The MiG-21 was designed as a short-range interceptor, and the Phantom was a long-range aircraft. The second-most produced Western jet fighter in history with 5,195 units, the F-4 was extensively exported. The aircraft remained in service with the USMC until 1992 when the last airframe was replaced by the F/A-18 Hornet. See more ideas about phantom, fighter jets, military aircraft. F-4Cs and F-4Ds did not have an internal gun, while some were equipped with an external gun pod. In its air-to-ground role, the F-4 Phantom II could carry twice the normal load of a World War II-era B-17 bomber. For more about Rick's bio including his F-4 bio see his resume on his law website. Key point: Just like Korea, this war was a way to each global bloc to test each others technologies. An iconic U.S. fighter of the Vietnam War era, the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom … And indeed at first the Crusader had better results against Migs than the Phantom. Following Vietnam, the F-4 remained the principal aircraft for both the US Navy and USAF. Another problem that frequently arose with the aircraft was the production of black smoke when the engines were run at military power. By 1986, all F-4s had been retired from frontline units. The US Navy was intrigued by this concept and requested a full-scale mock-up of the design. AL CISNEROS is embraces by crew members after making his last flight for the airline, a short hop from San Antonio to Houston, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006. Introduced in late 1960 with the U.S. Navy, the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II has been an incredibly versatile and effective aircraft for numerous national militaries around the world. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read The Phantom Vietnam War: An F … the Navy kept using the F-8 because its Essex class carriers couldn't take the F-4. FREE Shipping. This first appeared earlier in October 2019. Vietnam Veteran Patch USMC F-4 Phantom Commemorative Patch Sticker. If the aircraft only appears in a game but you can't fly it, the game should not be included in this group. The five aviators (2 US Navy, 3 USAF) credited with ace status during the Vietnam War all flew the F-4. Mandatory Credi Jan 31, 2006; Houston, TX, USA; Southwest Airlines Capt. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, Vietnam War: North American F-100 Super Sabre, M.S., Information and Library Science, Drexel University, B.A., History and Political Science, Pennsylvania State University, Up to 18,650 lbs. The Phantom Vietnam War: An F-4 Pilot's Combat over Laos (Volume 12) (North Texas Military Biography and Memoir Series) Hardcover – October 1, 2018 by David R. "Buff" Honodel (Author) 4.6 out of 5 stars 19 ratings. USAF McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. The performance of each aircraft demonstrated relative strengths and weaknesses. Flying ground support missions, USMC F-4s claimed three kills while losing 75 aircraft, mostly to ground fire. These were the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom and the Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21. The heavy F-4 was known for jet engines that produced a great deal of smoke, adding to the ease of identification at a distance due to its large size. © Copyright 2020 Center for the National Interest All Rights Reserved. Col. Robin Olds painting a victory star on the McDonnell F-4 "Phantom II" he was flying on May 4, 1967, when he shot down a MiG-21. A Vietnam War veteran, Cisneros piloted F-4 Phantom jets off of the USS Saratoga on combat missions before joining the Blue Angels flight demonstration team. The Phantom held the edge with multiple missiles, often up to eight, while the MiG-21 carried only two. Developed during the 1950s, it entered service in 1960, and nearly 5,200 were produced during a 30-year run from 1958 to 1981. The F-105 held his own against the Migs but all things considered remained a bomber. The MiG-21, identified as the Fishbed in NATO nomenclature, was a continuation of the MiG fighter series that originated in the late 1940s. When these supersonic fighters met in combat, the skills of the individual pilots and sometimes sheer luck were often the deciding factors, and more than 40 years after the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War debate continues as to the accuracy of kill ratios and claims made by both the sides. Inspired designs on t-shirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. One of the most widely distributed export fighter aircraft in history, the MiG-21 remains active with many countries. Utilizing titanium in the airframe, the XF4H-1's all-weather capability was derived from the inclusion of the AN/APQ-50 radar. The F-4 Phantom is the main fighter aircraft of the United States and South Vietnam and it's counterpart is the North Vietnamese MiG-21. Nations that have flown the aircraft include Israel, Great Britain, Australia, and Spain. Aircraft: F-4 Phantom II Group Description Games featuring the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II in a prominent role.