D 66-8700 received the Pave Fire system mounted
in a centreline pod. This system used low-light level
television and laser ranging equipment to perform dive- toss
bombing missions at night. However, the designation of the
target was found to be tricki er than expected, and the Pave
Fire system was never very successful , and onl y one Phantom
was so modifi ed.
Some aircraft assigned to the 8th TFW were fitted with the
AVQ-9 Pave Li ght laser designator, namely to 65-0597, 0609,
0612, 0642, 0677, 0706, 0786,and 66-8814,8815,8817,and
8823. This designator was mounted on the left side of the
rear canopy frame of the F-4D. In order to use the system, the
pilot had to fl y in a left turn around the target and shine the
laser while other aircraft attacked it. If an emergency escape
proved to be necessary, the WSO first had to remove and store
the designator before he could safely eject. AN/ARN-92
LORAN- D navigation equipment was fitted to 72 Pave
Phantom F-4Ds and these aircraft could be readil y be
identified by a rather prominent 'towel-rail' antenna on the
upper rear fuselage behind the rear cockpit, and the primary
mission of these aircraft was seeding of the Ho Chi Minh trail
with sensors, which required the precise ni ght-time
navigational capability provided by LORAN. The primary
1t-
n
.e
e
il
An F-4D is prepared lor Ilight ( via USAF)
67-457 01 the 497 TFS, 8th TFW 'Wallpack' during 'Rolling Thunder' operations. Note the
black undersides ( via Richard L Ward)
F-4D 'The SainI' 01 Colonel Paul C Watson 01 the 366th TFW at Da Nang ( A Piccirillo)
F-4D 68-782/FD with intakes shrouded (IC> J. W Boyce)
F-4D ollhe 8th TFW 'Wollpack' and 'Old Eagle Eye' ( A Piccirillo)
The F-4C and F-4D
67-554 an F-4D and double
MiG-Killer ( J. II( Boyce)
Vietnam Ace Colonel Robin
OIds (e USAF)
The results of a mortar aHack
on this Phantom are pretty
clear! (e via Glenn Sands)
Chapter 1
operators of the towel-rail F-4Ds were the 25th and 497th
TFS of the 8th TFW and the 555th TFS of the 432nd TFW.
Subsequently, these aircraft were passed along to the 457th
TFS of the 301st TFW, the 23rd TFS of the 52nd TFW, and the
704th TFS of the 924th TFG.
The Combat Tree modification of 1968-69 permitted the
retention of a full missile load while carrying electronic
Vietnam WSO Charles DeBelievue who partnered Captain 'Steve' Richie
in downing a MiG on the 10th May 1972 ( USAF)
countermeasures gear. It did this by adding an attachment
point for a countermeasures pod on the inboard pylon, which
could now carry two more AIM-9J Sidewinder missiles on
each side. Under the Pave Arrow program, two F-4Ds were
equipped with a Sidewinder infrared seeker mounted in a
fixed pod for locating heat sources from ground targets. The
Phantom's exploits in Vietnam are well documented in other
publications and space precl udes detailing their actions
within the pages of this Dataflle.
ie
ich
'Snoopy' on an unidentified F4 ( J.W Boyce)
65459 an RF4C of the 11th IRS 'Night Owl ' ( J.W Boyce)
66371 , 34th TFS, 388th TFW 'Arizona Chicken' ( J.W Boyce)
loaded with 'Sticks' and
taking on gas ( via Glenn Sands)
F40 68 782/FA of the 25th TFS, 8th TFW, based at Ubon, November 1968. Yellow air intets
on lower nose, canopy trim, dragon and placard all oullined black. Name 'Flave' on nose air
intake is in purple ( A Piccinllo)
The He and HD
The RF-4C
65-907 Irom the Kentucky Air
Guard wearing a variation 01
the SEA colour scheme
( Glenn Sands)
An early Gulf Grey RF-4C with
its Buu Number FJ-051
( USAF)
Chapter2
T
he RF-4C was the unarmed photographic reconnaissance
version of the USAF's F-4C where the armament and
radar of the fighter version was removed and replaced
with specialised photo-reconnaissance equipment. Perhaps the
most distinctive difference between the F-4C and the RF-4C
was the presence of a new, longer, more pointed nose in which
the fire control radar of the fighter version was replaced by
cameras, mapping radar, and infrared imaging equipment for
its reconnaissance role. McDonnell had studied a number
reconnaissance versions for the USAF and in January 1961 this
led to the Specific Operational Requirement 196, which by
December 31 1962 had evolved in parallel with the
development of the RF-4B Photo-Phantom for the Marine
Corps. The first YRF-4C, 62-1 2200, took its maiden fli ght on
August 9, 1963, fitted with the now familiar extended glazed
nose associated with the RF-4C, but not fitted with cameras or
other reconnaissance systems. It was foll owed on September
30, 1963 by the second YF-4C, 62-12201, and thi s aircraft now
sported high and low panoramic and frame cameras but still
lacked most of the other systems that were planned for
production aircraft.
The RF-4C had three camera stations in the nose, a forward
camera station (situated just behind the radar) which could
carry a single oblique or vertical KS-S7 camera, behind that, in
the number two or 'Low Altitude' station, a KA-56 low-altitude
camera could be carried, (although this could be replaced by a
trio of vertical, left, and right oblique KS-B7 cameras - or a
vertical KA- l could also be carried in the low-altitude station
instead of the KS-B7, or a KS-72 could replace a KS-B7 in the
30-degree oblique position) and in the third or 'High Altitude'
station just ahead of the cockpit under the nose where a single
KA-55A or KA-9 ! high-altitude panoramic camera in a
stabilised mount could be carried. Alternatively, two split
vertical KS-B7 cameras could be carried in this position, or
KC-l or T-ll mapping cameras could be install ed. The Hi gh
Altitude station could also house an AN/AVD-21aser
reconnaissance set, but this was later withdrawn from use.
The RF-4C was also fitted wi th a 'photoflash' ejection system
for night photography with the ejectors being fitted on the
upper rear fuselage behind hydraulically-actuated doors. Up to
and including RF-4C 71-0259, pairs of ejectors were fitted on
each side, one with 26 M 11 2 cartridges and one with 10M 123
cartridges, however from RF-4C 72-0145 onward, a single LA-
249A ejector was carried, with 20 MISS cartridges. The
AN/APQ-72 radar in the nose of the F-4C was replaced by the
very much smaller Texas Instruments ANI APQ-99 two-lobe
monopulse J-band radar which had both terrain-avoidance
and terrain-following modes, as well as a ground mapping
capability. This was later replaced by the Texas Instruments
ANI APQ-l 72 in all surviving RF-4Cs. Electronic
reconnaissance sensors included an ANI AAD-5 or ANI AAS-IB
infrared detection set which was installed just aft of the nose
wheel bay. The AAD-5 infrared linescan unit with high
performance in dual fields and automatic control of
velocitylheight ratio and could convert video signals into a
per manent film record whereas the ANI AAS-I B offered
improved optics and up to 350 feet of S0249B film. Some RF-
4Cs were also fitted with the AN/AVQ-9 infrared detecti on set
and laser target designator to provide slant range for weapons
:em
J to
n
23
A-
18
e
~
ns
-.-
- -
A close-up of the artwork applied to the Alabama ANG Celebratory
Phantom ( Authors Col/,elion)
--
- --
---
-------
--
---
64-053 from the California ANG. Note the crew's equipment hanging over the travel pod on the inboard pylon
(\0 Author's Collection)
The RF-4C ~
The Alabama Air National
Guard celebrated 35 years of
the Phabulous Phantom in
style at the London
International Airshow in
Ontario ( Author's Collection)
64-051 showing the typical
low-visibility marking applied
to the Alabama Air National
Guard RF-4C's in their later
years ( Author's Collection)
65-896 in European 1 or
'Lizard' camouflage
( Author's Coffection)
A pristine looking RF-4C 68-
571 obviously showing the
markings of the 12 AMU
along with its BA tailcode.
The sharp nose demarcation
lines on the upper grey are
well evident here
Chapter 2
aiming and high-resolution thermal imaging. The RF-4C was
also fitted with a Goodyear AN/APQ- 102 SLAR Sideways
Looking Airborne Radar, or 'fan scan' with antennae built into
either side of the lower nose just aft of the optical
reconnaissance bay. This system also included a Moving Target
Indicator which enabled the tracking of slow-moving targets.
This system was later replaced on some aircraft with the
:\NI APD-lO, with an extended range antenna in a modified
600-gallon external fuel tank and a UPD-8 data-link assembly.
This data-link had a steerable antenna which made it possible
to send radar images to ground stations in real time. The ARC-
105 high-frequency radio required a giant shunt antenna
which was recessed into both sides of the vertical fin and this
fi t requi red the upper pitot head be deleted. The ori ginal nose
shape featured a flat underside and an angled window
projection for the High Altitude Station, however many RF-4Cs
The Phantom always leant itself to decoration, as can be seen here on
the 117th TRW 'Spook' ( Author's Cottection)
Nearest the camera 65-931 is from the Mississippi ANG, in company with
another RF-4C from the California Air Guard. Note the colour of the ANG
badge ( Author's Cottection)
were modified with an aerodynamically-refined nose with a
bulge added to the camera housing which all owed larger
cameras to be carried. From aircraft 69-0375 onward, the low-
altitude panoramic camera could be used in conjunction with
an ejectable film cassette; this was designed to get film into the
hands of ground-based intelligence units as rapidly as
possible. Upon ejection, the film cassette deployed a parachute
and a transmitter which aided recovery. However, this system
proved to be impractical in the field, and immediate post-flight
film processing capability was provided by mobile film
processing 'vans' which were quickly deployed to Southeast
Asia.
The RF-4C was provided with 'stick and rudder' controls in
the rear seat, and the back-seater or 'reconnaissance package
operator' could and did fly the aircraft on many occasions,
especially on long overwater flights. However as the view from
the back seat was very poor, landings were impracticable as the
The RF-4C's last hurrah was
the Operation Oesert Storm,
and here 64-047 taxies out
for another mission, complete
with wing mounted ECM pod
(USAF)
65-910 in the markings of the
tdaho ANG. This aircraft was
retired to AMARC on 25th
August 1995 ( Author's Cottection)
A sad picture of 72-0146 from
the 10th TRW based at RAF
Alconbury at the RAF Brawdy
Airshow in 1986. Not an hour
after this shot was taken the
aircraft crashed into the sea
during its display, killing both
crew. ( Author's Collection)
TheRF-4C
The 'bulged nose' version 01
the RF-4C can be clearly seen
here ( Glenn Sands)
An RF-4C rests having just
undergone an engine test at
March AFB in California
69-370 of the 26th TRW
based at Zwiebriicken in
Germany ( Aulhor's Colleclion)
Chapter2
ZR -
;- 26TRW
Close-up of the artwork applied to the top recce-jet of Gulf War I
( Suresh AlapaNu)
...
The Alabama Air Guard celebrated 75 years by painting up one of their RF-4s to
commemorate 'Jennies to Jets! Note also the Sidewinder missiles ( Gary Chambers)
Looking straight down the front of a 'liat nosed' RF-4C showing the shape
and position of the forward-facing camera ( Mark Carlisle)
This Zwiebriicken based RF-4C 68-595 carries the LORAN 'towel rail' antennae on its spine
and a full colour 'stars and bars' ( Dennis Robinson)
rear position had no means of lowering the landing gear
normally, (in order to lower the landing gear, the backseater
had to pull an emergency handle to blow the gear down, which
would deplete the hydraulics and cause the wheel brakes to
fail) and in addition, the backseater could not lower the
arrester hook or deploy the drag chute.
The ECM capabilities of the RF-4C were progressively
upgraded throughout its long service life and the radar
homing and warning systems (RHAWS) fitted included the
ALR- 17, -31, -46, -50 or -126 and late in its service life the
standardised ANI ALR-46A radar. Newer electronic systems
included the Litton 'Pave Onyx' AN/ALQ-125 TEREC (Tactical
Electronic Reconnaissance) sensor with data link equipment
for transmission in near real-time and also retrofitted to some
Although looking a little
weary and close to retirement
this RF-4C still inspires!
( Gary Chambers)
66-467 shows oil the
'European l' or 'Lizard' colour
scheme to great ellect
( Glenn Sands)
TheRF-4C
A good underfuselage view of
the RF-4C showing its camera
ports and electronic sensor
bulges along the forward
fuselage side. Note the lack
of Sparrow missile recesses,
a trademark of the unarmed
RF-4 family ( Gary Chambers)
68-600 in SEA camouflage
with the 'LORAN' 'towel rail'
on its spine. This fit was later
removed from all RF-4Cs
(11:> Gary Chambers)
Close in on the 'toothy' nose
of a 'Desert Storm' veteran,
noted by the 'camels' painted
on the splitter plate
(11:> AuIMr'S CalfecYan)
Chapter2
block 37 aircraft was the Lear Siegler AN/ARN-IOI digital
modular avionics system navigational unit, with a few aircraft
also carrying the Chicago Aerial Industries Electronic Wide-
Angle Camera System (EWACS) . The AN/AVQ-26 'Pave Tack'
infrared detection set could also be carried by thirty-nine
specially-wired RF-4Cs and again a few of these aircraft could
also carry the AN/ AVQ-9laser target designator slaved to the
IR detecting set with a retrofitted upgraded APQ-I72 forward-
looking radar.
In 1970, twenty RF-4Cs (IS of the Block-40 RF-4Cs and two
from Block 41) were retrofitted with the ARN-92 LORAN-D
navigation system with a 'towel rail' antenna on the upper rear
fuselage, which provided all-weather blind navigation
capability. The RF-4C could also carry the gigantic General
Dynamics HIAC-1 LOROP (Long-Range Oblique Photography)
camera system housed inside a large G-139 pod mounted on
the fuselage centreline. This camera system was originally
developed for the General Dynamics/Martin RB-S7F and was
capable of showing astonishing detail at standoff distances as
large as 100 miles. Several LOROP-equipped RF-4Cs flew
reconnaissance missions along the North Korean and Eastern
European borders, however, with such a large pod mounted
underneath the fuselage, the performance was severely
compromised and later, 24 aircraft were outfitted to carry a
CAl KS-127 A or KS- 127F LOROP camera with a 66' focal
length in camera stations 2 and 3. Initially, the RF-4C carried
no weapons, with the underfuselage Sparrow missile slots of
the F-4C being omitted. However, in an emergency the RF-4C
could carry a nuclear weapon on the centreline position, but
this was rarely done in practice. Aircraft from the European-
based 10th TRW were eventually fitted with AJB-7 10w-altitude
bombing system equipment just in case the delivery of nuclear
weapons ever became necessary. In later years, RF-4Cs were
armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles on their inner wing
pylon for self-defence and provision was also made to carry an
AN/ALQ-IIS(V)-IS or Raytheon AN/ALQ-184(V)1 ECM pod
on the starboard inner wing pylon.
The first production RF-4Cs went to the 33rd TRTS training
unit at Shaw AFB in September 1964 and the first operational
unit to receive the RF-4C was the 16th Tactical Reconnaissance
Squadron of the 363rd TRW at Shaw AFB, achieving initial
combat-readiness in August of 1965. Even then, early RF-4Cs
continued to fly without their full operational equipment, and
many of the components carried were still unqualified. As part
of the 460th TRW, the 16th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
was deployed to Tan Sun Nhut in South Vietnam in October of
1965 and the second RF-4C squadron in action in Southeast
Asia was the ISth TRS, which entered combat in February of
1967. Initial missions turned up a whole host of problems and
deficiencies such as the AN/APQ-102A side-looking radar,
which had major teething troubles and was initially very
unreliable in combat and took years before its problems were
fully fixed. Likewise the AN/AAS-IS infrared sensor was
initially defective and had to be improved. During the next
eight years of the Vietnam War, the RF-4C served at various
times with the 11th, 12th, 14th and 16th Tactical
Reconnaissance Squadrons, flying missions from Tan Son Nhut
~ d
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ude
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Id
lut
The RF-4C was a familiar sight over the skies of the UK with the 10th
TRW being based at RAF Alconbury ( Gary Chambers)
Another 'sharksmouth'
variation on this 'bulged nose'
RF4C ( Gary Chambers)
Another Sharksmouth aboard
the chirpily named 'Freeze
Frame' ( Author's Collection)
TheRF4C ~
Taken in a revetment during
the Vietnam War, a
camouflaged RF-4C is
readied for a night mission.
( USAF)
'Phantoms Finest' from the
Kentucky ANG ( Glenn Sands)
Chapter2
AB and from Udorn RTAFB in Thailand fl ying unescorted day
missions until 1972, over North and South Vietnam as well as
Laos. The aircraft gained an impressive record during the most
intense years of the war as no RF-4Cs were lost to enemy
fi ghters, however, seven were shot down by SAMs and sixty-
five were destroyed by AAA or small arms fi re, and four were
destroyed on the ground with a further seven being lost in
operati onal accidents. The last of the 503 production RF-4Cs
was delivered in December of 1973, giving the aircraft a
producti on run of over ten years, longer than any other
Phantom variant save the F-4E.
Interestingly the RF-4C was the first version of the Phantom
to reach the Air National Guard with the 106th TRS of the
11 7th TRW of the Alabama ANG, first to receive the jet in
February of 1971, replacing that unit' s RF-84F Thunderflashes.
Afterwards, eight more Guard squadrons acquired RF-4Cs, and
a training unit was added to the Idaho ANG. By early 1989, the
number of RF-4C squadrons serving on active duty with the
USAF was down to seven and these comprised the 16th TRS at
Shaw AFB, the 12th TRS, 45th TRTS, 62nd TRS, and 91st TRS
at Bergstrom AFB with TAC, the 15th TRS at Kadena AB on
Okinawa with PACAF, and the 38th TRS at Zwiebrucken AB in
Germany with USAFE. The collapse of the Soviet Union and
the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact led to accelerated
retirement and in 1989, the 15th TRS was transferred from the
18th TFW at Kadena to the 406th TRG at Taegu AB in Korea,
and was inactivated a year later. The retirement of the last
remaining USAFE and TAC RF-4C units was in the planning
stages when Iraq invaded Kuwait in August of 1990, and
further deactivation plans were put on hold. Consequently, the
RF-4C was still in service with the USAF at the time of Desert
Storm. In response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwai t, the 106th
TRS of the 1 I 7th TRW of the Alabama ANG deployed on
August 24, 1990 to Sheika Isa in Bahrain as part of Desert
Shield, and its LOROP-equipped aircraft were used to conduct
pre-war surveill ance of Iraqi forces in occupied Kuwait as well
as those deployed along the Saudi Arabia-Iraq border. In
December, the 106th TRS was relieved by the 192nd TRS of the
Nevada ANG and later, RF-4Cs taken from the USAF's 12th
TRS/67th TRW and the 38th TRS/26th TRW were deployed to
the Gulf whilst the 26th TRW of USAFE was detached to the
7440th Composite Wi ng at Incirlik AB in Turkey and the 67th
TRW went to the 35th TFW (Provisional) at Sheik Isa AB in
Bahrai n to serve alongside the RF-4Cs the Air National Guard.
It's worth noting that some of these aircraft were veterans of
combat in Vietnam. When the first air strikes against Iraq took
place on January 17, 1991, the RF-4Cs were in action from the
A line up of 18 TRW aircraft from Shaw AFB carrying the JO tail code. 01 note is the plethora
of stencil markings showing all the major servicing pOints and warning areas ( Ken Wilhers)
Ava-26 Pave Tack test fitted to an RF-4C ( Via Tony TlJomborough)
start although at first, they were limited to daylight operations,
flying over Kuwait almost every day in search of Republican
Guard units, however they were soon involved in operations
over Baghdad looking for such targets as rocket fuel plants,
chemical weapons plants, and command and communications
centres. The RF-4Cs were also repeatedly diverted from other
photographic missions to go and look for Scud launchers
hiding in western Iraq.
Following the end of Desert Storm, the RF-4Cs of the 26th
TRW and the 67th TRW returned to their home bases, of
Zwiebrucken in Germany and Bergstrom in Texas and within a
year, all of the remaining RF-4Cs had been withdrawn from
USAF service. The 26th TRW was deactivated in April of 1991
and its RF-4Cs were relegated to storage whilst the 91st TRS of
the 67th TRW was deactivated in September of 1991 with the
12th TRS and the remainder of the wing standing down in
1994, thus ending RF-4C service with front line USAF units.
After the end of the Gulf War the phase-out of the ANG RF-4Cs
was also accelerated. The 163rd TRG, the 186th TRG, the I55th
RF-4C OPERATIONAL UNITS
10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
18th Tactical Fighter Wing, 15th TRS
363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
432nd Tactical Reconnai ssance Wing
An RF-4C with an UPO SLAR fitted under the nose ( ~ Tony TlJomborough)
TRG, and the 117th TRW switched to the aerial refuelling
mission in 1992-94, trading in their RF-4Cs for KC-135s. The
124th TRG of the Idaho ANG converted to F-4G 'Wild Weasels'
and the 192nd RS of the Nevada ANG finally turned in its last
four RF-4Cs on September 27, 1995, their planes being flown
to Davis-Monthan AFB for storage.
AIR NATIONAL GUARD UNITS
106th TRS, 117th TRW, Alabama ANG
153rd TRS, 186th TRG, Mississippi ANG
160th TRS, 187th TRG, Alabama ANG
165th TRS, 123rd TRW, Kentucky ANG
173rd TRS, 155th TRG, Nebraska ANG
179th TRS, 148th TRG, Minnesota ANG
189th TRTF, 124th TRG, Idaho ANG
190th TRS, 124th TRG, Idaho ANG
192nd TRS, 152nd TRG, Nevada ANG
196th TRS, 163rd TRG, California ANG
---
An RF-4C in wrap-around
South East Asia scheme
(@USAF)
A superb tail art adorns this
Kadena based 18th TFW 'No
Gun Shogun' RF-4C and found
on one of the Two Bobs decal
sheets ( Glenn Sands)
TheRF-4C ~
RF-4C Camera Nose Details
~
""
1114626318 / f1
50
31
/
I""
-L-
~ Chapter 2
Forward
Camera Bay
Fuselage side
camera
aperture
The various
camera
windows in the
RF-4C nose
Photos Author's Collection & USAF, Diagrams McDonnell Douglas
~
- - . -
~ ~
. ..
" "
" "

