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Post by viscount on Sept 23, 2013 11:53:46 GMT 1
As a continuation of the thread "British '50s & '60s fighter aircraft" a move into the 70s with a thread covering later cold war types. I find it ironic that the 'cold war' period saw some of the brightest and most varied military colour schemes and markings, yet hardly any front-line action - in great contrast to the last 20 years or so. While there much made of shortfalls in performance and capability, the RAF had a wide variety of very capable front line types to call on: Lightning, Jaguar, Buccaneer, Phantom, Harrier, Canberra and Vulcan with the Tornado about to enter the scene. Contrasts greatly with just the Typhoon and Tornado GR.4 of today. Long gone are the days when military colour schemes were in colour!
These first couple of posts are from the collection of Agfa mounted slides taken or collected by Brian Billington. While not all are perfect, they provide a great snap-shot of aircraft to be seen at events in the period 1974 to 1979.The F-4K Phantom FG.1  767 Sqdn was the shore-based Royal Navy training unit for their carrier based Phantom FG.1s. This is XT868/153:VL (caption corrected), there is no indication of date or place, so Upper Heyford 14th June 1969 is additional information. The aircraft later became 014/R of 892 Squadron.    The sole carrier based unit, on HMS Ark Royal, was 892 Sqdn. These three shots all taken at RNAS Yeovilton 27th June 1977 and feature XT867/005:R, XT868/001:R and XV568/002:R.   A short-lived Phantom FG.1 unit was the POCU PTF (Post Operational Conversion Unit, Phantom Training Flight) Sept '72 to March '78. A RAF unit, training RN crews in RAF aircraft painted in RN colours! XT861/V is a John Price photo at RAF Finningley September 1974, while the pair in flight were seen at RAF Leuchars 4th September 1976.      No.43 Squadron was the first Phantom FG.1 front line RAF Squadron and used the aircraft for many years. Here are XV580/Q taken July 1975 (look for a similar photo on the b&w posting later, as this is likely Prestwick 1975 too), XV572/N at RAF Finningley Royal Review 30th June 1977. Final two are XV581/E at RAF Leuchars 4th September 1976 and in flight at Greenham Common IAT 6th July 1974, Probably taken from the MAS sales stall, set back, which explains the foreground heads. The formation of 4, 43 Sqdn aircraft is at RAF Leuchars, year not stated. The F-4M Phantom FGR.2 I'll start this with a selection of squadron colours on the Phantom FGR.2 at the Royal Review of the RAF at RAF Finningley, 30th July 1977. Here were lined up one aircraft from every RAF Squadron. Quite a spectacle, together with a massive flypast.  XT896/K in 19 Sqdn RAFG markings from RAF Wildenrath.  XV408/N in 23 Sqdn markings  XV400/I in 29 Sqdn markings  XV464/B in 56 Sqdn markings  XV499/R of 92 Sqdn RAFG markings  XV406/M in 111 Sqdn markings I'm not sure, but I don't think every F-4M unit is represented here, just most! On with a selection of photos from various units and locations.  Three aircraft from 111 Sqdn lined up at RAF Leuchars 4th September 1976. XT892/K in the foreground with XV406/D behind. Note the furthest aircraft has the ECM receiver pod modification on the top of the fin.  Two aircraft from 111 Sqdn seen in flight at RAF Leuchars 4th September 1976.  XV418/- of 41 Squadron at RAF Leuchars 14th September 1974  Anyone around at the time will remember this one. XV424 of 56 Sqdn in special markings worn to compete in the Trans Atlantic Air Race 1979 on the 60th Anniversary of the Alcock and Brown Vickers Vimy first non-stop flight 1919. Here seen at IAT Greenham Common 24th June 1979.  The more usual colours of 56 Squadron are seen on XV489/F of 56 Squadron at RAF St.Mawgan 4th August 1976  XT907/T of 228OCU in shadow markings of 64 Sqdn, RAF Finningley 2nd September 1978  code 'R' of 228 OCU/64 Sqdn at RNAS Brawdy 31st May 1979.  A Phantom unit not yet covered is 6 Sqdn, here XT895/P of the 'flying can openers'. A John Price photo. This shot illustrates that not every air show in the second half of the '70s took place in bright sunshine, this being at Yeovilton, 21st September 1974. 6 Sqdn only operated the Phantom between May '69 and Sept '74 when they converted to the Jaguar GR.1 Finally two slides with a considerable colour cast, despite some modification on Picasa, Both are the work of Martin Chell and are dated in pencil 11/75 - likely date of acquisition not of being taken. Although stored in Agfa mounts, I fancy the pink cast is actually cheaper film stock! Don't ever recall a fantastic sunset at RAF Finningley.  -/J of 111 Sqdn, no date or place, but I fancy RAF Finningley Battle of Britain, September 1975.  XV438/A of 29 Sqdn, no date or place, but reckon same place and date of the shot above. Only carried these marks Jan '75 to around Mar '77 - so RAF Finningley Sept '75 fits well.
