Phantom Phiftieth Anniversary | Photos

By Chuck Oldham (Editor) - April 28, 2011

An F-4B Phantom II of VF-14 "Top Hatters" approaches for a landing aboard the USS John F. Kennedy (CVA 67), Dec. 9, 1968. A-4C Skyhawks of attack squadron VA-81 "Sunliners" are visible in the foreground. The 1969 deployment to the Mediterranean Sea with Attack Carrier Air Wing One (CVW-1) was the first deployment of the USS John F. Kennedy. U.S. Navy photo

VF-74 "Be-devilers" was the first U.S. Navy squadron to deploy with the F-4B, in 1961. Here an F-4J Phantom II from the squadron traps aboard USS America (CVA 66) off Vietnam, ca. 1972. U.S. Navy photo

Two McDonnell F-4B Phantom II aircraft of fighter squadron VF-84 "Jolly Rogers" in the mid-1960s. VF-84 was assigned to Attack Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Independence (CVA 62) flying F-4Bs for two deployments: May 10 to Dec. 13, 1965 to Vietnam, and June 13, 1966 to Feb. 1, 1967 to the Mediterranean Sea. U.S. Navy photo

A U.S. Navy VF-41 "Black Aces" F-4B Phantom and a U.S. Navy A-3D Skywarrior aircraft conduct a buddy tanking somewhere over the U.S., July 1, 1965. U.S. Navy photo

A U.S. Marine Corps F-4J Phantom II aircraft from Marine Fighter-Attack Squadron 235 (VMFA-235), "Death Angels." U.S. Marine Corps photo

An F-4 Phantom II aircraft from Fighter Squadron 161 (VF-161) "Chargers" is prepared for launch from a catapult aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV 41) on a cold, overcast day in the Atlantic, March 1985. U.S. Navy photo

An SH-3G of HC-2 "Fleet Angels" takes off as flight deck crew prepare to launch a VF-74 "Be-devilers" F-4J from USS America (CVA 66), ca. 1972. U.S. Department of Defense photo

A Fighter Squadron 33 (VF-33) "Tarsiers" F-4B Phantom II aircraft is launched during flight operations aboard the attack aircraft carrier USS America (CVA 66) in October 1967. U.S. Navy photo

An A-4E Skyhawk aircraft from Fleet Composite Squadron 1 (VC-1) "Blue Allii" with a buddy pack refueling rig, passes fuel to an F-4J Phantom II aircraft from Marine Corps Fighter Squadron 235 (VMFA-235) "Death Angels." U.S. Navy photo

An F-4J of VF-102 "Diamondbacks" over the Caribbean Sea in an uncharacteristically plain paint scheme for the era. VF-102 was assigned to Carrier Air Wing Six (CVW-6) (tailcode "AE") in 1968 aboard the aircraft carrier USS America (CVA 66) and deployed to Vietnam. It was again assigned to CVW-6 for two deployments to the Mediterranean Sea aboard the USS Independence (CV 62) from 1979 to 1981. U.S. Navy photo

Two RF-4B Phantom II aircraft from Marine Photo-Reconnaissance Squadron 3 (VMFP-3) "Eyes of the Corps" pass over the mountains during a flight out of Marine Corps Air Station, El Toro, Calif. VMFP-3, which was the last active-duty naval aviation unit to fly the F-4 operationally, was deactivated on Aug. 10, 1990. U.S. Department of Defense photo by Bob Lawson

Two F-4S Phantoms of fighter squadron VF-194 Red Lightnings intercept a Soviet Tu-95 Bear reconnaissance bomber on March 10, 1977. VF-194 was assigned to Carrier Air Wing Fifeteen (CVW-15) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CV 43). The Phantoms are wearing the experimental "Ferris" camouflage scheme. The crew of the F-4S nearer to the camera was William Dvorak/J.T. Walior, the other was Don Duffington/Wayne Cheatum. U.S. Navy photo

An RF-4B Phantom II of Marine Reconnaissance Squadron VMFP-3 "Eyes of the Corps" touches down on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Midway (CV 41) during Exercise FLEETEX '83. The U.S. Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the Canadian navy were participating in the exercise near the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. VMFP-3 was the only squadron to operate the RF-4B from carriers. U.S. Navy photo