The lorward portion 01 the camera bay
swings lorwards lor access.
Photos Author's Collection & USAF, Diagrams McDonnell Douglas
VIEW FINDER WINDOW COVEll
ITEMS '.51 AND 2-5'
The protective covers \
litted to the camera
windows
c' ",,,, ,:;,, t\

AfT PANOIAMIC WI NDOW COVEll
ITEM 2-52
0111: LAsn WINDOW COVEll
ITEM 2-5'
"
/,:J.<
CJ
Q
II vm''',W,NOOWCOVER
'- IUMS ' 54 AND ' -SS
'" ' -"
tTEMS '56 AND , .51
,.11 1
/'
fORWAID VUITICAL WINDOW COY ER
ITEMS ,-so AND 2-51
Structure
The camera unit swings
down lor reloading and
servicing

"
"
"
"
17
The RF-4C
,
"
/
"
~ Chapter2
WARNING
~ . : : : : :
2J
,.
"
.,
"
30
"
Side panel
access points
~ ~ . i Y : . J
. ~
"
The optically flat
glazing allows
for excellent
imagery
Port side
camera
aperture
details
Photos Author's Collection & USAF, Diagrams McDonneff Douglas
25
38
"
"
\ "
"
31 /J
V"
-
Ground crew change the film magazines
\
1
/
/
I
\
\
-.
\
12
.",
..,
The in-cockpit
camera selection
panel
Lower camera
bay glazing
PhD/OS Author's Collection & USAF, Diagrams McDonnell Doug/as
Refitting the camera after a film change. Note the flat undernose on this
early RF4
TheRF-4C
RF-4C
Chapter 2
a Nose Details Carner
The RF-4C's rear moun e On detail t d Photoflash bay I
. Diagrams McDonnell Douglas
-
------ Author's Collection & USAF,
Photos
UPPER PHOTOFLASH CARTRIDGE EJECTOR
RF-4C Cockpit
-
1 - 3 Front cockpit
4 Rear cockpit
TheRF-4C
Colour Art David Howley
Colour Side-views
Colour Side-views 1 F-4C
64-0676, F-4C, 12 TFW, Cam Ramh Bay, in 1966. Light Gull Grey (FS 36440) and white
63-7588, F-4C, 557 TFS, 12 TFW, Cam Ranh Bay, 1968. FS30219 Tan/FS 34079 Green/FS 34102 Green
over FS36622 Grey. Names on canopy rail not readable
63-7676, F-4C, 4TFTS, 58 TFTW, Luke AFB, AZ, in 1976. Note 2 MiG kills on the splitter plate. FS30219
Tan/FS 34079 Green/FS 34102 Green over FS36622 Grey
63-7589, F-4C, 57 FIS, Keflavik, lceland, circa 1976177. Overall FS 16473 AOC Grey
Colour Side-views 2 F-4C/EF-4C/F-4D
64-0829, F-4C, 93rd TFS, 482 TFW. Marked as the flagship of the 482nd TFW, the aircraft is also a
double MiG killer. Pilot: Col . D. Erwin and WSO Capt. B. Hancock. Homestead AFB April 1982.
Wrap-around FS30219 Tan/FS 34079 Green/FS 34102 Green over FS36622 Grey
63-7583, F-4C, 171 FIS, 191 FIG, Mitchigan ANG, Selfridge ANG Base, circa 1982-86. Overall FS 16473
ADC Grey
64-0847, EF-4C, 39 TFTS (later 563 TFS) , 35 TFW, circa 1977/78. FS30219 Tan/FS 34079 Green/FS
34102 Green over FS36622 Grey
65-0689, F-4D, 48 TFW, RAF lakenheath, August 1975. FS34201 Tan replaces FS30219 Tan/FS 34079
Green/FS 34102 Green over FS36622 Grey. Note the small patch of 30219 behind the codes
Colour Side-views
Colour Four-views 3 F-4D
Colour Side-views
;/
I i
;
/
;/
66-7554, F-4D, "Trapper", 555 TFS, 432 TRW, 21
July 1971. "Trapper" on inner NWD possibly in
black with red insert. "Snoopy" white with blue
helmet, black goggles, brown boots and red searl.
FS30219 Tan/FS 34079 Green/FS 34102 Green
over FS36622 Grey. Note the unusual serial
presentation 67554 instead 01 the correct 66554
I'
Colour Side-views 4 F-4D
66-8790, F-4D, 23 TFS, 52 TFW, Spangdahlen, circa early 1970s. FS30219 Tan/FS 34079 Green/ FS
34102 Green over FS36622 Grey. 23 TFS badge carried on port side
66-7610, F-4D, "08" of 160 TFS, 187 TFG, Alabama ANG, Danelly Field, Montgomery, Al, circa 1984.
FS34079 Green/FS34102 Green/ FS 36081 Dark Grey wrap-around
65-0742, F-4D, 179 FIS, 148 FIG, Minnesota ANG, Duluth, in June 1987. "Hill Greys" of FS 26118 Dark
Grey over FS 26270 Medium Grey
66-7460, F-4D, 111 FIS, 147 FIG, Texas ANG, Ellington in December 1989. "Hill Greys" of FS 26118
Dark Grey over FS 26270 Medium Grey
Colour Side-views
Colour Side-views
Colour Side-views 5 RF-4C
65-0B25, RF-4C, 22 TRS, 26 TRW, Tour-Rosieres AFB, France, in 1965. Light Gull Grey (FS 36440) and
white
65-0905, RF-4C, 11 TRS, 432 TRW, Udorn RTAFB, circa late 1960's. Very worn appearance with
numerous patches, which may indicate that the aircraft is undegoing IRAN (Inspection & Repair As
Necessary)
69-0381, RF-4C, 1 TRS, 10 TRW, RAF Alconbury, July 1985. FS34079 Green/FS34102 Green/FS 36081
Dark Grey wrap-around
69-0370, RF-4C, 38 TRS, 26 TRW, Zweibrucken, circa 1991 . "Hill Greys" of FS 26118 Dark Grey over
FS 26270 Medium Grey
Colour Side-views 6 F-4D
67-0279, F-4E, "The Wreckin Crew", 34 TFS, 388 TFW, Khorat AFB, in 1970. Pilot Maj Don Parkhurst.
FS30219 Tan/FS 34079 Green/FS 34102 Green over FS36622 Grey
Serial UNK, F-4E Phantom, "1" of the Thunderbirds, flown by Lt.Col . Tom Swaim in 1972. Note the
under-wingtip stripes were not added until 1969
I-
' U. S.
-I
67-0361 , F-4E, 31 TFW, Homestead AFB, circa mid-1970s. FS34201 Tan/ FS30219 Tan/FS 34079
Green/FS 34102 Green over FS36622 Grey. Note use of FS34201 Tan on rear fuselage and FS30219
Tan on forward fuselage
66-0300, F-4E, 57 FIS, Keflavik, Iceland, circa 1984. Overall FS 16473 ADC Grey
Colour Side-views
Colour Side-views
Colour Side-views 7 F-4E/F-4G
72-0143, F-4E, Squadron CO, 334 TFS, 4 TFW, Seymour-Johnson AFB, NC, in September 1988.
FS34079 Green/FS34102 Green/FS 36081 Dark Grey wrap-around
69-7208, F-4G, possibly 563 TFS, 37 TFW, George AFB, CA, 1982/3. FS30219 Tan/FS 34079 Green/FS
34102 Green over FS36622 Grey. Badge of the City of Victorville, with text "City of Victorville/Sweet
Sixteen"
Paint References
NAME FS REFERENCE TAMIYA REVELL GUNZE HOBBY TESTOR / MM HUMBROl
USAF Early
US Gull Grey 36440 325 1729, 1730 129
White 37875 XF2 5 11 1768 34
US Air Force Vietnam
US Dark Green 34079 XF65 67 309 1710 116
US Light Green 34102 303 1713 117
US Tan 30219 1742 11 8
Camouflage Grey 36622 311 1733 28
US Air Force Wrap-around
US Dark Green 34079 XF65 67 309 1710 116
US Light Green 34102 303 1713 117
US Tan 30219 1742 118
US Air Force European 1
US Dark Green 34079 XF65 67 309 1710 116
US Light Green 34102 303 1713 117
Dark Grey 36081 301 32
US Air Force Hill Grey I
US Dark Grey 36118 305 1723 125
US Medium Grey 36270 306 1725 126
US Ghost Grey 36375 308 1428, 1728 127
S Air Force Hill Grey II
US Dark Grey 36118 305 1723 125
US Medium Grey 36270 306 1725 126
US Air Force ADC Grey
Light Grey 36473 338 1732 147
Colour Four-views 8 F-4G
I
69-7212. F-4G. 52 FW. Spangdahlen. Germany. in
June 1992. "Hill Greys" of FS 26118 Dark Grey
over FS 26270 Medium Grey. Note 5 "mission
marks" on the splitter intake
Colour Side-views
The F-4E
66-393 of the 1 st TFW
snapped at Pease AFB in
1974 wearing three-tone SEA
Camouflage with light grey
undersides ( via Mark Smith)
~
~ Chapter3
D
uring the initial design of the Phantom, several
proposals had been considered for a cannon-armed
version, however the philosophy of the day was that
the air-to-air missile was king and that the internal gun was
considered obsolete, and consequently all Phantoms to reach
production had been armed exclusively with missiles.
However, the all-missile fighter had shown some serious
drawbacks in its initial air-to-air battles over Vietnam as the
early Sparrow, Falcon, and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles did
not perform up to expectat ions. The Phantoms could carry a
podded cannon mounted on the centreline, but it was
relatively inaccurate, caused excessive drag which reduced the
performance of the aircraft carrying it, and took up a
valuable weapons station. An initial F-4 variant with an
internal M61 cannon had been proposed by McDonnell to the
USAF as early as the March of 1961, but this had met with
little enthusiasm. However McDonnell began a new design
study for a gun-armed Phantom in late 1964 which finally got
the attention of the Air Force. The gun-armed 'F-4E' was
finally funded in June of 1965 and was destined to be
produced in greater numbers than any other single Phantom
variant.
The main difficulty in equipping the Phantom with an
internal cannon was in finding a place to put it. The solution
was found in using a sharper, longer nose like that of the RF-
4C reconnaissance version and fitted with an AN/APG-30
radar set beneath which a recontoured section carried a
single six-barrel20-mm General Electric M61A1 rotary
cannon. The firstYRF-4C (62-12200) was modified to test
this new arrangement carrying a cannibalised gunsight from
an Air National Guard F-1 OOD and flight test instrumentation
carried in a centreline pod. Temporarily redesignated the YF-
4E, the modified aircraft first flew on August 7, 1965. After 50
flights, the first aircraft was re-engined with j79-GE-jlB
power-plants and the results were sufficiently encouraging to
warrant a further two YF-4Es being produced by modifying
an F-4C (63-7445) and an F-4D (65-0713), and these aircraft
now had the definitive nose-mounted cannon installation.
The second YF-4E had the gun and no radar, but the third
had both the gun and the radar. The severe space constraints
in the new nose meant that a new ammunition feed system
had to be designed for the M61AI cannon, and in addition,
the proximity of the gun to the radar set required that very
effective vibration dampers and noise/blast eliminators had
to be designed. An initial batch of 96 F-4Es was ordered in
August 1966 as part of an F-4D contract and the first
production F-4E (66-0284) flew on June 30, 1967.
The gun install ation underneath the nose precluded the
installation of the large radar set that was fitted to the F-4C
and F-4D, so the F-4E carried the solid-state Westinghouse
AN/APQ-l20 X-band radar which had a smaller antenna,
however, due to the late delivery of the AN/ APQ-120 radar,
-- - - -------
ft
IS
Ihe first 30 F-4Es were deli vered without any radar at all. The
:\N/APQ- 120 was to have been provided with a Hughes-
developed Coherent On-Receive Doppler System (CORDS),
which it was hoped would make it easier to detect low-flying
aircraft up against ground clutter. However, thi s system
proved to be so erratic that the initial deployment was
sl ipped from the 35th F-4E to the 120th. Continued problems
caused CORDS to be cancell ed on January 2, 1968. The F-4E
was to also to have been fitted with the AN/APS- I07 radar
homing and warni ng system (RHAW), but this equipment
performed so unsat isfactorily that the first 67 F-4Es were
delivered without any RHAW at all.
The weight of the gun and its 639-round ammunition
drum was counterbalanced by fitting an additional 95-gall on
iuel tank in the rear fuselage, bringing total internal fuel
capacity to 1993 gall ons, and the upper fin-mounted pitot
was relocated to the extreme nose. The F-4E retained the
~
semi-recessed AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missil es and the
external store stat ions of the earlier variants and used a pair
of J79-GE-17. In the interest of eliminat ing excess weight, the
powered folding wi ng mechanism of the earlier USAF
Phantoms was finally eliminated as was the emergency ram-
air turbine on the upper rear fuselage. It turned out that the
elimination of the emergency ram-air turbine was a mi stake,
and some sort of emergency power source was needed in
case of engine failure. Consequentl y, starting with Block 40
(68-0452), an auxili ary power unit was added underneath the
stabilator. However, it was onl y a battery-powered
electricall y-driven hydraulic pump and was not a small
turbine engine. It provided just enough control to allow time
for eject ion, and probably would not last long enough to
all ow a landing. The second production F-4E (66-0285) flew
for the first time on September II , 1967 and differed from
66-0285 by having a slotted stabilator which was added in
Dressed in 'Lizard' garb at
Nellis AFB in Nevada is the
Commander's aircraft from
the 37th TFW ( via Marie Smith)
A smart polka-dot rudder
adorns this Seymour-Johnson
F-4E 72-142 ( via Marie Smith)
TheF-4E ~
68-400, a short-nosed F-4E
with plenty of weathering sits
on the George AFB ramp, and
was part of the 479th TFW
( via Mark Smith)
A fearsome 'Spook' 68-329
from Osan AFB ( via Glenn Sands)
Looking spruce and ready for
action is 67-361 from the
31 st TFW ( Wa Mark Smilh)
Chapter 3
order to give greater effect iveness, helpi ng to counteract the
increased weight in the nose, and this aircraft also introduced
the long 'turkey feather' afterburner, which became a
trademark of the F-4E. From the aircraft of Block 42, the
more advanced AN/APR-36/37 radar and homi ng warning
system was fitted, as this was a more comprehensive set than
the troublesome APS-1D7, and was served by four flat ,
circular, spiral receiving antenna, one on each side of the
extreme end of the rear fuselage facing aft, and one at the
front of each wi ngtip facing forward.
At block 48 the main wingbox was given thi cker lower
skins, and a Northrop-designed ASX-l electro-optical TISEO
Target Identificat ion System Electro-Optical target acquisit ion
and tracking sensor was added in a pod mounted on the inner
left wing leading edge, consist ing of a TV camera and a
powerful1 200mm zoom lens. When the Block 48 aircraft were
:r later upgraded to ARN-IOI standards, the ASN-63 inertial
navigation system, the ASQ-91 weapons release computer, and
the ASN-46A analogue navigat ion computer set were deleted
whilst the ASG-26 lead computing optical gunsight was
improved and made easier to use, with weapons control
switches and displays also made easier to read.
The most significant change on the F-4E was the
replacement of the blown leadi ng-edge wing droops of
earl ier Phantoms by slats. This was done in the interest of
obtaining enhanced combat manoeuvrabili ty, which had
been one of the Phantom's weak points. The outer
leading-edge slats were driven by a hydrauli c jack and
terminated in a large 'dogtooth' at the inboard end where the
wing folding joint had once been. Immediately downst ream
of the dogtooth edge was a small wing fence. The inboard
wing was also fitted with powered slats which terminated
about three feet from the root. The first production F-4E to
be fitted with slats was 71-0237, but the first to actuall y fly
with slats was 71-0238 whi ch took its maiden fl ight on
February I I, 1972. The addition of these slats greatly
enhanced the manoeuvring performance, and the USAF
decided to retrofit just about every surviving F-4E except for
those serving wi th the Thunderbirds.
By block 56 the AN/APR-36/37 system was replaced by the
Itek AN/ALR-46 RHAWS with fast digital processing
capability and a cockpit display plus automat ic control of
jamming assets, and at about the same time, all F-4Es were
wired to be able to take two electronic jammer pods (which
were usually the West inghouse ALQ-13I) and were fitted
with an ANI APX-80 IFF controller in the cockpit. In
addition, the aircraft were given the capabil ity of carrying an
opt ional removable KB-18A strike camera in the right front
Sparrow slot. Interestingly in the post-Vietnam era, the ECM
66-330 a short-nosed F-4E
from the 1 st TFW
( via Glenn Sands)
74-652 from the 32 TFS
based at Soesterberg in
Holland taxies in carrying an
ALQ-119 ECM pod and TISEO
on the wing ( via Mark Smith)
Home on the Range! 67-270
with MERs filted with practice
bombs tops up from a KC-10
and heads for the hills
( Curtiss Knowles)
TheF-4E
Wearing a curious shade of
green instead of the familiar
tan, 69-267 from the 35 TFW
at George AFB is under tow
( via Mark Smith)
68-411 looking resplendent in
its 'Hill Grey' scheme
68-4471rom the 1st TFW has
a weary weathered look
(4:> via Mark Smith)
Chapter3
pods introduced such as the ALQ- 11 9, QRC-80-01, ALQ-13I,
and ALQ-184 could not be carried in the right front Sparrow
well because of the longer nose gear door and the F-4Es
could only carry an ECM pod in the left front Sparrow well
or on the inboard weapons pylons. The AVQ-23A/B Pave
Spike laser target designator and rangefinder system was
fitted to several later F-4Es and was retrofitted to some
earlier aircraft, and this system was the first laser
designation pod method designed to provide the capability
of autonomous delivery of laser guided bombs at night. It
was origi nally planned to equip 180 F-4Es with this system,
but because of delays and development problems the actual
number equipped was substant iall y lower. The pod was too
large to be fully compatible with the F-4E, and it had to be
carried on the centreline stat ion, replacing the 600-gallon
external fuel tank and taking up valuable bomb-carriage
space. Also retrofitted to Block 48 aircraft was the AN/ AVQ-
26 Pave Tack infrared/laser target designator, as well as the
AN/ ASX-I electro-optical target identification system. One
major advance, retro-fitted to some 180 TISEO equipped F-
4Es, was the Lear Siegler AN/ARN-IOI(V) digital
navigational/attack system, an update which started in the
autumn of 1977, and aircraft carrying this system coul d be
distinguished by the presence of a 'doghouse' antenna and
blade aer ial on the fuselage spine and dissipator antennae on
the tail and wings . This fit changed the avionics from
analogue to digital and increasing the Phantom's
capabilities. Three Missouri ANG F-4Es were fitted with a
new single-piece blown windshield in the late 1980's,
however this was never adopted as a fleet-wide fit.
The F-4E stayed in production for twelve years, and a total
of 1387 F-4Es were built before production came to an end.
993 of these machines were intended for the USAF, with the
remaini ng 394 being delivered new to foreign customers. 24
e
on
al
Some of Bitburg's F-4Es were decorated for the USAF's bi-centennial ( via Glenn Sands)
USAF F-4Es were taken from store and loaned to foreign
customers, and 191 were passed on to foreign customers
from USAF stocks. The last F-4E (an F-4E intended for
Korea) left the product ion line at McDonnell on October 25,