-- from Air Conflicts: Vietnam - Ultimate Edition (2014) Limitations. A Vietnam War era F-4 Phantom with a “show” quality paint restoration, on its way back to Holloman AFB after being painted at the Air National Guard military aircraft paint facility at Sioux City, Iowa. They went up again the Soviet Union's best. Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA19020 McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Phantom 17-8301, JASDF "first Japan Phantom" Starting in 1973 the Japan Air Self-Defense Force received 154 F-4EJ Phantoms that were based on the USAF F-4E. The F-4’s primary problem was that it had no built-in cannon. 09. Not enough wing or thrust, recalls Jack Petry, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel. The MiG-21 was typically armed with air-to-air missiles such as the AA-2 Atoll and a 23mm internal cannon. Early in production, the aircraft's radar was upgraded to the more powerful Westinghouse AN/APQ-72. Each was capable of carrying a bomb load as well. An evolution of the F-8 Crusader, the Vought entry was defeated by the XF4H-1 as the US Navy preferred the latter's performance and that the workload was split between two crew members. Assessing the design, it ultimately passed as it was satisfied with the supersonic fighters already in development such as the Grumman F-11 Tiger and Vought F-8 Crusader. Later that year, the XF4H-1 entered into competition with the single-seat Vought XF8U-3. 138 of these aircraft were manufactured under license by Mitsubishi who produced the last F-4 Phantom II several changes were made to the F-4E to make it an F-4EJ. Creating the "Superdemon," which could achieve Mach 1.97 and was powered by twin General Electric J79 engines, McDonnell also created an aircraft that was modular in that different cockpits and nose cones could be affixed to the fuselage depending on the desired mission. F-102 and F-104 did not fare well over North Vietnam. The F-4's first air-to-air victory occurred the following April when Lieutenant (j.g.) Aug 16, 2020 - Explore James Lee's board "F-4 Phantom", followed by 150 people on Pinterest. Also flown by the US Marine Corps, the F-4 saw service from both carriers and land bases during the conflict. Weapons and/or external tanks can be carried on nine external store stations. It is equipped with heat seeking missiles and napalm bombs. In Vietnam, the ratio was closer to two to one (including other aircraft types besides the Phantom). Read this book using Google Play Books app on your PC, android, iOS devices. US Navy F-4s flew their first combat sortie as part of Operation Pierce Arrow on August 5, 1964. (U.S. Air Force photo) USN_VF-142_NK In the years that followed the Vietnam War, the Phantom was upgraded several times. As the new aircraft was intended as an interceptor rather than a fighter, early models possessed nine external hardpoints for missiles and bombs, but no gun. FREE Shipping. Photo: Wikimedia. Adopted by the USAF in 1963, their initial variant was dubbed the F-4C. Interestingly, though they were common adversaries, the appearances of the Phantom and the MiG-21 could scarcely have been more different. The plane could carry over 12,000 pounds of ordnance. The F-4 saw extensive action during the Vietnam War. During Vietnam, USAF F-4s fulfilled both air superiority and ground support roles. Early Phantoms deployed to Vietnam were armed only with missiles. During the Vietnam War, the USAF lost a total of 528 F-4s (of all types) to enemy action with the majority being down by anti-aircraft fire or surface-to-air missiles. One of each type was lost during the conflict, one to damage from ground fire and the other to an accident. Microscale 48-0270 - CVW-11 F-4 VF-213 & A-6 VA-196 Price In laying out the XF4H-1, McDonnell placed the engines low in the fuselage similar to its earlier F-101 Voodoo and employed variable geometry ramps in the intakes to regulate airflow at supersonic