An F-4B of VF-151 "Vigilantes" intercepts a Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber, carrying out the mission for which it was designed. VF-151 was the last U.S. Navy squadron to fly the F-4 from an aircraft carrier, in March 1986. U.S. Navy photo

A VF-111 "Sundowners" F-4B drops bombs over Vietnam during the squadron's deployment on the USS Coral Sea between November 1971 and June 1972. VF-111 made seven deployments to Southeast Asia, flying 12,500 combat sorties. National Museum of Naval Aviation photo

F-4S Phantom IIs of VF-301 "Devil's Disciples" in flight. Both wear the "Heater-Ferris" disruptive camouflage scheme employed late in the Phantom's career. U.S. Navy photo

At a time when jet aircraft were said to lack character in comparison to their piston-engined forbears, the F-4 Phantom II had character in spades. With its polyhedral wings, massive intakes for the great J79 jet engines, huge radar, seemingly vestigial cockpit, and anhedral tail, the Phantom was an unforgettably brutal design. It also boasted incomparable performance, with a radar and missile combo that outperformed virtually all other systems of its era. It broke 15 performance records when it was first entering the inventory in 1959, including the world absolute speed and absolute altitude records for aircraft of its class.

The most numerous American jet fighter aircraft of all time, with more than 5,000 built, the Phantom II served with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force, as well as 11 other nations. While the last U.S. Phantom was retired from service in 1996, it is still flown as a remotely-controlled target for the U.S. Air Force, and flies in the armed forces of seven countries.

While the Phantom II first flew in 1958 and was first delivered to the Navy in December 1960, VF-74 “Bedevilers” at NAS Oceana became the first deployable Phantom squadron the following year, receiving their F4H-1s (later redesignated F-4Bs on order of then-Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara) on July 8, 1961.

This first of several slide shows celebrating the Phantom is devoted to the initial users, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

For more Phantom photos, see F-4 Phantom 50th Anniversary.

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9 Archived Comments

Joe Connolly

5:02 PM April 11, 2012

On the SUNDOWNER shot. You have the the wrong year. This shot was taken during the squadron’s deployment on the USS CORAL SEA 11/71 to 6/72

Chuck Oldham (Editor)

5:14 PM April 11, 2012

Appreciate your correction. We’ve made the fix.

asdf

11:27 PM October 20, 2012

VF-151 WAS NOT the last Navy squadron to fly the F-4 from a carrier.

Chuck Oldham (Editor)

7:23 PM October 21, 2012

I believe it was the last operational squadron to fly the F-4 from a carrier. An F-4S from VF-151 made the last launch from USS Midway and and along with eight other VF-151 Phantom IIs, recovered at Atsugi, Japan. The nine Phantoms then flew across the Pacific to North Island, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. I think you’re thinking of the VF-202 Phantom that recovered aboard USS America later in October 1986. The thing is, I can’t find a reference to it launching again from the carrier, and I don’t know whether VF-202 officially part of the air group or had a full squadron aboard. I’d be interested in hearing more.

Ronald R Wallace

4:24 PM June 9, 2013

could you be referring to VF-102

Chuck Oldham (Editor)

5:47 PM June 9, 2013

You mean with respect to the last Phantom II to trap aboard a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier? No, I meant VF-202. But if I’m wrong I’m happy to be provided the evidence.

Ronald R Wallace

8:32 PM June 9, 2013

I’m not trying to challenge you, I was just wondering if their was a type “O”, I ask because I served in VF-102 from 1966 – 1970 Aboard the America, just trying to keep up. Thank You for your patients
Ron W

Chuck Oldham (Editor)

9:17 PM June 9, 2013

Ron, I hope I didn’t give the impression that I was taking it as a challenge or being combative. I feel pretty comfortable with it being a VF-202 F-4S that made the last trap, but there were Navy and Marine Corps Phantoms flying around long after that, and it could be that one of them trapped aboard a carrier and I’m just not aware of it. One of the good things about the internet is that sometimes you hear from people who were actually there and can contradict the accepted wisdom about events. When that happens, it’s news in itself and always interesting. Thanks for your comment and hope you’ll keep visiting the site.

Ronald R Wallace

12:51 AM June 10, 2013

Thank You for you kind letter and update, I sure enjoy old stories, Keep up the great work
Ron W.