1979 bringing domest ic producti on of the Phantom to an
end; however license product ion continued for a while longer
in Japan.
The Final Countdown
The F-4E began be supplanted in USAF frontline units by the
newer F-1 5 Eagle starting in 1975 and by the F- 16 starting in
1979. For the USAF in Europe, the last F-4Es fl ew with the
On the ramp at George AFB is 66-350 wearing wrap-around three-tone camouflage and low-vis black markings, being prepared for flight. Note the
practice rocket launchers ( Author's Coffeetion)
68-387 of the California Air
National Guard ( via Glenn Sands)
Looking factory fresh is 67-
392 from the Air Force
Reserve ( via Marie Smith)
TheF-4E
67-349, flagship of the 347th
TFW based at Moody AFB
( via Marl< Smith)
A fine aerial study 01 the
F-4E, in this case 69-213
from the 35th TFW at George
AFB ( via Marl< Smith)
Looking very much worse for
wear, 66-340 looks lor a new
owner! ( via Gtenn Sands)
Chapter3
52nd TFW at Spangdahlem in Germany which re-equipped
with F-16s in 1988, and in the Pacific theatre the last two F-
4E squadrons converted to F-16C/Ds in 1989. The TAC kept
its F-4Es a bit longer, not relinquishing its machines until the
early 1990s. By the time of Desert Storm in January 1991,
almost all of the F-4Es had been withdrawn from active duty
USAF units, having been passed along to foreign customers
or placed in storage. Nevertheless, a handful of Pave Tack
capable F-4Es flew with the 7440th Composite Wing based at
lncirlik AFB in Turkey, operat ing against targets in
north-western Iraq. The F-4E served briefly with the Air
National Guard and the last aircraft left Guard service in
1991, when the 113th TFS of the Missouri ANG converted to
F-16C/D fighters.
Front Line F-4E Operators
1st Tactical Fighter Wing, MacDill AFB, Florida, 1970-
1975. Moved to Langley AFB, VA in June 1975 and
converted to F-15 Eagle.
3rd Tactical Fighter Wing, 1974-1991. Upgraded to F-4E by
late 1974. Moved to ClarkAB, Philippines Sept 16, 1974 to
replace the 406th FW. Last F-4Es went to AMARC at the same
time the unit was transferred to Elmendorf AFB in 1991.
4th Tactical Fighter Wi ng, Seymour Johnson AFB, 1970-
1990. Re-equipped wi th F-15E Strike Eagle by 1990.
15th Tact ical Fighter Wing, MacDiU AFB, Florida.
Inactivated 1970, assets reassigned to 1st TFW.
21st Composite Wing, 21st Tactical Fighter Wing,
Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, 1970-1982.
Je
31st Tactical Fighter Wing, Homestead AFB, Florida, 1970-
1987.
32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 1969-1978.
33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Eglin AFB, Florida, to1979.
50th Tactical Fighter Wi ng
51 st Fighter Interceptor Wing, Osan AB, Korea.
52nd Tactical Fighter Wing, Spangdahl em AB, Germany.
54th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kunsan AB, Korea. Activated
on June 15,1970 taking the place of the reassigned 354th
TFW. Two F-4E units were attached: the 16th TFS, 33rd
TFW, 478th TFS. Inactivated Oct 31,1970.
56th Tactical Fighter Wing, MacDill AFB, Florida.
57th Fighter Weapons Wing, Nell is AFB, Nevada.
57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Keflavik AB, Iceland.
86th Tact ical Fighter Wing, Ramstein AB, Germany.
347th Tactical Fighter Wing, Moody AFB, Georgia, 1975-
1988.
68th TFS, 70th TFS, 339th TFS (May 1976-Sept 1983),
69th TFS (Sept 1983-1988).
354th Tact ical Fighter Wi ng, Kunsan AB, Korea. Wi ng's
assets transferred to the 54th TFW at Myrtle Beach AFB,
SC on June 14, 1970.
366th Tactical Fighter Wing. 4th FTS and 421 st TFS
arrived from CONUS in April 1969 with F-4Es to join the
F-4Ds at Da Nang AB. Both left in May of 1972 to join the
432nd TRW at Takhli RTAFB.
388th Tactical Fighter Wing, Korat RTAFB, Thailand.
405th Fighter Wing
4531th TFW
Second Line F-4E Units
Two Air Force Reserve squadrons received F-4Es. These were
the 457th TFS of the 20lth TFW, which received F-4Es in
1987, and the 704th TFS of the 924th TFG, receiving F-4Es in
1989. Both of these squadrons traded-in their F-4Es for F-
16A/B fighters in 1991.
F-4Es began to reach the Air Nat ional Guard in 1985, the
aircraft having been fo rmer USAF planes which had been
removed from active service. The following ANG squadrons
were equipped with F-4Es.
110th TFS, 131st TFW, Missouri ANG
113th TFS, 181st TFG, Indiana ANG
141st TFS, 108th TFW, New Jersey ANG
163rd TFS, 122nd TFW, Indiana ANG
196th TFS, 163rd TFG, California ANG
69-256 from Bitburg
A variation on the Hill Grey
scheme was the 'Cloud' paint
job applied to the Texas ANG
for a Gunsmoke Exercise
The 5000th Phantom built
The 50 57th and last SI. louis
built Phantom
TheF-4E
Hard worked, and bleached
by the sun, this short-nosed
F-4E from the 34th TFS at
Korat AFB awaits its crew
(<0 via Glenn Sands)
Dropping a full load of
destruction ( via Glenn Sands)
Chapter3
The F-4E in the Vietnam War
A
s noted elsewhere, details of the F-4E's work in the
Vietnam War is beyond the remit of this Datatfile,
however it is recognised the major contribution the
Phantom made in South East Asia. The first F-4Es reached
Southeast Asia in November of 1968, equipping the 469th TFS
at Korat in Thailand. The 4th FTS and 421 st TFS arrived in
Apr il 1969 with F-4Es to join the F-4Ds of the 366th TFW at
Da Nang AB. After this, the F-4Ds of the 366th TFW assumed
forward air control duties, whereas the F-4Es concentrated on
aircraft escort duties and conducted ground attack missions.
Six more F-4E squadrons deployed to Vietnam and Thail and
_ .........
in 1972 in response to the North Vietnamese invasion of the
South in the spring of 1972. The F-4E was credited wi th 21
MiG kills during the war. 10 of these were brought down by
Sparrows, five with gunfire, four with Sidewinders, one with a
combinat ion of Sidewinder and gunfire, and one while
manoeuvring. However, most combat missions flown in
Vietnam by the F-4E were ground-attack missions. The
diversity of missions undertaken by the Phantom was a
testament to its flexibility, and this work would not be
complete without a gallery of F-4Es during the conflict.
In the company of a 'Wild Weasel ' F-105, this 34 TFS Phantom also
carries ALa-71 jammer pods ( via Glenn Sands)
A fully laden 469 TFS bird en-route to target in South Vietnam carrying a
variety of ordnance ( USAF)
Carrying a brace of AGM-12
' Bullpup' missiles and 500lb
bombs this shortnosed F-4E
is from the 469th TFS
( via Glenn Sands)
Devoid of any tanks or ordnance this shortnosed F-4E sits in its revetment at Karat RTAB
na Glenn Sands)
Looking mean is 71-283, a MiG Killer in its own right ( via Glenn Sands)
Loaded with 'iron' 67-219 sits on the 'alertramp' at Karat RTAB, and is one of the 35 aircraft with a tan radome ( viaGlennSands)
70-208 'The Come The Judge' ( J.W Boyce)
TheF-4E
70-279 'Wreckin Crew ' complete with Sharkmouth sits with empty Multiple Ejector Racks on its wings at Korat in 1970 ( JW Boyce)
366th TFW 'Gunfighters', this emblem is on both sides. Black ' Phantom' and lettering,
medium blue background, yellow shells, red and white flame, gun pod, sneakers and outline
all in white ( A Piccirillo)
Refuelling prior to target run. The F-4E in the foreground has fuse extenders on its bombs,
making them the consummate 'daisy cutters' ( via Glenn sands)
Chapter3
An F-4D of the 435 TFS 8th TFW at Ubon's 'Eagle Squadron'. This is the CO's aircrafl, and
note the 'Wollpack Lead' legend on the cockpit air intake ( A Piccirillo)
A cheery smile for the camera as this 'short-nosed' F-4E taxies out ( J.W Boyce)
Battle damage sustained by an F-4E (J.W Boyce)
70-279 'Wreckin Crew ' ( J.W Boyce)
A well worn F-4E is towed out to be prepared for another mission ( J.w Boyce) An F-4E 67-230 en route to target with fuse extenders on its bomb load ( J.w Boyce)
A 469 TFS aircraft 'Uttle Chris' at Korat RTAB ( via Glenn Sands)
The F-4E
A line study 01 a 57 FIS F-4E ( Glenn Sands)
Fully marked. but still in camouflage colours. 66-328 burns some rubber ( Glenn Sands)
66-336 taken at Eglin AFB in 1982 ( Glenn Sands)
Chapter3
Keflavik F-4E's
T
he 57 Fighter Interceptor Squadron based at Keflavik in
Iceland was amongst the more unusual F-4E units in
that its aircraft were employed on Air Defence duties
and were the only Air Force 'E's to be painted in overall Air
Defence Grey (FS 16473). The aircraft were from Block 33
with leading-edge manoeuvring slats and were employed on
long-range patrols across the extreme North Atl anti c. often
intercepting Soviet Tu-95 Bears.
q
U. S. AlUQRCE
.- ~
With its unique knight's helmet emblem on the tail , 66-300 awaits another crew (@GlennSands)
The splitter plate was an ideal canvas for the U.S. colours (C1 Michael Baldock)
4{-./ -..
..........
'\
\
66-336 touches down at Keflavik (Autho(s COllection)
The F-4E ~
l
Based at Clark AFB in the Philippines and wearing the 'European l ' colour scheme, 68-483 belonged to the 3rd TFW ~ v i a Marl< Smith)
A Spangdahlem Phantom unleashes a fearsome warload ( USAF)
Another Clark AFB 'Spook', this time in wrap-around SEA garb, but fhe Sharksmouth is still splendid! ( via Marl< Smith)
~ Chapter3
Sharksmouth
T
he elongated shape of the F-4E's nose with its shallow
radome and undernose gun made it an ideal canvas for
the venerated Sharksmouth! Many such examples were
painted on the F-4E during its service li fe and here are just a
few examples.
Another Ramstein Phantom with a more restrained nose! Note the yellow A on the tail, worn as an exercise marking, and also note the 'Fast Track' pod in the forward Sparrow well
("' via Mark Smith)
Osan based 69-303 in 'Lizard' ( Wa Mark Smith)
The pride of St.louis, with the McDonnell Douglas plant in the background, this double MiG-Killer from the 131 stTFW looks quite splendid it its Hill Grey scheme ( Author's Collection)
TheF-4E
Not so much a Sharksmouth, more a FlameMouth, the 335th TFS' Commander's aircraft is nonetheless spectacular! ( via Mark Smfth)
68337 from the ' Silver lobos' and a FiveStar MiGKiller to boot, proudly wears the 'Shark' ( via Mark Smith)
Perhaps the most fearsome of the Sharksmouths were the ones applied to the Ramstein 'Spooks' in the early 1980's ( via Glenn Sands)
Chapter3
F-4E in Detail
"M61,1. 1C.UI'l
1. D ~ U S U
l . "TOU.UlIe OUtCIl O" COI'IIlE(n
CU.. FEEOCHun
S. DRUNUITIhIIT
ANo/IIUHIfIOtHOUTER)DIIUM
1. DRUM EHTllAI'ICfUHt T
I. RlTURM (HUff
' . PALU, ASSU'ILY
10. "TOUULICORIVEASSEMII LT
11. CU" Fn:OUHIT
11
The F-4E carried a nose-mounted General Electric M61A1 20mm Gatling cannon. Etectrically driven, this six-barrel gun was capable of firing 6,000 rounds per minute and came with
a 640 round drum ( Author's Collection)
68-533 from the 'New Jersey Tigers' with the long cannon muzzle ( Aulhor'S Colleclion)
66-319 with the short gun muzzle ( Author's Colleclion)
The F-4E's GE M61A1
assembly ( Wa Mark Smith)
Two types of muzzle fairings were used on the F-4E, short and long types. The long fairing
covered the MIDAS 4 gun gas diffuser which eliminated gas ingestion into the engines
( McDonnell Doug/as)
TheF-4E ~
F-4E in Detail
Airplane Loading
Aircraft Loadout Chart ( McDonnell Douglas)
64-468 showing the copious amount of stencil data applied to the F-4 after the
Vietnam War ( via Mark Smilli)
A brace of AGM-65 Mavericks on the inner wing pylon (Author's Colleetion)
Chapter 3
A MER (Multiple Ejector Rack) on the inner wing pylon. Note also the chaff and flare
dispenser scabbed to the outer face of the pylon ( Aulliors Colleclion)
A Westinghouse AN/ASQ-153 Pave Spike Pod in the forward Sparrow missile bay
( AUlhors Colleelion)
The slatted wing with its manoeuvring flaps ( Aullior's Colleelion)
F-4E in Detail
Pylon fitment chart ( McDof1lJell Doug/as)
Open port engine bay access panel ( Author's Collection)
Open starboard engine bay access panel ( Author's Collection)
The power behind the Phantom. The General Electric J79 engine ( McDonnell Doug/as)
rn PUSH o,eN !!IUnON TO .... ISE CANOPY.
DII'IIISS lunON IN SUP TO Rnun LADon
Canopy opening buttons and internal step ( McDonnell Doug/as)
Detail of the afterburner cans ( Author's Collection)
TheF-4E
F-4E in Detail
A view of the open engine access bay from below ( Author's Collection)
F4E hazardous areas chart
68534 carries a single AGM45 Maverick missile ( USAF)
Chapter3
EJECTION SEAT
A J79 on its dolly wait ing for upload to a Phantom ( Author's Collection)
SLlt C"'NOI'Y INIUArc:
( X'LO!o/V(D{VICE)
()(TU",,"LW,NG
fI..,u'''''NI((L' II
I.EGENO
=
c:::::J A,lk
-
=
=
-
[::=:J CO
2
c:::::J O:'lOSIVfONICfS
F-4E in Detail
looking upwards into the main wheel well Collection)
A Bitburg based F-4E carrying the largely unsuccessful Hughes
Falcon missiles ( via Mark Smith)
Parachute housing at the rear of the F-4E ( Author's Collection)
One of the many duties of the F-4 was target towing. and here Ramstein based 68386 carries a target Dart and winch cable ( Glenn Sands)
The F-4E
The TISEO oplics were lifted
10 the inner left wing
The TISEO system ( Northrop)
Chapter3
Northrop TISEO
y
o better aid visual identification of targets Block 48
Phantoms were fitted with a Northrop-designed AN/ASX-
1 electro-optical 'TISEO' (Target Identification System
Electro-Optical) target acquisition and tracking sensor, which
was mounted on the inner left wing leading edge The ANI ASX-l
provided sharp close- up images of hostile aircraft outside of
visual range. Typical identification ranges quoted were: a DC-IO
at 8S miles, an F- lll at 40 miles, a C-130 at 3S miles and an F-S
at 10 miles.
Wearing the 'European l ' camouflage scheme and carrying an ALQ-131
jammer pod, Spangdahlem based 74-630 displays its TISEO pod as part
of the AN/ARN-1 01 (V) upgrade ( via Glenn Sands)
TI SEO in detail ( via Glenn Sands)
30
30
30
30
30
30
The TISEO cockpit modes ( McDDnnell DDuglas)
SPOrl l NG FiEl D OF Vl fW Wlnl TISEO IN TRACK MODE
1. TARGET
2. PFQV MARKERS
3 , TISE O CROSSHAIR -C ROSS HAIR INDICATES LINE
O F S IGHT TO TARGET BEING TRACKED.
4. TRACK WINDOW _ WINDOW EXPANDS PROPORTIONALLY
IN SIZE TO HOV TRACKE R VIDEO - INDICATES TISEO
OPTICAL L OCK .QN.
SPOTTING FiEl D 01 view WITH TISEO AND RADAR IN
TRACK MODE
\. T ARGET
2. PFOV MARKERS
J . RADAR CROSSHAIR - CROSSHAIR DISPLAYS RADAR
ANTENNA LINE OF SIGHT TO TARGET. CROSSHA1A
IS DISPLAY EO ONl Y AFTER RADAR TRACK AND THE
ANTENNA LINE OF SIGHT TO TARGET IS WITHIN THE
TISEO FIELD OF VIEW. WITH TISEO AND RADAR
TRACKING SAME TARGET, CROSSHAIRS ARE
SUPERIMPOSED.
4 . TISEO CROSSHAIR
S. RANGE SYMBOL - S YMBOL DISPLAYS RADAR RANGE
TO TARGET AND IS OISPLAYED ONLY AFTER RADAR
LOCK-ON IN AIR TO AIR MODE .
TRACK WINDOW
PRECISION FIELD OF VIEW WITH TISEO IN TRACK MODE
TARGET
TRACK WINDOW - WINDOW EXPANDS PROPORTIONALLY
IN SIZE TO TRACKING VIDEO.
TISEO CROSSHAIA - CROSSHAIR INDICATES LINE
O F SIGHT TO TARGET BEING TRACKED.
PRECISION FIELD Of VIEW WITH TISEO AND RADAR IN
TRACK MOOE
1. TARGET
2 . TISEO TRACK WINDOW
J . RADAR CROSSHAIR
TISEO CROSSHAIR
RANGE SYMBOL
TheF-4E
------
--------
-------
Spangdahlem based F-4E 74-052 showing its AN/ARN-1 01 (V) conligurati on ( Aultro,-, colleclion)
Inside the back seat showing
the additional control panel
behind the radar stick
( Author's collection)
Chapter 3
...--.
- -------
AN/ARN-1 01 (V) Modification
T
he Lear Siegler AN/ARN-IOI(V) (or 'Arnie' in Air Force
parlance) upgrade was applied to some 180
TISEO-equipped block 48 F-4E's. This retro-fit changed
their avionics from analogue to digital making these 'E's entirely
different ai rcraft in terms of capability. Externally most
noti ceable was the addition of a 'doghouse' fairing on the spine
and new antennae on the rear spine and behind the cockpit,
along with static dissipators which were fitted to the wing tips,
fuel dump pipe, and the top and rear face of the tailfin. In
The 'doghouse' fairing on the spine ( Author's collection)
practi ce, however, only those dissipators on the tail were carried.
There were no major changes in the front cockpit, however in
the WSO's station a digital display was added beneath the
RHAW scope and a new keypad fitted behind the radar control
handle. Additionally the ASN-63 inertial navigation system, the
ASQ-91 weapons release computer, and the ASN-46A analogue
navigation computer set were deleted whilst the ASG-26 lead
computing optical gun sight was improved.
AN/ANR- lOl Fairing
Static Disipators
on Tail
The positioning of the
AN/ARN-1 01 (V)'s main
components is seen here on
the AirDoc resin conversion
set instructions
A new digital display was
added beneath the RHAW
( Author's collection)
Thef-4E
F-4E Cockpit
For such a large aircraft the F-4E's front and rear cockpits were
tightly packed and as the aircraft matured and different sensors
and armament were fitted, so changes in both cockpits were
necessary to control any used and new equi pment.
Front cockpit ( Author's collection)
r:
,." , .... . .. "
.. ___ fl''-<'J''''17011l'''lUlf-.o(_II.'''''$ONlY.
D """.. "'''"-''''' ..) IVlO .. CO><OVI' ''''''.UIIION '-.C:-l) .,.111"
"'.... oc:ft .. _ . .OO1< .. 07''''''''._.II-I' __ ... O
.. ...oc " ... n- ......... OC" .. -I.
.. ..o(-;a ... . " _ .......
Throttle Levers ( McDonnell Doug/as)
Chapter3
Froni cockpit ( Aulhor's colleclion)
b
F-4E Cockpit
, ... " .... " .. ' ...... '.
t .... "., , .... , . ...... '
""_" ...... ' .... 1
.. ,-, .. " .. ,,,,, ... .,,'"
... "' .... ", ........... ..
.......... ', ...... "" ..... ' ..
, ............ _",," ..... ..
_'.' .... n ....... ' .. '
'1 " .... " _ ... ..
" """,,,'",''''''''00'''
" ..... njt\
l EFT CONSOl[AREA
''''''''''''' _ '' ', n
..... ' ........... , ...... "
.. _ ... _ ..... .....
....... " , ...... -..." ..
n "
.. ......
_ ...... or ,, __ ,