speeds. As the US Navy transitioned to the aircraft in the early 1960s, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara pushed to create a single fighter for all branches of the military. Lacking a cannon, these fighters were often at a disadvantage in dogfights with the MiG-21 and other Soviet- and Chinese-manufactured fighter aircraft. The Phantom was produced in multiple variants and became a primary component of the air superiority, fighter bomber, reconnaissance, and radar jamming air complements of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. Like the F-4, the MiG-23 was widely exported — and not just to Warsaw Pact militaries. Only 1 left in stock - order soon. USAF F-4 Phantom Vietnam losses This list correct some mistakes in names, squadrons-units, registrations and dates. Through the 1970s and 1980s, the USAF transitioned to the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon. The Phantom has been operated by the air forces of at least a dozen nations, and many remain in service. During this time, the F-4 was retained in its Wild Weasel and reconnaissance role. $27.98 $ 27. The fighting over Vietnam soon showed that engagements quickly became subsonic, turning battles that often precluded the use of air-to-air missiles. And the preferred chase airplane was the McDonnell F-4 Phantom. Powered by two J79-GE-8 engines, the new aircraft saw the addition of a second crewman to serve as a radar operator. While many have since retired the F-4, the aircraft has been modernized and is still use (as of 2008) by Japan, Germany, Turkey, Greece, Egypt, Iran, and South Korea. The final USAF F-4 was retired in 1996, however several are still in use as target drones. When NASA engineers were launching rockets at Floridas Cape Canaveral in the 1960s, they needed pilots to fly close enough to film the missiles as they accelerated through Mach 1 at 35,000 feet. F-4 phantom colors SEA Posted by urich on Sunday, August 5, 2012 10:11 AM I may have asked this question before if so sorry I"m getting old and I'm having to write things down any more to remember The results of these alterations gave the XF4H-1 a distinctive look. Adopted by the USAF in 1963, their initial variant was dubbed the F-4C. Here is the McDonnell Douglas F-4C/D/E/G Phantom II Southeast Asia Color Profile and Paint Guide. The multipurpose fighter saw extensive combat duty during the Vietnam War, including serving as Major Gary L. Retterbush, the pilot of Finch 3, an F-4E Phantom II. An F-4 Phantom loaded with fuel tanks and four Sparrow missiles patrols the skies above Vietnam. $26.09 $ 26. The earliest versions of the Phantom came without internal cannons, which was common among the interceptors of … Home What's New Features & Reviews Model Kit Top Gun Subject & Color Refs Search About Us ... Return to the F-4 Phantom … Both the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force fielded the Phantom as its principal air superiority fighter. These two latter types, the F-4G Wild Weasel V and RF-4C, deployed to the Middle East in 1990, as part of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Several of this jets were destroyed in Viet Cong mortar and rocket attacks at Da Nang AB, Bin Hoa AB or Tan Son Nhut. The F-4 Phantom interceptor is a large jet, with a carrying capacity of 18,000 pounds of weapons such as air-to-surface missiles, air-to-air missiles, and other bombs, on nine external hardpoints. of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and most types of bombs. The Phantom was often armed with the AIM-7 Sparrow or AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. This provided an equivalent amount of thrust, without the telltale smoke trail. Through the 1970s, the US Navy began replacing the F-4 with the new F-14 Tomcat. The U.S. military retired the Phantom from combat use in 1996. But the Phantom’s record in air-to-air combat over Vietnam — especially when compared to its successor, the F-15 Eagle, which has never been shot down … Setting to work, McDonnell developed the XF4H-1 design. The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a two-seat, twin-engined supersonic long-range all-weather fighter-bomber originally developed for the U.S. Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. Its combat service included engagements from the Vietnam era through Operation Desert Storm and beyond. With the US entry in the Vietnam War, the F-4 became one of the most identifiable aircraft of the conflict. In 1952, McDonnell Aircraft began internal studies to determine which service branch was most in need of a new aircraft. https://www.military.com/video/usmc-f-4-phantom-fighter-aces-vietnam-war The F4H-1 Phantom II was originally designed for the U.S. Navy, and when it first emerged from McDonnell’s St. Louis factory—a big, heavy two-seater with its wingtips bent upward and its elevators splayed downward—it seemed to fly in the face of every lesson learned about fighters. by Peter Davies, Osprey Publishing, 2013. First, they tried an F-104. Airmen load 20mm cannon rounds into an F-4C Phantom II gun pod at a base in South Vietnam in May 1967. The MiG-21 entered service in 1959, and more than 11,000 in various configurations were completed when production ended in 1985. During operations, the F-4G played a key role in suppressing Iraqi air defenses, while the RF-4C collected valuable intelligence. https://www.military.com/.../f-4-phantom-in-the-vietnam-war/2534546230001 Vietnam History Vietnam War Photos Fighter Pilot Fighter Jets Phantom Pilots Robin Olds F4 Phantom North Vietnam Air Vietnam Spies Helped the USAF Shoot Down a Third of North Vietnam’s MiG-21s On Jan. 2, 1967, around 30 U.S. Air Force F-4 Phantom fighter jets flying from Ubon in Thailand shot down a full third of North Vietnam’s MiG-21s—for a loss of just one of their own. Instead, it relied entirely on newly-introduced air-to-air missiles — the radar-guided AIM-7 Sparrow, the heat-seeking AIM-9 Sidewinder and the older AIM-4 Falcon. Rick Keyt has practiced law in Arizona since 1980. Evaluating the aircraft, the USAF developed requirements for its own version with an emphasis on the fighter-bomber role. Vietnam. In the 1970s, F-4Es began to be modified to the F-4G standard in order to make them suitable for the Air Force’s Wild Weasel mission. The agile MiG-21 was deadly in a turn, and its silhouette was difficult to acquire visually at any great distance. Flying primarily in the fighter/interceptor role, US Navy F-4s downed 40 enemy aircraft to a loss of five of their own. The big, burly Phantom weighed nearly 19 tons, while the MiG-21 weighed slightly less than 10 tons. Celebrating 21 years of hobby news and reviews. Additionally, a "dogtooth" indentation was inserted in the wings to enhance control at higher angles of attack. Embroidered Patch - Patches for Women Man - Mcdonnell F-4 F-4G Phantom 1500 Flight Hours USAF Fighter Squadron Jacket. The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It is distinguished as the last fighter to achieve ace status in the 20th century. by SEBASTIEN ROBLIN The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a legendary aircraft — an icon of the Vietnam War and the archetype of the third-generation jet fighter designs that entered service in the 1960s. As F-105 Thunderchief losses grew, the F-4 carried more and more of the ground support burden and by the end of the war was the USAF's primary all-around aircraft. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. The MiG-21 was generally considered more maneuverable, while the Phantom was well-armed with missiles and more lethal with the addition of the cannon. The designer of the Demon, McDonnell began revising the aircraft in 1953, with the goal of improving performance and capabilities. To support this change in mission, specially equipped and trained F-4 Wild Weasel squadrons were formed with the first deploying in late 1972. As the F-4 was initially intended as an interceptor, it was not equipped with a gun as planners believed that air-to-air combat at supersonic speeds would be fought exclusively with missiles. During the protracted air war in the skies over Vietnam, two fighter interceptor and air superiority planes emerged as the most prominent aircraft of their type. An additional 66 were lost to missiles and ground fire. After additional testing, the F-4 entered production and commenced carrier suitability trials in early 1960. Following extensive wind tunnel testing, the outer sections of the wings were given 12° dihedral (upward angle) and the tailplane 23° anhedral (downward angle). The Phantom was 63 feet long with a wingspan of more than 38 feet. He flew the F-4 Phantom for five years in the United States Air Force, including combat missions over South Vietnam, North Vietnam and Laos in 1972. Dubbed the Phantom II, the US Navy ordered two XF4H-1 test aircraft and five YF4H-1 pre-production fighters in July 1955. Many pilots found ways to avoid producing the smoke by running one engine on afterburner and the other at reduced power. Both