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Post by acklington on Sept 23, 2013 14:02:09 GMT 1
Lovely photos, once again!
The first one is actually Phantom XT868, not 858, and the location is almost certainly Upper Heyford on 14th June 1969. I was there, but regretably my photos are 'Box Brownie' black & whites, but do clearly show the correct serial.
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Post by viscount on Sept 25, 2013 22:13:09 GMT 1
Thank you 'Acklington' for your comments. Where I cannot confirm the details off the image, I am reliant on the caption written at the time. Cross checking the details with 40 year old display listings in magazines would probably take longer than cleaning up and cropping the images on digitisation! So thank you to those who spot discrepancies, or can add information. There are more Phantom pictures in the Brian Billington collection than any other single aircraft type. This second post looks at other Nations operating Phantoms in Europe in the 70s -the Spanish, Americans and West Germans. The likes of Greece and Turkey as F-4 operators came later. Spanish Phantoms Spanish Phantoms, indeed any Spanish Air Force aircraft were rare in Britain in the '70s, so the appearance of their Phantoms at An IAT was quite a coup. Little has changed, as Spanish military aircraft are still rare in Britain, even at IAT!  Spanish Air Force F-4c Phantom, C.12-40, at IAT, Greenham Common, 24th June 1979 Phantoms of the U.S.A.F. During the first half of the 70s the USAF had some 400 Phantoms based in Europe, here are a selection of the main marks and units. Although I seem to recall seeing U.S.Navy examples at some of the Mildenhall shows there are no images in this collection of photographs.  These pair of F-4C Phantoms are National Air Guard examples, rare in the U.K. 65-0876, with 65-0886 behind seen at Alconbury 7th June 1978, clearly taken with a long lens from outside the base. They were operated by the 192 TRS of the Nevada ANG.   It was not uncommon to see a whole squadron of US based aircraft visiting Europe for several weeks on deployment and based either in Britain or Germany. This would appear to be one just deployment either to, or passing through Alconbury on 8th March 1976. RF-4C 72-0145/JO is clearly the Wing Commander's aircraft with a multi-coloured flash on the fin top, while 66-0419/JO has just a blue squadron flash. Tail code 'JO' signifies the 363TRW based at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. In Britain the 10th TRW based at Alconbury operated 3 Squadrons of the RF-4C version of the Phantom, with the longer nose and camera ports.    RF-4C 66-0418/AR blue is at Greenham Common 26th June 1977, 66-0423/AR blue is at Woodbridge 7th August 1976, while the not quite sharp flying shot is captioned 395/AR at Brawdy 31st May 1979 (although I'm not convinced on magnification of the image). Moving onto the F-4D Phantom, the 81st TFW, a Wing of 3 Squadrons based in the UK at Bentwaters and Woodbridge. The Wing later operated the A-10A Thunderbolt II for many years.  F-4D Phantom 65-0681/WR is seen at Woodbridge 7th August 1976. Finally the F-4E, which in the later half of the '70s were only just beginning to appear in any number with the USAFE Holland and Germany based units, although eventually equipped Wings at Hahn and Ramstein, and a Squadron at Soesterburg.   These two were likely en route on delivery to Europe, as they both later operated with the 50th TFW at Hahn. Although the serials are presented as 01061 and 01622 when seen at Woodbridge on 7th August 1976, the full fiscal serials are actually 74-1061 and 74-1622.  