Fronl cockpit before wing slats were fitted ( McDonnell Doug/as)
Front cockpit diagram ( McDonnell Doug/as)
MAIIt PANEl AREA RIGIITCONSOLfo\FlfA
1-::;,:,;,1 ! I KON' COCKPIT 7
ami
.. ..... -_ ... ,_ .... "
......... ,' ... " ..." ... .
.. _ ... _-, ... ' .. ...
.. .. _,,, ................ , ..
" ........... ..:...... " ... ..
.. """""''''.''-'''' ......... "'-,..,_ ... "
COKTHO(' STICKS
I :-1::1 : I :j
, ......... .,<6''''''''., .... ''
..... .... ,,' ............ ,
, ..... ,"'." ........... .
..... .. ,,-, ...... ..
...... ....... ........ ..
.. ,,,, .... , .. , ........ .... ,
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" ..... n."" ..... ' .. " ... ".
.... "' ...... , .. <0(
.. ,,"' ....... _ .. "',
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.. " ... "", .. ,, ...... ,

" . '
" -

" -
"
__ JL.===---.. '.IMii-liM"
s,o.tM:t!feVQUICII
MlLUEUVU
Control sticks ( McDonnell Doug/as)
HtAOiliGHOlO
RULUElUffOll
Looking at the cockpit of an F-4E from a KC-10 Tanker ( Author's collee/ion)
TheF4E
F-4E Cockpit
CONtun SWnCH
... ..,oe.
CONnou"
!:.' @
O
.... "' .. MIHI$ .. "n
QVUIIOI, ANH
Front cockpit control panels 1 ( McDoonell Douglas)
(0 CONTROl - IN DICATO.
I_ V "
@
o I l AN';.NCi ' UIS!
... "",Wllt OIVIO"
l l U n
I .." . ! - IIA
Rear cockpit control panels 1 ( McDo"'ell Douglas)
Chapter3
h l C; .. ,
INl I. \.IMIN1
\I c .. n
( 0 -.0'0\.