aircraft were capable of speeds of at least Mach 2. High quality F 4 Phantom gifts and merchandise. AeroMaster 48-333 - Air War Over Vietnam, Part IV Korat Phantoms 2 Price Canadian Dollars: $49.95 . US Navy F-4s flew their first combat sortie as part of Operation Pierce Arrow on August 5, 1964. The Phantom Retires, but the MiG Still Soars the Skies. Led by Preliminary Design Manager Dave Lewis, the team found that the US Navy would soon require a new attack aircraft to replace the F3H Demon. Here is what happened. The plane may have been ugly, but it broke many records and is still in service in some countries today. These were the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom and the Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21. This issue was addressed with the addition of an integrated 20 mm M61 Vulcan gun to the F-4E model in the late 1960s. During the protracted air war in the skies over Vietnam, two fighter interceptor and air superiority planes emerged as the most prominent aircraft … Petry was one of the chosen. This issue was addressed with the Block 53 group of the F-4E which included smokeless J79-GE-17C (or -17E) engines. Cybermodeler Online. On May 27, 1958, the type made its maiden flight with Robert C. Little at the controls. Source are several like Joe Baugher, 366th TFW base data, Ejection History, 8th TFW base data, etc, etc. Setting several aviation records just prior to and in the years after introduction, the F-4 became operational on December 30, 1960, with VF-121. In exchange, USAF F-4s downed 107.5 enemy aircraft. In addition, a photo-reconnaissance variant, the RF-4C, was used by four squadrons. This article by Michael Haskew originally appeared on Warfare History Network. According to Globalsecurity.org, the F-4 could carry four AIM-7 Sparrows, four AIM-9 Sidewinders, and the F-4E had an internal cannon. In 1967, USAF pilots began mounting external gun pods on their aircraft, however, the lack of a leading gunsight in the cockpit made them highly inaccurate. The Phantom Vietnam War: An F-4 Pilot's Combat over Laos - Ebook written by David R. Honodel. Altering the design to make the new aircraft an all-weather fighter-bomber featuring 11 external hardpoints, McDonnell received a letter of intent for two prototypes, designated YAH-1, on October 18, 1954. Though the latest adopter of the F-4, the USAF became its largest user. Following an F-4B's victory over the F-106 Delta Dart in Operation Highspeed, the US Air Force requested two of the aircraft, dubbing them the F-110A Spectre. When these supersonic fighters met in combat, the skills of the individual pilots and sometimes sheer luck were often the deciding factors, and more than 40 years after the end of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War debate continues as to the accuracy of kill ratios and claims made by both the sides. Meeting with the US Navy the following May, McDonnell was handed a new set of requirements calling for an all-weather fleet interceptor as the service had aircraft to fulfill the fighter and strike roles. He has appeared on The History Channel as a featured expert. Later models were equipped with an internal 20mm M61 Vulcan internal rotary cannon. This smoke trail made the aircraft easy to spot. Kennedy Hickman is a historian, museum director, and curator who specializes in military and naval history. More than 5,000 of these heavy supersonic fighters were built, and hundreds continue to serve and even see combat in several air forces today. AeroMaster 48-339 Phantom Collection, Part 1 Price ... McDonnell F-4 Phantom, Air National Guard Price Canadian Dollars: $24.95 . Terence M. Murphy and his radar intercept officer, Ensign Ronald Fegan, downed a Chinese MiG-17. The MiG-21 with a much smaller profile and more nimble appearance stretched just under 48 feet in length, and its wingspan was just under 24 feet. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. With the US entry in the Vietnam War, the F-4 became one of the most identifiable aircraft of the conflict. Book 11 of 16: North Texas Military Biography and Memoir Series. The Phantom remained in production from 1958 to 1981, with a total of 5,195 built, and was used by the U.S. military from 1960 to 1996, serving with the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, and the US Navy. A typical configuration for an F-4 in 1967 consisted of four AIM-7E and four AIM-9B air-to-air missiles, and eight 750-pound Mk 117 bombs. 98. It first entered service in 1961 with the Navy.