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.
 
 




https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_151510__VF-111___Luke_AFB__Apr_87___1a.jpg


     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


https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Patches/VF-14.png 

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.





     F-4B 149460 in faded VF-14 Tophatters markings, MASDC 1981.  The Tophat is faintly visible in the red delta on the tail. (CB)

    149463 is parked close to F-8 Crusaders at MASDC in June, 1979. It is just inside a satellite tracking area that we were not allowed to enter. (CB)

VF-21 Free Lancers

https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Patches/VF-21_Free_Lancers.jpg

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.

https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_152293__VF-21___AMARC__Apr_87___1a.jpg https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_152982__VF-21___AMARC__Apr_87___1a.jpg https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_152990__VF-21___ELP__Aug_81___1a.jpg https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_153016__VF-21___Mirimar__Aug_82___1a.jpg

    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)


https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_153016__VF-21___Mesa__Nov_90___1a.jpg

   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

https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Patches/VF-51.png

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.
 

https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_152310__VF-51___MASDC__Dec_78___1a.jpg
https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_152326__VF-51___MASDC__Jun_79___1a.jpg
https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_152326__VF-51___MASDC__Feb_80___1a.jpg
https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_153010__VF-51___MASDC__Dec_78___1a.jpg

   

      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

https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Patches/VF-111.png

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.

https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_151510__VF-111___MASDC__Dec_78___1a.jpg https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_151510__VF-111___MASDC__Jun_79___1a.jpg
https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_151510__VF-111___MASDC__Jul_81___1a.jpg https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_153012__VF-111___MASDC__Dec_78___1a.jpg

 

F-4N 151510 at MASDC in December, 1978, June, 1979 and July, 1981.   Part of the sun burst has red, white and blue rays, which were carried as Bicentennial markings in 1976. (CB)

153012 carrying CAG markings in Dec, 1978. Both her and 151510 have quit a bit of "corrosion control camouflage" yet the tail markings are still bright. (CB)


 

VF-154 Black Knights


https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Patches/VF-154.png

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.



https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_151446__VF-154___Mirimar__Aug_82___1a.jpg


    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)

 

https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_152281__VF-154___ELP__Aug_81___1a.jpg
https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_152318__VF-154___AMARC__Apr_87___1a.jpg https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_152981__VF-154___AMARC__Apr_87___1a.jpg https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_153027__VF-154___AMARC__Apr_87___1a.jpg

    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)


https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_153915__VF-154___Pensacola__May_86___2a.jpg

    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

https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Patches/VF-161.png


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.


      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)

https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Patches/VF-171.gif

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.

https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_152317__VF-171___ELP__Jul_80___1a.jpg


      152317 of VF-171 (Detachment Key West) on the ramp at El Paso in 1980.
 


VAQ-33 Firebirds

https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Patches/VAQ-33.gif

VAQ-33 can trace its lineage back to Composite Squadron 33 (VC-33). Further changes in the designation occurred in 1952 when the name Nighthawks was applied to the unit. In 1956 a mission change brought the designation All Weather Attack Squadron, VA(AW)-33 and VAW-33 in 1958 when the squadron provided ASW detachments to the fleet. In 1970 the last designation of VAQ-33 and the adoption of Firebirds took place. The F-4 was one of several aircraft types operated until the squadron disbanded on 1 October, 1993.

https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_153070__VAQ-33___MASDC__Jun_81___1a.jpg


    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

https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/YF-4J_151497__NATC___Pima__May87___1a.jpg


      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)



     F-4N 150468 of the Naval Air Weapons Center transiting El Paso in November, 1993. (CB)
 

Pacific Missile Test Center (PMTC)

https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Patches/Pacific_Missile_Test_Center.gif


https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/F-4N_151504__PMTC___ELP__Dec_80___1a.jpg
https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/QF-4N_152307__PMTC___ELP__Oct_95___1a.jpg
https://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Phantoms/QF-4N_153034__PMTC___Point_Magu__Oct_88___1a.jpg


    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)



 
 

To return to:

For your comments and suggestions:

My guestbook is on the main page and there is a guest map on the main Phantom page.  Drop by and tell me where you live.


Page created 09-06-02
Updated 05-03-22

Clifford Bossie