..
"':" ..
.... ..
19:

(ONIiOl tANH
I
:.
!2B
e
CD WIA, I00HS "loOT
UGH! AUI""llT
CD ,," UKnU,I T ....... /III,INI
CON1I0I ,A ... n
Aft CO( I(P II
r,
... O .... ' O"ITV IwnCH
INU" I,uon 0"'''' INoICATO_ il WOI
l'V I '

:!) ,.,-. , 'TI. SWITCM
.,.., a' ...... ' ....
IN51IIJMINI ''' Ntl
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lIUIING/
...UIO .... CQ
SWlfe ..
@ 'fOU1A. ',UHI
10 ..... . 0 (OCKI' "
COMpAUn"
CONlIOlUI
Front cockpit control panels 2 ( McDonnell Douglas)
H T
00 '''' .e"O
'" . .. .wE!>
..... . iir"lI .... .
r\. "M{. !TIll
H w
0INTU. fA.GIl OA'A INDICATOI
lIUll
UOMlItlJ110 N) -
/

" TlIGCf':--- \ ."\
r' .

tlO\fWl-tHl

AUIO-ACO
\WIICrI
@CONTIOl SII(I AU(/f.Ul'
An COCK!"IT
Rear cockpit control panels 2 ( McDonnell Doug/as)
6
Ig!qlDI

fjj'\ , ,,,IGn DUIGN"'tOI SIT .
\::.J CONTROL "iO- IS'"
F-4E Cockpit
.' ..'.l
, .. ,'." I
' . . ,.
o "'''!.''
, '. """.r

Rear cockpit with Maverick missile controls fitted ( McDonnell Douglas)
Rear cockpit ( McDonnell Doug/as)

.. ".,
',-' ""
"- . . '"
" ,
. .
.. , ". ..',. .
I (" .....
Rear cockpit ( Aulhor's colleclion)
REAR COCKPIT /
F.4E LiiIG!II

f r. r,'.l<l
c-,.. , ru II I 'J U UI., .. ,
TheF4E
The F-4G
A classic shot of an F-4G
carrying HARM missiles
A European 1 camouflaged
F-4G 69-286 from
Spangdahlem in Germany
( via Glenn Sands)
Chapter4
F
-4C airframes were converted to the EF-4C/D Wild
Weasel IV configuration, but they suffered from a
number of deficiencies which limited their combat
effectiveness, as, for example, they were unable to carry the
Standard ARM, and consequently the EF-4C/D was seen
only as an interim Wild Weasel aircraft , pending the
introduction of a more suitable type. The F-4G designat ion
applied to 116 F-4Es whi ch were converted to the Wild
Weasel role and these aircraft should not be confused with
the US Navy's F-4G which was the designation applied to
twelve F-4Bs fitted with automat ic carrier landing systems.
A YF-4E (65- 0713) was fitted with a mock-up installation
of the ANI APR-38 HAWC (Homing Radar And Warning
Computer) attack warning system, the RHAWS, and the
results were sufficiently satisfactory that the decision was
made to convert 116 low-time F-4E airframes for the anti-
SAM role and the code name 'Wild Weasel V' was assigned
to the proj ect. F-4E 69-7254 served as the YF-4G prototype,
although it was originally known as the F-4E Advanced Wild
Weasel, and this aircraft was fitted with leading-edge
manoeuvring slats. The most notable external modification
was the removal of the M61Al cannon and its ammunition
drum and its replacement by a glass fibre under-nose
fa iring that housed forward and side- looking radar antenna
and li ne replacement units for the AN/APR-38 radar
warning and attack system. Initi ally developed by IBM
Federal Systems under the TAC Pave Strike program, the
APR-38 was structured around a Texas Instruments general
purpose computer, a Loral control indicator set and several
IBM receivers. This system could be reprogrammed at
squadron level, and was able to identify known enemy air-
defence radar systems and display their locations in a
predetermined order of priority. The under-nose fairing
also had a ram inlet that admitted cooling air to the
interior, which helped to cool the avionics systems inside
the nose. The centreline station was modified to carr y an
F-15 style 600lb fuel tank freeing up the wing stations for
weaponry and smokeless j79-GE-17E engines.
There were a total of 52 receiving and emitting antenna
to be found all over the aircraft, the main ones being located
in the nose fair ing with others being housed in a pod
mounted on top of the fin. Eight of the blade antennas that
protruded from the fuselage provided low-band
omnidirect ional signal reception, with five others being
directional and capable of giving the threat bearing on the
display in the rear cockpit. The main radar of the F-4G was
the same Westinghouse ANI APQ- 120 that was fitted to the
F-4E but with a new digital processor, and as with the F-4E
aft-firing Tracor ALE-40 chaff and flare launchers were
fitted to the side of the wing pylons
The specialised role of the F-4G becomes more apparent
in the cockpit. The front station retained most of the F-4E's
instrumentation but a warning and control panel was added
together with a plan position indicator (PPJ) scope which
repeated range and azimuth data from the EWO's display.
The lead computing gunsight was modified to accept inputs
from the RHAW and a red reticle indicated the location of
the designated emitter whil e a green cross was relative to
the aircraft's ground track. In the backseat the 'Electronic
Warfare Officer' (EWO) or 'Bear' (in his bear-pit) as he was
in Wild Weasel parlance, had three main displays: a plan-
position indicator, a panoramic analysis display, and a
homing indicator, with the plan-position indicator as
already noted being duplicated on the pilot's control panel.
The APQ-120 radar scope was retained but the instrument
panel was enlarged, almost up to the canopy frame, with all
flight instruments laid out horizontally across the top. These
included the attitude, airspeed, altimeter and some
navigation displays. The three APR- 38 displays were
arranged beneath these. The large rectangular PPI scope
display was to the left, the smaller panoramic/analysis scope
in the centre and the small homing and attack display at the
upper right. The PPI scope displayed up to 15 of the highest
priority threats. Symbols were used; 'A' for AAA sites, 3 for
SA-3 and emitter band designation and T for unknown
threats. Threats were designated by the EWO with a
diamond-shaped cursor over the threat symbol. Threat
range, bearing and aircraft magnetic heading were then
displayed, and if a weapon was selected a footprint display
could then be called up.
In support of its mission, the F-4G could carry the AGM-
45 Shrike and the AGM-78 Standard anti-radiat ion missiles
in its 'hunter' role, as well as bombs, Rockeye Cluster
Munitions, GBU-15 glide bombs and AGM-65 TV or infra-
red Maverick air-to-surface missiles in its hunter-killer role.
The Texas Instruments AGM-45 Shrike was the first missile
specifically designed for the anti-radiation role and was
based in part on the Sparrow air-to-air missile and had
more or less the same basic configuration. The Shrike had a
launch weight of about 390 pounds and carried a 145 pound
explosive warhead and a range of around 18 to 25 miles
with guidance being provided by a monopulse crystal video
receiver. When the receiver in the missile's nose locked onto
a target, the crew fired the mi ssile. After launch, the missile
flew a ballistic path until the control system was activated.
At that time, the receiver onboard the Shrike began
updating the guidance by determining the direction of the
The last user 01 the F-4G was
the Idaho Air National Guard
(ro Author's Collection)
TheF-4G
An F-4G takes on gas
( Author's CoJ/ecUon)
68-304 from the 35th TFW
bristling with stencils!
( via Glenn 5ands)
Chapter4
hostile radiation, and the mi ssil e then homed onto the
enemy radar signal. In Vietnam, the initial experi ence with
the Shrike was rather disappointing. After some trial and
error, the enemy found they could 'spoof' the Shrike by
simply turning their radars which would cause the Shrike to
lose its lock and fall out of control. In addition, the receiver
of the Shrike was not able to deal with enemy radars that
were frequency-agi le; so all that the enemy had to do to
defeat a Shrike attack was to switch hi s radar to a different
frequency. The General Dynamics AGM-78 Standard Anti-
Radiation Missil e was an attempt to correct some of the
deficiencies of the Shrike. It had a longer range and a larger
warhead and was based on the Standard RIM-66A ship-to-
air mi ssil e. This missile had a launch weight of about 1,400
pounds and carried a 2lS- pound warhead to a maximum
range was about 3S miles. The mi ssile fl ew on a dual-thrust
rocket motor and steered with tail controls and very low-
aspect rati o fi xed wings. The Standard ARM first appeared
in service in 1968. The first version of the Standard had the
simpl e Shri ke seeker, but later versions had the Maxson
broadband radiation seeker wi th memory circuits to deal
with radar shutdown tactics.
In later years, the Texas Instruments AGM-88 HARM
High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile was introduced, offering
a greatly enhanced kill capabi li ty and greater launch
versatility. It was designed to provide much higher speeds
and much quicker target acqui si tion times so that enemy
radars could be destroyed before they had a chance to be
switched off or take other sorts of evasive acti ons. HARM
had a launch weight of some 800 pounds with an effective
range of 17 miles and carried a fragmentation warhead
which destroyed the target by producing a deadly shower of
steel cubes. There were three basic modes of operation for
the HARM: Self Protect, Target of Opportunity, and Pre-
Briefed. In the Self- Protect mode, the launching aircraft's
systems detect the threat and assign its priority. The
aircra ft's on-board computers then pass along the data to
the HARM' s computer and the mi ssile is then launched. The
HARM can continue to fl y toward the target even if the
enemy radar is switched off. In the Target of Opportunity

mode, the HARM's sensitive seeker is used to help to
determine when to launch against a previously unknown
threat. In the Pre-Briefed mode, the HARM can be
programmed on the ground for up to three known types of
enemy radar emissions. Once in the air, the launching
aircraft can fire the HARM blind in the general direct ion of
these known enemy radar emitters. If they are silent, the
HARM wi ll self-destruct, but if an enemy site begins to
radiate, the HARM wi ll automaticall y home in on it.
For self-protect ion, the F-4G could carry up to four AIM-
9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles on the sides of the inboard
underwing pylons. In addition, four AIM-7 Sparrows could
be carried in the underfuselage slots, however, the left front
slot was often taken up by the install ation of a ALQ-119- I 2,
14 or an ALQ- 141 jammer pod although the jammers were
often turned off so as not to interfere with the RHAW.
All of the F-4Gs were rebuilds of Block 42 to 45 F-4Es.
The first of these aircraft (69-7254) was modified by
McDonnell and began flight trials in December of 1975.
Subsequent F-4G aircraft were modified by the Air Force at
Hill AFB in Utah wi th the last modification completed in
198 I. In the April of 1978 the first F-4Gs were issued to the
39th TFTS of the 35th TFW, based at George AFB in
California. In 1989, the 37th TFW was transferred to
Tonopah, Nevada to take over the operation of the F- 11 7,
and turned their F-4Gs back over to the 35th TFW. 1979 saw
the fi rst F-4Gs issued to the 52nd TFW based at
Spangdahlem AFB in Germany and in the same year, F-4Gs
were assigned to the 90th TFS of the 3rd TFW based at
Clark AFB in the Phi lippines. A two-part Performance
Update Program (PUP) was undertaken in the mid-1980s
with the first phase designed to expand the capabi lity of the
on-board computer by adding a new Unisys CP-1674 digital
processor and the second upgraded of the APR-38 to APR-
47 standards.
The F-4G was the last version of the Phantom to remain
in front-line service with the USAF and following the Gulf
War and the general defence drawdown after the coll apse of
the Warsaw Pact, many USAF F-4Gs were turned over to the
Air National Guard. On Apri l 12, 1991, the Department of
Defence announced that the F-4Gs would all be reassigned
to ANG units. Under this plan, the 90th FS at Clark AB in
the Philippines was scheduled to convert from F-4E/Gs to
F-15Es and move to Alaska. The 35th FW at George AFB in
Cal ifornia was to be inactivated, and the 52nd FW at
Spangdahlem AB in Germany was to lose all of its F-4Gs
and these were to be transferred to the Idaho and Kentucky
~ SP',
52 TFW .
__ = : ; : ; ; : : c : : . : : : ~
One of the Operation 'Provide
Comfort' F-4G's exits its barn
atlncerlik in Turkey
(<1:J via Gary Madgewick)
A 561 st TFW bird with ornate
travel pod (<1:J Author's Collection)
Showing off its Desert Storm
kill markings is the
Commander's aircraft from
Spangdahlem ( Gtenn Sands)
TheF-4G ~
A superb shot of a fully laden
F-4G with copious amounts of
stencilling! ( via Glenn Sands)
Showing the tail code of the
35th TFW, this Hill Grey II
Weasel looks almost pristine.
Subdued scheme 'Weasels'
appearing in 1987 ( Author's
Collection)
An F-4G from the Operational
Test unit ( Author's Collection)
Chapter4
ANG. The 190th TRS of the Idaho ANG began its conversion
from the RF-4C to the F-4G in June of 1991 and another
ANG RF-4C unit, the 192nd TRS from where had been
scheduled to convert to the F-4G (and had even painted
F-4G 69-7580 in its distinctive High Rollers insignia), but
the Defence Department changed its mind in 1991, and the
Idaho ANG was to be the only ANG unit to operate the F-4G.
However the combat experience of Desert Storm
indicated that the phase-out of the F-4G was premature, and
a new front line squadron, the 561st FS of the 57th FW, was
activated at Nelli s AFB with the parent unit of the 561 st
being redesignated 57th Wing in April 1993. Also in 1993
the Spangdahlem based Weasels deployed to Incirlik in
Turkey in support of Operation Provide Comfort, the
enforcement of the no- fly zone over northern Iraq,
returning to Germany at the end of 1993. However, the need
to provide Wild Weasel s to support Operation Southern
Watch in Saudi Arabia and Operation Provide Comfort in
Turkey res ulted in the 52nd FW retaining a few F-4Gs until
February 1994. The 81st TFS returned their last F-4Gs to the
USA on March 18,1994 and these were to be the last US-
operated Phantoms to be based in Europe.
In April 1993, the 124th FW of the Idaho ANG took over
this responsibi lity and was assigned to act ive duty in Saudi
Arabia to support Operation Southern Watch, and one of
these ANG F-4Gs fired an AGM-88 HARM missile in
response to a threatening Iraqi radar site near Basra. The
Idaho ANG F-4Gs were later transferred to Incirlik AB in
Turkey to support Operation Provide Comfort II, and overall
there were a total of four deployments to the Gulf, the last
aircraft returning to the USA in December 1995.
The F-1 6 replaced the F-4G in its Wild Weasel role and the
last active USAF F-4G unit, the 561st Fighter Squadron, was
inactivated at Nellis AFB in March of 1996 and its aircraft
placed in storage. This was foll owed on Apri l 20, 1996, with
the last F-4Gs being withdrawn by the 124th FW of the
Idaho ANG, and these were consigned to the boneyard at
Davis Monthan AFB marking the final departure of the
Phantom from active service with any American unit.
During 199 J, it was decided that those F-4Gs not transferred
to the ANG or placed in storage would be converted into
drones under the designation QF-4G. Tracor Flight Systems
of Austin, Texas was to do the conversion work, and
following the retirement of the type other airframes were
slated for conversion by BAe Systems for drone work (see
separate chapter for the QF-4 drone details) .
The F-4G Squadrons
USAF:
3rd TFW, 90th TFS
35th TFW
37th TFW (56 lth TFS, 563rd TFS, 562nd TFTS)
52nd TFW, 81st TFS
57th FW, 56lth FS
4485th Tes t Squadron
7440th Composite Wing
Air National Guard:
189th TRTF, 124th TRG, Idaho ANG
190th FS, 124th FG, Idaho ANG
Aircraft Serials
-
Initial batch of 11 5 F-4Gs modified at the Ogden Air
Logist ics Centre and initiall y fitted with the AN/APR-38
69-0236/0243,69-0245/0248, 69-0250/0255, 69-
0257/0259,69-0261,69-0263, 69-0265,69-0267,69-
0269/0275,69-0277,69-0279/0281,69-0283/0286,
69-0292/0293,69-0297,69-0304,69-0306,69-7201/7202,
69-7204/7220,69-7223,69-7228,69-7231/7236,69-725 1,
69-7253/7254,69-7256/ 7260,69-7262/7263, 69-7270,69-
7272,69-7286/7291, 69-7293,69-7295,69- 7298,69-
7300/7303,79-7546,69-7550,69-7556,69-7558,69-
7560/7561,69-7566,69-7571/7572, 69-7574,69-
757917584, and 69-7586/7588.
Second batch of 18 F-4Gs modified at the Ogden Air
Logisti cs Centre and fi tted from the outset with the
AN/APR-47:
69-0244,69-0249, 69-0260,69-0264,69-0278,69-0290,69-
0298,69-0303,69-0305, 69-0307,69-7252,69-7261,69-
7267, 69-7268, 69-7274, 69-7297, 69-7551, and 69-7557.
The Commander's bird from
the 35th TFW with Shrike and
HARM. Fairly bristling with
spine antennae, note the SST-
181 X Combat Skyspot aerial
on the right of the three on
the spine, with the APR-3A
omni in the center
( via Glenn Sands)
F-4Gs on the flight line at
Sheikh Isa AFB during the
first Gulf War
69-247 shows 0" its low-vis
European 1 colour scheme
( via Glenn Sands)
TheF-4G
Chapter4
Gulf War I F-4Gs
F
ollowing the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990,
the 561st TFS (part of the 35th TFW based at George
AFB) deployed to the Middle East as a part of Operation
Desert Shield. Twenty-four F-4Gs were deployed and they were
configured with three external fuel tanks (one on the centreline
and two underneath the outboard underwing pylons), four
chaff/flare dispensers, two AGM-88 HARM missiles on the
inboard pylons, three AIM-7M Sparrow missiles and an ALQ-
184 electronic countermeasures pod in The forward Sparrow
missile slot. When the Desert Storm shooting war began 35th
TFW's F-4G's were still the only defence suppression aircraft
available to the USAF and they played a vital role by cutting a
path through Iraqi air defences during the initial attack on
January 17. The F-4Gs of the 81st TFS 52nd TFW based at
Spangdahlem in Germany were also added to the assets of the
35th TFW based at Sheik Isa AFB in Bahrain and to the 7440th
Composite Wing based at Incirlik AFB in Turkey. During the war,
only one F-4G was lost,69-7571, which crashed on January 18,
1991, not a combat loss but a shortage of fuel whilst attempting
a landing at AI Kharj, with the crew ejecting.
A pair of Spangdahlem based
F-4Gs in their 'Vietnam style'
revetment at Sheikh Isa AFB
in Bahrain (el All/hor's Collection)
TheF-4G
F-4G in Detail
11 00 Chapter 4
1 A Spangdahlem F-4G
carrying the AN/ALQ-131 (V)
ECM pod ( Author's Collection)
2 & 3 Wing pylon mounted
chaff and flare dispenser
(10 Author's Cottection)
4 Wing pylon and adaptor
rail (10 Author's Cottection)
5 Standard ARM Anti-Radar
Missile
F-4G in Detail
:
. , ... . : :
I '

