USN F-4B/N Phantom II
This page is being modified with better photos and
broken links repaired. It will take some time to complete.
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It was not uncommon during the 1970s and 80s for the Air
Force to display Navy F-4s as early model USAF ones were
still in active service.
F-4B 149421 masquerading as an F-4C at Lackland AFB in
September of 2000. (CB)
Not actually F-4C 63-74111, but F-4N 151510 displayed at
Luke AFB in 1987 as an F-4C. It later went to NAF Fallon
where it has been put back in USN markings. 151510 is shown
below in VF-111 markings. (CB)
VF-14 Tophatters
The
Tophatters transitioned into the F-4B (from F3H Demons) in
1969. The Phantom remained until
1975 when replaced by the F-14A. In 2001 the unit
converted to its current aircraft, the F-18E and is now
designated as VFA-14.
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VF-21 Free Lancers
Like VF-14, the Free Lancers operated the F3H Demon
prior to receiving the F-4B in 1963. The F-4J came
along in 1968 which was eventually replaced by the
F-4S. However, the S model could not safely operate
from the USS Coral Sea, so the S was was replaced
by the F-4N for a 1981 cruise! The F-14A became the
mission aircraft in 1984 until disestablishment on 31
January, 1996.
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152293 (L) and 152982 (R) in the bland tactical scheme that replaced the previous color. By the time these photos were taken at AMARC in April, 1987 the Free Lancers had converted to F-14s. (CB)
152990 departing El Paso August, 1981. This was the CAG
bird and retains colorful markings including colored stars
on the rudder to represent every squadron in the airwing.
(Gerald McMasters)
153016, a VF-21 F-4N at NAS Miramar in 1982. The Lancers
had flown F-4S Phantoms until about 1980 when they were
forced to convert to F-4Ns due to
the inability of the USS Coral Sea to
handle the higher landing speed of the S model! (CB)
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The same aircraft at the Champlin Fighter Aces Museum in 1990. And again at the CAF Museum in Feb, 2015. These photos show the return to color before retirement. As to why USS Ranger is painted on the fuselage, I have no idea. (CB)
VF-51 Screaming Eagles
VF-51 had operated the
F-8 Crusader until 1971 when the F-4B was taken
on strength. As with other F-4B units the F-4Bs were
eventually converted to F-4Ns which were replaced by
F-14As in 1978. VF-51 was disestablished in March, 1995.
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F-4N 152310 at MASDC on a cold December day in 1978.
The Screaming Eagles unit
patch is visible on the splitter plate. This airplane was
"rejuvenated" from storage and served with VMFA-112 Cowboys
before returning to storage. Eventually she was converted to
a QF-4N and expended in 1990. (CB)
F-4N 152326 at the same location being
prepared for drone conversion in 1981. Then converted back
to an F-4N and flew with VF-154. (CB)
F-4N
153010 at MASDC in December, 1978. At this time the F-4s
from VF-51 and VF-111 still looked pretty. Within a few
short years they would either be regenerated to fly with
other units, converted to drones, or scrapped. (CB)
VF-111 Sundowners
The Sundowners
had operated various versions of the F-8 until
receiving the F-4B in 1971. Though slated to transition to
F-4Js the unit retained F-4Ns until receiving F-14As in
1978. The unit was disestablished 31 March, 1995.
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VF-154 Black
Knights
VF-154 transitioned
from F-8 Crusaders to F-4Bs in 1966 to the F-4J
in 1970 and to the F-4S in 1979. The unit was paired with
VF-21 and had the same regression back to the F-4N in
1981, finally transitioning to the F-14A in 1983 which
served until 2003. Today the Black Knights fly
the F-18F as VFA-154.
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151431 at the NAS Mirimar airshow,
August, 1982. At this time most of 154's birds were in the
tactical scheme with subdues markings, yet by the time
they were retired color had returned. (CB)
The same airplane wearing colorful markings in storage at
AMARC in April, 1987. (CB)
151446 parked on the El Paso ramp in October, 1982. I am
not positive what unit markings are painted out, but I
suspect they were VMFA-323 Death Rattlers. (CB)
151446 rolling out after touch down at Mirimar in August,
1982. (CB)
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Black
Knights F-4N 152281 at ELP in Aug, 1981. This
airplane had flown with VF-301 the prior year. (CB)
2318 ion storage at AMARC April, 1987. (CB)
2981 in the front of a row of F-4Ns at AMARC in April,
1987. Behind are rows of F-8 Crusaders, all of which have
been smelted down since. (CB)
3027 on a bright sunny day in April, 1987. (CB)
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F-4N 153915 is displayed at the National Naval Aviation
Museum, NAS Pensacola. It was chosen for display as it was a
MiG killer, downing a MiG-19 18 May, 1972. It is also from a
batch of four F-4Bs built that were the last of the Bs whose
Bureau Numbers are well above all others. (CB)
VF-161 Chargers
The Chargers gave
up F3H Demons in 1964 to gain the F-4B. In
1973 that changed to F-4N which were operated until the
F-4J was delivered to the unit in 1977. The F-4S replaced
the J in 1980. Re-equipped with the F-18 Hornet in
1986 the designation changed to VFA-161 but the Chargers
were disestablished in 1988.
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F-4N 150525 in storage at MASDC in
December 1978. At that time she had been in storage
for almost two years. (CB)
VF-171 Aces (Key
West)
The Aces were
formed in 1977 by splitting up VF-101 into two squadrons.
VF-101 was to be F-14 training and VF-171 would become F-4
training. The Aces were disestablished in 1984.
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152317 of VF-171 (Detachment Key West) on the ramp at
El Paso in 1980.
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EF-4B
153070 was originally build as an F-4B and was the last F-4B built prior to the start
of production of the F-4J. As part of VAQ-33 she would serve
alongside A-4, A-7 and A-3 aircraft among many others. The
Firebirds were disestablished 1 October, 1993. While
this airplane seems to show modifications to F-4N status it
is always listed as an "EF-4B". She is presently preserved
at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland. (CB)
YF-4J
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The single YF-4J (151497) at the Pima Air
Museum in 1987. This aircraft was used to test the
F-4J Radar system, but for all other purposes is an F-4B airframe. The second photo shows the same
aircraft in February, 2005. 151497 is also in the
background of the VF-161 photo above while still in storage
at MASDC.
Naval Air Warfare
Center (NAWC)
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F-4N 150468 of the Naval Air
Weapons Center transiting El Paso in November, 1993. (CB)
Pacific Missile Test Center (PMTC)
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F-4N in full Pacific
Missile Test Center markings stopping for fuel in ELP
December, 1980. (CB)
QF-4N 152307 at El Paso in October, 1995. (CB)
QF-4N 153034 marked "TARGET" at the Point Magu airshow
October, 1988. (CB)
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