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Today marks a sad day in history with the phinal official phlight of the mighty F-4 in active US service after almost 60yrs (58yrs, 6 mths, 3 weeks and 4 days to be exact). 2 QF-4E's put on a Phinal display at the Holloman AFB phor their retirement ceremony. That leaves Japan, Korea, Turkey, Greece and Iran as the remaining operators of the F-4. A few pics of these mighty aircraft.







638 after her phinal phlight


And a video of 638 taxying in
https://www.facebook.com/kevin.s.reagan/videos/1079777258815768/

Truly end of an era that will never be repeated. Gone but not phorgotten


PHANTOMS PHOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All the ribbing and BS aside mate.....it is indeed a very sad day in US Armed Forces and Aviation history. If you have lasted 60 odd years in service ya must be a pretty dam good aeroplane.
The USAF will be the poorer for not having the mighty F-4 around anymore. She really has served her country, (and others, including ours), very well.
Long live the mighty Double Ugly.
TOR

Sad to see them go, but at least they didn't all end up as missile fodder in the QF disguise

Better to go down in a blaze of glory as a target than cut up by the scrappers gas axe.

Outstanding service from a legendary fighter! USA sure got its monies worth out of the F-4! I'd like to add mention of some pilots who became legendary flying that big ol' smokin' bird.

1. Gen. "Steve" Richie - only official USAF "ace" of the Vietnam war - well, along side his back seater Capt. Chuck DeBellevue (also credited as being a "ace").
2. "Duke Cunningham - USN's only "ace" of the Vietnam War. "Duke" was a better pilot than a politician it turned out and did time for corruption whilst being a congressman - got caught with his hand in the cookie jar big time!
3. Cdr. Harley Hall - One time commander of the Blue Angels when flying the F-4 and featured in the film "Threshold - the Blue Angels Experience". Whilst hitting a Nth Vietnamese truck convoy heading south, tragically Harley was the very last USN pilot shot down over Vietnam, was seen on the ground after ejecting and never returned home. There is very strong evidence that Hall was kept captive in Vietnam for many years. Hall is one of the many forgotten victims of the Vietnam war.



4. Mention of the legendary aviators who flew the F-4 has to include the greatest legend himself - Brig. Gen Robin Olds. Olds to me is the very definition of "Fighter Pilot". West Point educated and later marrying a movie star, he fought in two wars (P-38,P-51 pilot in WW2) and of course commanded the legendary 8th TFW at Ubon, RTAFB. Olds came up with Operation Bolo which resulted in 7 MiGs shot down in one day. He was officially credited with 4 MiGs, but it's well known he bagged at least a couple more and passed on credit to others in the wing. He had been told that as soon as he bagged his 5th, he was on his way home. Olds was very critical of US tactics in Vietnam post his time there. He finished as the Commandant of the USAF academy - there at the time when a F-105 doing a graduation flyby went supersonic and blew out all the windows in the Chapel!



Here's to the F-4 greats - legends all!

A few more pics from yesterday


















I don't know too many other aircraft that have had rock songs written bought them \m/ \m/ Long live the Phabulous Phantoms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8uZQayi9O4

Don't worry the Iranian's are still flying them...Hmm, I have that kit somewhere too.

hrtpaul wrote:I don't know too many other aircraft that have had rock songs written bought them \m/ \m/ Long live the Phabulous Phantoms

Some great shots there Paul......love those big, black, thundering smoke trails!!!
As to jets having songs written about them.....
"And my heart keeps calling backwards as I get on the 707 "
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGF_0AcHaGs
Thanks for giving the ol girl the recognition she deserves Steve Miller!!!
TOR
PS....maybe our next GB should be "A Tribute to the F-4"

The F-4 Group Build? Ah I knew it was only a matter of time before the military staged a take over of ACAM.

tor lives wrote:PS....maybe our next GB should be "A Tribute to the F-4"

If this is a record for a (Jet) Fighter in USAF Service doesn't that qualify for the current GB as a "History Maker"?

Alternatively does it qualify as a "History Maker" for the RAAF as the only Fighter in Service to be leased and returned?

(Any more examples to give hrtp a reason to model one for the GB?)