,..

: .
. ,
_ :'
... ~
'r---
- 6, 7 & 8 AGM88 HARM
AntiRadar Missile
- 9 AN/ALa 119 ECM pod
- 10 & 11 Left and right side
antennae ( Author's Cottection)
- 12 & 13 The APR38A
undernose 'chin pod' with its
five spiral helix antennae in
the square panel
TheF4G ~
F-4G in Detail
1102 Chapter 4
14 Lower VHF antennae
15 Engine intake probe
16 Left wing fuel dump pipe
17 Tail mounted antennae
18 TAT Probe
20 Front cockpit
diagrams opposite
21 Front cockpit
22 Rear cockpit
F-4G in Detail
@
i .....
/ (
/ 1
.I i
I .
The F4G 103 1
Thunderbirds
'Thunderbird l ' ( USAF)
The team taxis in alter
another display ( USAF)
1104 Chapter 5
T
he us Air Forces premier di splay team the
' Thunderbirds' was also a user of the F-4E as its di spl ay
platfo rm. The team adopted the brutish jet in 1969 and
fl ew the aircraft until 1973 when the oil crisis forced a move
to the more economical T-38 Talon, indeed fi ve T-38s used
the same amount of fuel needed for just one Phantom! The
machines the team received were modified early production
F-4Es, which were amongst the few not to be retrofitted with
manoeuvri ng slats. The planes were stripped of their guns
and APQ-120 radar, ad these were replaced by storage bins
and ballast. The gun vents were faired over and a strip
navigation antenna was provided, along with glidescope and
VHF radios. Four dummy Sparrow missil e shapes were
install ed in the underfuselage slots, these serving as oil and
dye tanks. The paints that had worked on the Thunderbird's
earlier F-lOOs made the F-4 look patchy because of
multicoloured all oys used in the Phantom to resist heat and
fri cti on at Mach 2 speeds. As a result, a special white
Chapter 5
Close formation ( USAF)
polyurethane based paint was developed to cover the problem
and this paint base remains a part of today's Thunderbird
aircraft. The team's conversion to the F-4s was the most
extensive in their history and compared with its
predecessors, the F-4 was immense. It was big and powerful
and with the earth-shaking roar of eight )-79 engines from
the'diamond four' no other demonstration aircraft
accomplished the mission of representing American airpower
more impressively than the Phantom.
The precision ground display was an integral part of the Thunderbird ethos ( USAF)
U. S.AIR FORCE
aa;
In transit to another venue ( USAF)
Streaming its braking chute Thunderbird 3 completes its display ( USAF)
The gun was fa ired over for display work ( USAF)
Tucking up their wheels the aircraft go through a formation take-oft
(USAF)
Thunderbirds 1 05 I
QF-4E/G Target
Drones
QF-4G 69-566 at Mojave in
2001 ( via Maik Smith)
A good view of the underside
of a QF-4G with high quantity
external flare pods ( 82nd ATS)
Enough to give any
heat-seeking missile a few
doubts! ( 82nd ATS)
1106 Chapter 6
T
he need to test the lethality and accuracy of weapons
and weapons systems has led to a number of ai rcraft
types bei ng converted to 'target drones' throughout the
years. With plent y of F-4s available after the type's retirement
it was a sensible opt ion to convert a large number of these to
QF-4 status. Some Navy F-4Bs were converted to QF-4B target
drones and DF-4B drone cont roll ers, and as later Phantom
vari ants were removed from fi rst-line service, many of their
number were subsequently converted to target drones as
well , being coll ect ively referred to simply as QF-4s. The
process begins with an F-4 being chosen from the Ae rospace
Maintenance and Regeneration Centre, better known as the
boneyard at Davis-Mont han AFB, Ari zona. The aircraft is
then repaired and brought back to fl ying status and fl own to
the appointed contractor's facility for rework to drone status.
Here the aircraft is stripped of any non-essenti al equipment
and fi tted with electronic components that enable the aircraft
to fl y with or without a pilot in the cockpit. Most noti ceable
on the later QF-4E and G versions is the pronounced ' hump'
on the spine containing some of thi s electronic gear. Added to
this are aeri al plates at the wing roots, and some airc raft have
white pole antennaes on the wing edges and at the rear of the
RWR fi n cap. Each drone conversion process takes around
160 days, after whi ch a test fl ight is conducted and the
aircraft despatched to Tyndall or Holl oman AFB, New Mexico
where the wi de open desert spaces make ideal training
facili ties within which to operate with a degree of safety.
Its interesti ng that some of the QF-4s retai n a piloted
capabilit y, and this is because certain test and training
scenarios require a high degree of choreography to make
them as realisti c as possible, and so pil ots have to fl y the QF-
4s through dry runs to ensure that all details are considered.
The USAF refers to unpil oted fli ghts using the acronym
NULLO (Not Utili zing Local Live Operator), while the Navy
calls them NOLO (No Onboard Li ve Operator). Up to four QF-
4s can be fl own in formation during NULLO fl ights, however
the drones do not interact with each other, and they are
simply commanded to foll ow a specific movi ng point in space
known as a 'rabbit' , with each aircraft maintaining a specific
three-dimensional offset from the 'rabbit' . The autopi lot
system on the QF-4 is very sophisticated and, for example,
the remote operator can land the aircraft simply by giving it a
single command to land. Once a QF-4 is used as an actual
target in exercises, its predicted li feti me is no more than four
mi ssions. The QF-4 also carries a self-destruct system in case
mi ssil e damage fa il s to shoot it down but causes it to become
a potential threat to popul ated areas. Whil e QF-4s conti nue to

Looking across a the 'Team Target' tail and wing pods aboard the smart QF-4G 69 7260
( 82ndATS)
The smart 'Team Target' logo ( 82nd ATS)
Another Pharewell on 69 303 ( Jason French)
QF-4E/G Phantom Target Drones 1071
QF-4G 69-581 at Mojave in 2001 ( via Mark Smith)
A rather sad looking F-4E 68 354 ( Dave Cibtey)
Too close for comfort! A Sidewinder explosion ripped a good chunk out of this QF-4 ( USAF)
A QF-4E 67 337. Note the dorsal hump ( David Loft) A NULLO Phantom over the Gulf of Mexico ( USAF)
1108 Chapter 6
A Phantom Pharewell aboard OF-4G 69-7295. Note the antennae plate at the wing root ( Mike Head)
be manufactured, they are now nearing the end of their
useful lives even as targets, as they are increasingly
unrepresentative of any adversary American pilots might
face. A new generation of targets is now under consideration,
possibly based on retired F-1 6A fighters. At the time of
writing the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron at Tyndall operates
approximately 40 full scale QF-4 aircraft which provide
manned and unmanned aerial targets, and the Squadron also
operates the USAF's only two E-9A ai rborne
platform/telemetry relay aircraft that provide ocean surface
survei ll ance and relay mi ssile/target telemetry of missiles
fired in over-the-horizon profiles on the Gul f Ranges.
Detachment I, 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, Holloman Air
Force Base, NM, operates another 30 QF-4 fu ll -scale aerial
targets for use at the White Sands Missile Range.
Most of the QF-4's have a very poor paint finish, as they
have a very short life expectancy! All have orange Day-Glo
panels on their tail fins, tailplanes and both above and below
the outer sect ions of their wings. They carry no national
insignia save for an identification number on their tails and
few if any stencil markings. A couple of the later QF-4Gs
however have a marked difference in being smartly presented
in a gloss 'Hill Gray' scheme with a 'TD' tailcode, '53 WEG'
and smart 'Team Target' wording on their fin tips and Day-
Glo inner wing pylon tanks.
A NULLO Phantom comes in for a landing. Note the camera installation
on the tailfin ( BAe Systems)
Civilian contractors do their
best to effect repairs after a
close call with a Sidewinder!
( USAF)
OF-4E 67-390 taken in 1997
(CC> via Mark Smith)
QF-4E/G Phantom Target Drones 1091
Test and Evaluation
ChaPte,7
66-291 an NF-4E of the 6512 TS ( ~ Marie Smfth)
A very fearsome F-4E! ( via Glenn Sands)
66-291 an NF-4E of the 6512 TS ( via Marie Smith)
~ Chapter7

67-455 carrying the HAFB taitcode ( Author's Coffection)
The 0" used YRF-4 had many guises, here seen in the Fly By Wire CCV
configuration ( via Gtenn Sands)
63-424, an F-4C from Ogden AlC taxies out at Hill AFB, ( Via Mark Smith)
80-304, an F-4E carrying the HAFB tailcode ( via Glenn Sands)
Test and Evaluation 2!.!J
Modelling the Phantom
ChapterB
Chapter S
Vietnam Phantom
Phantom F-4D Tamiya 1/32 scale
Gary Prettyman
T
hiS kit was originally released around 1995 and on
opening the large box the first thing you notice is a
full-length tube of bubble wrap containing a wholly
moulded fuselage. This is not the usual Tamiya moulding as you
don't have a left and right side; you have the upper fuselage as
one complete item and a one- piece moulding for the bottom of
the wing. The rest of the kit is pure Tamiya and includes:
Positionable speed brakes
Four Aim-9 Sidewinders
Four Aim-7E Sparrows
6 Mk 82 500lb bombs,
6 Mk82 500 lb bombs with extender fuses
Two 370 Gallon wing tanks.
Metal undercarriage with rubber tyres
A comprehensive large decal sheet with the following options:
- Aircraft number 67 - 661, from the 435th TFS, 8th TFW,
coded FO.
- Aircraft number 66-279, from the 497th, 8th TFW, coded FP.
This aircraft has the added bonus of the Loran Antenna.
- Aircraft number 40- 829, from 8th TFW and this particular
one was flown by Colonel Robin Olds - Coded FG.
The cockpit is an important and intricate part of the aircraft
and Tamiya have changed the cockpit details from the early
Navy release and have included full Air Force instrumentation.
Although the detail was good I wanted to improve its look so I
used Eduard brass set number 32-544 and when this was
installed it certainly looked the part. The ejection seats are
adequate, but again I used two resin seats from Legend as they
gave a more detailed appearance when painted. The only
additional items added to the seats were the pull handles. These
were simply made from small gauge wire painted black and
yellow and then twisted together. The cockpit was painted in
Dark Gull Grey ES. 36231 and when dry was given a wash of
Chapter S
Raw Umber oil paint then brushed with a light shade of grey to
highlight the detail. The dials and other small details were
picked out with Red, White, Yellow, and Light Gull Grey. These
parts were then installed in to the fuselage, whilst the canopies
were dipped in 'Johnsons cl ear' then masked ready for spraying.
The Eduard brass set also provides the framing around the
canopies as well as the interior detail, and all these were painted
Matt Black.
Tamiya do make an excellent kit, but this one is not without
its faults. I discovered that when Tamiya were doing
measurements for this kit they used a Battle Damage Repair
(BDR) aircraft from Kadena Airbase in Okinawa, Japan. This
aircraft had repair patches on the upper fuselage and wings and
consequently Tamiya have included this detail on their kit! As
the patches are not part of any service aircraft they needed to be
removed. The air intakes do not escape either and there is a lot
of work to do in removing the seam on the deepest section of
the trunking. The inside of the intakes did not want to fit at all,
so in the end I had to admit defeat and fitted them as they came.
If there is one accessory you really need to buy for this kit it
would be the 'Seamless Intakes' which are available from Cutting
Edge. Unfortunately they were not available when I was building
this model!
The main afterburner has quite a few ejector pin marks and
these were tackled with a little 'Tipp- Ex' and once dry they were
sanded down and sprayed with Alclad Steel and set aside for
later use.
Moving on to the wings, I followed the instructions and glued
the two top halves to the single one-piece bottom and then I
'screwed and glued' the whole thing to the fuselage. The
undercarriage was next made up of plastic and metal parts
which all went together without any problems. Constructing the
rest of the kit was simple and straightforward and once
complete I set alJ the parts, (including wing tanks, missiles and
bombs) aside for painting later on. I used the missiles from the
kit, although you can get some rather good ones from
' Flightpath' as these have highly detailed white metal bodies and
brass fins. The nose was painted matt black and then when was
given a coat of semi matt black and set aside. The bombs were
assembled and painted thus: firstly paint the tips of the bombs
yellow, then when dry use an ordinary drinking straw and
attach this to the tip of the bomb covering tlle yellow. Then all
you have to do is simply spray on the Olive Drab!
Once all the kit parts were assembled, I gave the aircraft and
associated parts a coat of'Halford's' white primer, and once dry
any inlperfections were remedied using minute amounts of filler
and a little light sanding. Then the panel lines were sprayed with
thinned Tamiya matt black which dries very quickly. The paints
used for the rest of the model were enamels from 'White Ensign'.
I sprayed the bottom half of the aircraft and the bottom half of

the wing tanks with ES. 36622 Grey in thin layers, progressively
building up the colour until I was happy with the result. Spraying
in this manner also helps to accentuate the black lines and create
a shadowed effect. This was then left overnight, and followed by
the fi rst of the Vietnam camouflage colours, FS34 1 02 Olive Drab
Green which was once again given an overnight stay. The next
colour was the FS30219 Tan foll owed by FS 34079 Dark Green. All
of the painting was done freehand, using my trusty 'Iwata'
airbrush. Attention now turned to the rear of the aircraft and to
all the parts that needed to look metal. There was a small amount
of masking to do on the rear heat plates and around the exhaust
area whi ch took around 20 minutes, and then the parts were
sprayed with Alclad Aluminium. I then sprayed a thin layer of
A1clad Steel over the top to make it look burnt from the heat of
the exhaust. After a further twenty- four hours
drying time two coats of Johnson's clear were
applied in preparation for the decals.
Micro Set and Micro Sol was used to apply the decals and the
aircraft was then weathered with a wash of Raw Umber oil paint
with any excess being wiped with a small piece of cotton cloth
and white spirit. Remember to wipe in the direction of the
airflow to ensure an authentic look. Once dry the model was
sprayed with a coat of matt varnish to complete the build.
Despite some of the little problems that I encountered during
the making of this model, this is still an outstanding kit.
Tamiya once again must be applauded a truly
wonderful kit of an astounding aircraft.
ChapterS
'Wild Weasel'
Phantom F-4G Hasegawa 1/48 scale
Angelo Picardo
T
his model of The F-4G is part of Hasegawa's later version
Phantom moulds with recessed panel lines as opposed to
the raised ones, though some minor parts with raised
details are included in the box. This particular model is a re-
release and features two marking schemes on the decal sheet
different to those depicted in the instructions, and are noted on
a supplementary sheet.
Construction begins with the cockpit. For injection moulding
technology, the cockpit is not bad, and has nicely detailed
instrument panels and side consoles but rather sparse sidewall
details. 'Aires' provide an alternative in the form of their
exquisitively detailed cockpit set for the Wild Weasel which
consists of fourteen beautifully moulded cream coloured resin
parts along with a etched metal fret which enhances the cockpit
to the next level. The fuselage parts require modification to
accept the new resin and etched parts and this is made fairly
simple as the plastic is quite soft and cuts easily. The pilot's
instrument shroud, cockpit sills and inter-cockpit spacer all
need to be removed and the cockpit sidewalls need the basic
detail removing and a fair amount of its plastic thinning down
to get the resin tub to fit. The tub itself has a large pour plug on
its base and this needs to be removed and thinned as it has to sit
on top of the nosewheel bay. Care has to be taken here to ensure
it does not sit too high and further attention is necessary when
thinning the nose bay roof as the plastic and resin is pretty thin
by the time the correct fit is achieved. Once all this preparatory
work is done, the cockpit can be painted. The tub has separate
sidewalls, instrument panels, control columns and various
etched pedals and levers, which all feature an extraordinary level
of detail that comes to life when painted black and highlighted
by dry brushing. The ejector seats feature an amazing amount of
detail. The seat harness is provided on the etched fret along with
the face curtain ejector seat firing handles. This little set is
crammed packed with detail that responds to paint and brings
the whole thing to life. Other etched parts go together with
acetate fLlm to form the actual instrument faces and the canopy
sills, as well as the pilot's mirrors and a few other instruments.
Once the cockpit is completed it can be inserted into the
fuselage halves. When assembling the fuselage, care is needed
when cementing the spine as a large amount of detail such as
panel lines, inspection access panels and the in-flight refuelling
receptacle could be lost. Despite being as careful as possible, I
still needed to re-engrave some panel lines removed by seam
clean-up. The tail fin is moulded to the fuselage halves and
features a leading edge probe which is also susceptible to
damage if you are not careful! Hasegawa provide the nose cone
as two separate parts that fit together very well, in fact, it is
almost seamless, however Hasegawa's Phantoms are let down by
their air intakes. Instead of the intakes disappearing down to the
turbine faces deep inside the fuselage, they end abruptly just
past the rear cockpit. I could have used one of the resin intake
sets but I decided to go for the easy option of making two FOD
guards from plastic card to hide the lack of depth.
Chapter8
The lower wings include the belly section of the fuselage and
extend out to the wing fold line. The upper wings have the lower
half of the outer wings moulded integrally and these fi t together
perfectly and the wings also feature the modified extending
leading-edge slats on the outer wing panels. The fi t of the wings
to the body needs some attention where the lower panel joins
the fuselage at the aft end, to ensure a ni ce clean
fi t, but otherwise it's no problem. Hasegawa
include a good selection of under wing
stores: four Sparrow and four Sidewinders
AAMs; a Shrike and HARM anti-
radiation missile and an ALQ-119
jamming pod, and also included are
the standard Phantom wing and centre line tanks. The Shrike
and HARM are mounted on the inboard wing pylons on adaptor
rails and if these are fitted, the Sidewinders will be relegated to
the spares box. The inboard pylons are
from the earlier version of the F-4 and
feature some raised detail but this is
hardl y noticeable. In the forward port
Sparrow well ALQ- 119 was added
leaving the 'Weasel' with three
Sparrows for self defence. All the
underwing stores, along with the
undercarriage and tailplanes,
were left until the end to keep
things easy for masking and
painting and to avoid damage.
Markings are provided for two versions of the 37th
Tacti cal Fighter Wing, 563rd Tactical Fighter Squadron aircraft,
one being in latter day 'Hill Grey' colours, whilst the other offers
a South East Asia scheme, which was chosen for this build. After
masking off the transparencies with
Tamiya masking tape, the canopy frames
and nose cone were sprayed with Humbrol's Matt
Black and once dry, the nose cone was masked off and the
underside painted with Humbrol's Light Grey (64) . For the upper
surface camouflage Humbrol's US Tan (118), US Dark Green
(11 6) and Humbrol's US Li ght Green (11 7) were used and to
achieve a hard demarcation line between colours, I masked the
outline with 'Silly Putty' and filled in the rest of the area with
regul ar masking tape. Once the camoufl age painting was
completed, I removed all but the canopy masks and airbrushed
two coats of Klear Floor Poli sh onto the whole model to provide
a hard gloss base for the decals and for weathering.
The decals themselves are very well printed with excellent
colour density and perfect registration. They were appli ed using
more Klear as a setting agent and thankfully unlike some
Phantoms, this version is not plastered in stencil data thus
-
-
making the whole process quick
and easy. The onl y struggle was with the fuselage
walkway decals which put up a bit of fi ght against going on
straight. Once the decals were dry, any excess fluid and decal
glue was wiped away and a wash of thinned raw umber oil paint
was applied to accentuate the panel lines. Some light dry
brushing and a few paint scrapes finished off the weathering,
and some streaking was applied to represent fluid and grime
caused by the air flow. When this was all done, Humbrol's matt
varnish returned the paint to a flat finish. Once this was dry, I
than masked of the tail section and painted the metallic secti on
of the aircraft's rear with Humbrol's 'Metal Cote' colours using
their Aluminium, and Polished Steel, which buff up to a great
metallic sheen. The exhausts cans were painted using Gun Metal
and all the metallic sections were further weathered using
Tamiya XF-I S Smoke and some dry brushing with Aluminium.
Final assembly saw the fitting of the undercarriage,
external stores, tailplanes, canopies and a crew boarding
ladder which was included in the kit as well as the
aforementioned FOD guards, whose red fini sh added a
splash of colour to the model.
1120 Chapter 8
Photo-Phantom
Phantom RF-4C Hasegawa 1/72 scale
Angelo Picardo
H
asegawa's model of the RF-4C has been available for
some time and is periodically re-released with new
markings and colour schemes. The subject of this model
has three marking variations for grey over white USAF aircraft
from the mid -sixties in a colour scheme usually associated with
US Navy Phantoms.
This build is 'straight from the box' and no extras were used
in order to show that a very reasonable model can be produced
without additional expenditure. As Hasegawa produce a number
of different F-4s in this scale, the fuselage mould is generic and
designed to enable a number of different types to be made from
its basic components; therefore the fuselage has a fore and aft
split just behind the rear cockpit. The cockpit is nicely detailed
for a kit of this scale and the cockpit tub needs the bulkheads,
instrument panels and control columns adding along with the
rear instrument panels and separate radar scope shroud.
Hasegawa provide decals for the instrument panels and side
console which in this scale are perfectly adequate. The real gems
in the cockpit are the ejector seats. Each one is made up from
five parts and the only addition required is a harness which can
be scratch built. The whole of the cockpit assembly sits on top of
the nosewheel bay which is integral to the underside of the nose
itself. As parts of this model are also used for a US Navy version
the retractable IFR probe section has to be fLlled as the US Ai r
force use a different type refuelling system. Hasegawa provide
clear parts for the various camera ports on this reconnaissance
machine and they also provide a representation of the cameras.
The two sides of the nose, along with the underside and clear
camera port fairing, all fit together with ease, and can then be
set aside while the rest of the aircraft is built. The rear portion of
the fuselage is moulded with the
vertical fin as a part of it, except for the tip. These two fuselage
halves go together with the minimum of fuss requiring only a
hole to be opened up on the spine to receive a blade antenna.
One tip for reference is to fustly attach the nose to the rest of the
fuselage before bringing the halves together. Care in aligning the
fuselage pieces is essential to ensure as seamless a joint as
possible as any sanding or filling would destroy the fine detail
along the spine. Another small piece of surgery requires the
removal of the topmost probe on the tail fm. The next stage of
assembly involves the air intakes which is a weak spot of this kit.
Hasegawa has the intakes rather truncated, ending just aft of the
rear cockpit, so when you peer into the gloom of the intakes you
are greeted with a blank wall! Good advice would therefore be to
seek out or construct a pair of FOD guards.
The wings are in five parts
comprising the lower wing
incorporating the fuselage belly,
two upper wings and the sections outboard of the wing fold
point. These all go together with minimal fuss and only require
some slight trimming to attach to the fuselage. As the whole of
the underside would be white, along with the undercarriage legs,
bays and inner surface of the doors, these were attached at this
stage leaving the tyres and wheels for later addition.
The canopy is provided in four parts and these are thin and
clear but do have some flash present so a careful clean up is
required as they are quite brittle. Also included in the clear parts
are the fairings for the rear cockpit mirrors, but check carefully
as depending on which colour scheme you are making the
positions of these fairings may vary. For underwing stores, the
kit includes the standard wingmounted drop tanks, two types of
centreline tanks and USAF style inboard pylons that have
Sidewinder rails fitted, and again check any references for the
model you are making as to whether any AAMs were actually
carried. The two aft troughs for the Sparrow missiles are
blanked over on this version and the fit of these blanking parts
is perfect. One of the final assembly stages is for the drag chute
compartment fairing which is really a trial as this comes in two
very small pieces!
The kit features markings for three USAF RF-4Cs, all from
1965 with two from Shaw AFB, and one from Edwards Air Force
Base, the latter forming the basis of this model, and as stated
earlier, its grey over white scheme is one more readily associated
with the US Navy. After masking off the transparencies with
Tamiya tape, the canopy frames and anti -glare panel were
sprayed Humbrol Matt Black. The anti-glare panel was then
masked off and the model was given an overall cote of Humbrol
Light Grey (64). Once this had dried, the upper surface was
masked off and Humbrol Matt White applied to the underside
and the drop tanks, these being left off to the very last to avoid
them being prematurely jettisoned! The upper surface of the
flaps and the rudder was also sprayed white along with both
sides of the tailplanes.
To represent the two-tone metallic finish of the engine
exhaust plates Humbrol's Metal Cote colours, namely
Aluminium (27001) and Polished Steel (27003) were used and
to represent the darker finish on the exhaust cans, equal parts of
Polished Steel with Gun Metal (27004) were mixed and applied.
Once the paint had all dried, all the masking was removed
except for the ones on the transparencies, and the model was
airbrushed with a couple of cotes of Klear floor polish to provide
a gloss coat for decaling and weathering.
The kit's decals are well printed and in register though the
white portions are slightly translucent, however they settled
down well with the Klear polish being used as a setting
solution. Once the decals had dried, a wash of thinned Raw
Umber oil paint was applied to accentuate the panel lines. Once
this was dried, all remaining masks were removed, and the last
parts, such as drop tanks, tailplanes, wheels and exhaust cans
were added.
Kits
US Air Force Phantom Kits
A
lthough there have been plenty of Phantom kits produced over the years
there are surprisingly few available today, many having been deleted or
just faded away. Some resurface under with new packaging, and the only
way to be sure of what is in a particular box is to read the reviews in the
modelling press, particularly Scale Aviation Modeller International. For this
Datafil e we include this li sting of kits, which at the time of writing are still part
of their individual manufact urer's catalogues, and whilst it is acknowledged that
many older kits may still be very good and highly sought after by both the
modell er and coll ector, it is the intention to look at only what is current at the
date of publicati on and therefore available for modelling projects.
KIT NO SCALE TYPE NOTES
ACADEMY
4419 1 :144 HE USAF
HASEGAWA
00787 1:72 RF-4C USAF 35 Years Special
00790 1:72 F-4E USAF 30 Years Phabulous Phantoms
00791 1:72 RF-4C USAF
HAC02 1:72 F-4E USAF 'Lizard' scheme
HA848 1:72 F-4C/D USAF Bicentennial
09672 1:48 F-4G USAF 37th TFW
PT008 1:48 F-4E USAF 30 Years Phabulous Phantoms
PT009 1 :48 F-4G USAF Wild Weasel
ITALERI
2639 1:48 F-4E USAF
MINICRAFT
1 :144 F-4E USAF Warplanes of the World series
REVELL
4002 1:144 F-4E/J USAF
TAMIYA
60305 1 :32 F-4C/D USAF
6310 1:32 F-4E USAF Early Production
A Gull Grey and While scheme adorns FJ-023 41023 ( Vi, Glenn Sands)
1122 Appendix I Kits
Appendix I
Tamiya's 1/32 scale F-4C/D
Hasegawa's 1/48 RF-4C
Hasegawa's 1/48 F-4G
ESCI 1/48 F-4E shorl nose
Tamiya's 1/32 F-4C/D
Minicrah's 1/144 scale F-4E
Hasegawa's 1/48 F-4E
Accessories & Conversions Appendix II
AEROCLUB
C036 1/72
EJ003 metal 1/72
V184 metal 1/72
AIRWAVES
AEC32002 etched 1/32
AEC72023 resin 1/72
AEC72035 etched 1/72
AIRES
2009
4118
48123
4126
4231
4240
4245
4255
7083
AIROOC
4801
4802
4803
BLACK BOX
48058
3242
3219
3243
CUTTING EDGE
32023
4855
32153
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
EAGLE DESIGNS
48CK06 resin
1/32
1/48
1/48
1/48
1/48
1/48
1/48
1/48
1/72
1/48
1/48
1/48
1/48
1/32
1/32
1/32
1/32
1/48
1/32
1/48
Phantom Canopy
Martin Baker Mk 5H seats for early F-4
Undercarriage Set
F-4E/J seat harness
Canopy set for Hasegawa kit
F-4E/J seat harness
F-4E engine exhausts
Exhausts for Hasegawa kits
Wheel bays for Hasegawa kits
Cockpit set for Hasegawa F-4E/F
RF-4B/C Photo bay for Hasegawa kit
F-4C Cockpit set for Hasegawa kit
F-4D Cockpit set for Hasegawa kit
F-4E Cockpit set for Hasegawa Kit
Wheel bays for Revell kit
F-4E/RF-4C AN/ARN-1 01 Modification
600 gal HPC tanks
F-4C/D/E/G Detail set
F-4D Cockpit set for Hasegawa kit
F-4D Cockpit set with LORAN update
F-4E Cockpit set for Tamiya kits
F-4D Cockpit set for Tamiya kit
F-4E conversion set for Tamiya kit
F-4C/D Seamless intakes for Hasegawa kits
ALO-71 Jammer Pods
Late-style Phantom exhausts
Aires Phantom
exhausts
Aires 1/48 ejector seats Aires 1 :48 wheel bay set
Airwaves canopy set Aires F-4C
Phantom set
Eduard engine exhaust set
Aires F-4D cockpit
set
Eduard F-4E set
Quickboost1/48
ejector seat
EDUARD
EDSS201
ED72448
EDSS265
ED72395
ED72446
EDXS043
ED49231
ED48434
EDFE231
ED48462
EDFE340
ED49257
EDFE257
ED32509
ED32503
ED32545
ED321 48
ED32544
ED32531
EDXL035
ED32073
ED32032
ED32074
ED32080
EBIG3202
EBIG7203
EBIG3234
EBIG3233
EBIG4813
EBIG4809
FLIGHT PATH
FHGS3203
etched 1/72
etched 1/72
etched 1/72
etched 1/72
etched 1/72
mask 1/72
etched 1/48
etched 1/48
etched
etched
etched
etched
etched
etched
etched
etched
etched
etched
etched
mask
etched
etched
etched
etched
etched
etched
etched
etched
etched
etched
resin
1/48
1/48
1/48
1/48
1/48
1/32
1/32
1/32
1/32
1/32
1/32
1/32
1/32
1/32
1/32
1/32
1/32
1/72
1/32
1/32
1/48
1/72
1/32
PARAGON DESIGNS
48086
32010
QUICKBOOST
OB48004
OB72011
TRUE DETAILS
48043
72415
48516
VERLINDEN
0373
0510
1115
1126
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
resin
1/48
1/32
1/48
1/72
1/48
1/72
1/48
1/48
1/48
1/32
1/32
Eduard RF-4C detail set
F-4E Cockpit pre-painted
Cockpit ladder
RF-4C Cockpit pre-painted
FaD covers
Canopy and wheels
F-4E Cockpit set pre-painted
FaD covers
F-4E Cockpit set for Hasegawa kit
RF-4C Cockpit detail set pre-painted
F-4G detail set
F-4G Cockpit detail set pre-painted
Placards
F-4E Interior set pre-painted
F-4C/D Interior set pre-painted for Tamiya kits
F-4C/D Exterior set for Hasegawa kit
F-4C Interior set pre-painted
F-4 Formation lights pre-painted
Paint mask
F-4E Exterior set for Tamiya kit
F-4C/D Detail set for Tamiya kit
F-4 E Armament for Tamiya kit
F-4 Engine exhausts
F-4E Comprehensive detailing set
F-4D Comprehensive detailing set
F-4C Comprehensive detailing set
F-4G Comprehensive detailing set
F-4E/F/G Airframe set
F-4 Flaps
Martin Baker Mk 7 Ejector seats
Ejector seats
Ejector seats
USAF Wheels, weighted
Marin Baker Mk 7 ejector seats
F-4C Cockpit set
Martin baker Mk 7 ejector seats
F-4E Update set for Hasegawa kit
Martin Baker Mk 7 ejector seats
RF-4C Cockpit for Revell kit
Eduard RF-4C cockpit set
Appendix II Accessori es & Conversions 1231
Decals
APpendJII
Few USAF Units have been missed by decal manufacturers over the years, and new sheets continue to be added to the genre.
Once again for the purposes of this Datafile we have only included those sheets in production at the time of publication.
AEROMASTER
48000
48763
48764
48473
AIROOC
32006
72006
3203
3204
4803
7203
7204
CAM DECALS
48045
3206
1:48
1:48
1:48
1:44
1:32
1:72
1:32
1:32
1:48
1:72
1:72
1:48
1:32
EXPERTS CHOICE
4803
4836
4861
7214
7218
EAGLE STRIKE
48150
48208
FOX ONE
48012
48024
HI DECAL
48023
72053
ISRA
ISRA37
ISRA36
ISRA39
1:48
1:48
1:48
1:72
1:72
1:48
1:48
1:48
1:48
1:48
1:72
1:48
1:72
1:32
Aeromaster 48-000
Phantoms over Vietnam
TwoBobs 72-047 'First of
the Weasels'
1124 Appendix III - Decals
F-4C
F-4C
F-4C
F-4C
F-4G & RF-4C
F-4G & RF-4C
Various
Various
Various
Various
Various
F-4E
F-4E
F- 4E
F-4E
RF-4C
F-4E
RF-4C
F-4E
F-4E
F-4
F-4C/D
RF-4C/F-4E
RF-4C/F-4E
F-4E
RF-4C
F-4E
F-4C's over Vietnam part 2 (2)
Early F-4C's part 9 (4)
Early F-4C's part II (4)
F-4C's over Vietnam part 3 (2)
Phantoms in the Gulf War
Phantoms in the Gulf War
USAF Phantoms in Germany #1
USAF Phantoms in Germany # 1
USAF Phantoms in Germany # 1
Thunderbirds
34 TFS/469 TFS Vietnam (2)
57 FIS Kefl avik
106 TRS/3247 Test (2)
163 TFS Blacksnakes (2)
106th Recon Alabama ANG (1)
Vietnam Warriors (4)
Earl y USAF Phantom Stencils
USAF Walkways
USAF Phantoms in Vietnam (8)
USAF/IRIAF/Spanish
USAF/IRIAF/Spanish
Complete set of stenci ls for 1 ai rcraft
Complete set of stenci l s for 1 aircraft
Complete set of stenci ls for 1 aircraft
.;;
Aeromaster 48-473
Phantoms over Vietnam 3
Airdoc War Gulf Warriors
---- --
TwoBobs 72-048 ' No-Gun
Shoguns' RF-4C
TwoBobs 48-050 Team
target OF-4G
LEADING EDGE
7217
4817
3217
SUPERSCALE
481158
480161
481030
TWOBOBS
72048
72047
48114
48050
32022
XTRADECAL
72072
lOTZ
32004
I
1/' 'iii

-0- -0- ...

::::1 0 =
1:72
1:48
1:32
1:48
1:48
1:48
1:72
1: 72
1:48
1 :48
1:32
1:72
1 :32
Zoll Decals JJ Jaws sheet
Aeromaster 48-763 Early
Phantoms in Combat 9
Aeromaster 48-765 Early
Phantoms II
Eagle Strike 48-208
Stencil sheet
F-4G
F-4G
F-4G
F-4C
F-4C/E
RF-4C
RF-4C
F-4C
F-4C
QF-4G
F-4E
F-4
F-4E
Idaho ANG 'Last of the Weasels'
171 st FIS Wi lliam Tell 1984 (1)
USAFE (3)
192 TRS/165 TRS/67 RW (3)
No-Gun Shoguns
First of the Weasels
First of the Weasels
Team Target
SEA Heroes (2)
UK Based Phantoms (15)
JJ Jaws (3)
Experts Choice Special RF-4C's
Campro 3206 F-4E Superscale 48-1158
William Tell F-4C
Isra Decals Stencils
Two Bobs 32-022 SEA
Heroes F-4e
Leading Edge 4817 Gulf
War Warriors
- -. .. ::: .. : -..
-.;:.;;;.,....e ,

If"
'--;;:oiE'"
If"
Fox One 48-024 SEA
Phantoms
USAF F-4 Main Differences Appendix IV
RF-4C F-4C F-4D F-4E F-4G
Engi nes J79-GE- 15 J79-GE-15 J79-GE-15 J79-GE-17 J79-GE-1 7
No.7 Fuel Cell No No No Yes Yes
Ram Air Turbine Yes Yes Yes No No
Wing Fold Yes Yes Yes No No
Internal Gun No No No Yes No
Radar AN/APQ-99 AN/APQ-100 AN/APQ-109 AN/APQ-120 AN/APQ-120
Intercept Computer No AN/APQ-157 AN/APQ-157 or 165 AN/APQ-1 20, LRU-1 AN/APQ-120, LRU-1
TISEO No No No Yes lrom 71-237 + No
Radar Receiving Set AN/ ALR-17 or AN/ ALQ-1 25 No No No AN/APR-38A
Radar Warning Receiver AN/ALR-69 AN/APR-25 or -26 or AN/ALR-46 AN/APS-107 or AN/ALR-69 AN/ALR-69 or -74 AN/ALR-69 or -74
Radar Mapping AN/ APQ-1 02 or AN/UPD-4 or 8 No No No No
Weapons Release Computer No No AN/ASQ-91 (+AN/ARN-92) AN/ASQ-91 or AN/ARN-101 AN/ASQ-91 Mod or AN/ARN-101
INS Set AN/ASN-56 or AN/ARN-101 AN/ASN-48 AN/ASN-63 AN/ASN-63 or AN/ARN-101 AN/ASN-63 or AN/ARN-101
Leading Edge Slats No No No Yes Yes
Slotted Tail No No No Yes Yes
Length 62.9 ft 58.2 ft 58.2 ft 62.9 ft 63.0 ft
Wingspan 38.4 It 38.4 It 38.4 It 38.4 It 38.4 It
Height 16.5 ft 16.5 ft 16.5 ft 16.5 ft 16.5 It
Empty Weight 28,5461b 28,5391b 28,8731b 30,328 1b 30,3001b
Max Take-Off Weight 58,0001b 59,6891b 59,4831b 61,795 Ib 61 ,7951b
AIM-9 Sidewinder 4 4 4 4 4
AIM-7 Sparrow No 4 4 4 4
AGM-65 Maverick No No Block 30 + Yes Block 36 + Yes
Pave Spike Sensor No No Block 30 + From 67-342 Upwards No
Pave Tack Sensor From Block 37 + No No From Block 48 + Yes
ECM Pod Yes Blocks 16 - 24 Yes Yes Yes
AN/ALE-40 Chaff & Flares Yes No Yes Yes Yes
' E's and 'D's combine for a raid I<:J via Glenn Sands)
Appendi x IV USAF F-4 Main Differences 1251
Phantom Bibliography
Books
F-4 Phantom
Robert F Dorr
Osprey
ISBN 850455871
USAF F-4E & F-4G
Bert Kinzey
Detail & Scale
ISBN 853685258
Air War Over Vietnam
Dana Bell
Warbirds Illustrated 14
ISBN 853685738
F-4 Gun Nosed Phantoms
Kris Hughes & Walter Drahem
Warbird Tech
ISBN 978093342
Rhino The Immortal Phantom
Joe Cupido
Windrow & Greene
ISBN 872004180
The Phantom Story
Anthony Thomborough & Peter E
Davies
Arms & Armour Press
ISBN 1854094165
Spirit In The Skies
Various
Aerospace
ISBN 1880588315
McDonnell Douglas Phantom
Bill Gunston
Ian Allan
F-4E Phantom II In action
Larry Davies
Squadron/Signal
ISBN 879471547
F-4E Phantom II Walkaround
Larry Davies
Squadron/Signal
ISBN 89475119
F-4D Phantom II
Bert Kinzey
Detail & Scale
ISBN 830682428
1126 Appendix V Bibliography
Recon Phantoms Colours &
Markings
Bert Kinzey
Detail & Scale
ISBN 890242216
Wings of Fame 15
Various
Aerospace
ISBN 1861840330
Combat Legends F-4 Phantom
Martin Bowman
Airlife
Phantom
Tony Holmes
Chancellor Press
ISBN 9781851529
Phantoms Forever
Robert Dorr
Motorbooks
ISBN 9780850474
Superbase 1 Nellis
George Hall
Osprey
ISBN 850458447
USAF MiG Killers 1965-68
Peter Davies
Osprey
ISBN 1841766569
Phantom Guardians ANG
Phantoms
Daniel Soulaine
Osprey
ISBN 185532198
F-4 Phantom
Robbie Shaw
Airlife
ISBN 97815310096
USAF Phantoms
Anthony Thomborough
PSL
ISBN 8653638877
F-4 Phantom Production &
Operational Data
William R Peake
Midland Publishing
ISBN 857801903
USAF Phantom MiG Killers
1972-77
Peter Davies
Osprey
ISBN 97818414776
F-4 Phantom Notebook
Wilson & Franzi
Norebook Publications
ISBN 1876722005
F-4E Phantom Colours &
Markings
Detail & Scale
Phantom Pilot Over Vietnam
John Trotti
F-4D Phantom II Colours &
Markings Post Vietnam
Bert Kinzey
Detail & Scale
F-4C/D & RF-4C In Detail &
Scale
Bert Kinzey
Detail & Scale
APpendi' V
Index Please note: this index does not reference appendices, walkarounds or tables.
63-426 in colourful garb ( via Mark Smith)
A E K 0 S U
Aerospace Maintenance and Eglin AFB: 74 Kadena AFB: 15, 46 'Old Eagle Eye" 35 Seymour Johnson AFB: 24 Udorn RTAFB: 46
Regeneration Centre: 106 El ectroni c Warfare Officer: 93 Kentucky ANG: 38, 95 Olds, Lt . Col. Robin: 33, 36 Shaw AFB: 44, 46
Air Force Reserve: 13 Kennedy, President John E: Operation Desert Shield: 98 Sheik Isa AB: 46, 97-99
W Air National Guard 13, 31
F
Korat AFB: 15, 70, 71 , 73 Operation Desert Storm: 41 , 'Snoopy': 37
Alabama ANG: 27, 46 46, 47, 68, 96, 98 Soesterberg AFB: 65 Watson, Colonel Paul C: 35
'Arizona Chicken': 37 'Freeze Frame" 45
L
Operation Highspeed: 8 Spangdahlem AFB: 68, 95, 96 Wild Weasel 14, 47, 92, 93
Operation Provide Comfort: 95, Speci fic Operational 'Wizzo': 10
B G
'Little Chris': 73 96 Requirement 196: 38 'Wolfpack': 35
Operation Provide Comfort II : Speci fic Operational 'Wreckin Crew': 72, 73
Bergstrom AFB: 46 General Electric J79-GE-15
M
96 Requirement 200: 9
Bevan, Col. W.E.: 34 turbojets: 10 Operation Southern Watch: 96
y
Bitburg AFB: 24 George AFB: 64, 66, 67, 68, March AFB: 42 Oregon ANG: 29
T 'Black Knights': 12 95, 98 Martin-Baker Mk 7: 22 Osan AFB: 64 Yokota AB: 15
Gullick, Capt. Francis: 33 Martin-Baker Mk H5: 10
P
Taegu AB: 46
C
'Gunfighters': 72 McNamara, Robert: 8 Target Drones: 106
Z Michigan ANG: 10 Pease AFB: 62 Team Target: 109
California ANG: 41 , 67
H
Mississippi ANG: 41 Texas AFRES: 28 Zwiebrucken AB: 46, 47
Clark AFB: 24, 76, 95 Missouri ANG: 66, 68
R
Texas ANG: 10, 69
'Come The Judge': 71 'Happy Hooligans': 8 Moody AFB: 68 'The Blue Max': 34
Hill AFB: 95, 111 RAF Alconbury: 41, 45 'The Sai nt' : 35 16th Tactical Reconnaissance
0
Holloman AFB: 106, 109
N
RAF Lakenheath: 27 Thunderbirds 104-105 Squadron: 44
Raspberry, Maj . Everett T: 33 TISEO (Target Identification 4453rd Combat Crew Training
Da Nang AB: 70 Nellis AFB: 63, 96 'Rhino': 31 System Electro-Optical) : 64, Wing: 12
Davis Monthan AFB: 47, 96, Nevada ANG: 46 Ritchie, Captain Steve: 33, 34 66, 84
106 Idaho ANG: 41 , 46, 93, 95, 96 'Night Owl' : 37 'Triple Nickel ': 34
DeBelievue, WSO 36 AB: 46, 68, 96, 98 'No Gun Shogun': 47 Tyndall AFB 10, 106
A pair 01 35th TFW 'Weasels' formate aMer refuelling '_= 5 C<> " ,on)
Index 1271
c
An anniversary Phantom as displayed at the London International Airshow in Ontario Canada in 1988 ( Author's Collection)
DATAFILE
F-4E late
172 SCALE
_ ~ I _ _ J.:: - :,',e,
RF-4C early
RF-4C late
Do
RF-4C
o C 0
1
- 0
F-4G
1
3m
I 1/72 SCALE sJ 1" .... IIIi ~ s J ~ 1 ~ m ~ _ ~ ~ _
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F-4G
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SAM PUB LI CAT IONS
F-4C/D
F-4C/D
o 0
F-4E early
~ - - - _ L - _ - ;
F-4E
5j11 :>
o 0 0 - 0
0 -
F-4E slats
=
F-4E slats
I I .
~ ...... .J1m
!2m
DATAFIL
SAM PUBLICATIONS
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SAM Modellers Datafile 12 Mcdonnell Douglas F 4 Phantom Part 1 USAF Variants

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