A real 'cold war spy' look to this F-4E Phantom image, taken with a long lens with tele-converter across farmland at the back of Alconbury, probably using the roof of the car as a tripod! The F-4E is 74-0654/CR red of 32nd TFS at Soesterberg, Holland seen during September 1978. The 32nd TFS went on to operate the F-15 Eagle.    These shots and a following batch clearly taken on a 'by invitation' event during a major exercise. These are F-4E Phantoms of the 50th TFW based at Hahn, West Germany - although sere seen at Wildenrath on 8th June 1978. The A to F letters on the rudder are temporary markings for the exercise. Featured are 69-7245/HR 'A', 68-0507/HR 'D' and 68-0517/HR 'B'. West German Air Force Phantoms Seems incredible that the German Air Force has only in the past few months finally retired the F-4F Phantom, replaced by the Eurofighter. The Phantom was well established in West German Air Force service by the mid '70s.    These are RF-4E Phantoms, all displaying the badge of AKG51. The pair 35+81 and possibly 35+23 are at Binbrook 19th July 1975; 35+71 and 35+81 both at St.Mawgan 4th August 1976    These are further shots at an exercise, seen at Wildenrath 8th June 1978. These are F-4F Phantoms of Jabo 35, and feature 37+42 'B', 37+18 'D' and 37+66 'E' - the rudder codes being temporary for the duration of the exercise.  Another Jabo 35 Phantom F-4F, this one 37+30 at Greenham Common 31st July 1976.   Two final F-4F Phantom shots, this time of aircraft with the unit badge of JG74. 37+36 is at Alconbury in June 1975 and 37+52 at Binbrook 19th July 1975 and is a John Price picture. |
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Post by bulldog on Sept 28, 2013 17:44:43 GMT 1
Aaah what a beautiful aircraft the phantom was, us oldies well remember seeing the beasts everywhere and recall they were so common they were often disregarded for photos as they were always present. Just shows that if you don't take the photos at the time , you turn your back for a few years and they are all gone. Maybe for a few years that should be 20 or 30!
Nostalgia is a wonderful thing.
Keep posting the photos Brian as they bring back happy memories.
Clive
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Post by viscount on Sept 30, 2013 0:01:35 GMT 1
Thank you Clive for the encouragement, but it may regret it as a couple of the next batch have you named on the reverse as the photographer! These photos all come from a box that lingered in the MAS clubroom where members put in their unwanted photos, and purchased those they liked the look of. The result is that all these photos are pre-1986, vary considerably in quality and rarely did the photographer caption the back!
While some are similar to the colour photos on the posts above, others are quite different. Scroll through and enjoy what was once a common aircraft, now sheer nostalgia. Captions vary with what can be gleaned off the image plus any comments on the reverse. I state the registration, even when obvious, so that the picture is 'googleable'.The F-4K Phantom FG.1  Starting with the same aircraft as this thread commenced with, XT868/153:VL of 767 Sqdn Royal Navy. No details on the back of the print, but it was used in 'Flypast' March 1976 to illustrate an article, however the caption does not state place, date or photographer. However we know from the information provided later by 'Acklington' that the shot was taken on 14th June 1969 at Upper Heyford.  This the only Phantom image in near 100 on this thread to be completely 'clean'. While the vast majority have a variety of stores or weapons fitted, and a couple just pylons, this early shot of Royal Navy XT861/003:R of 892 Sqdn exposes a completely naked underside. Has been published by the MAS a very long time ago. This aircraft only wore these markings 3.69 to 3.70, and I have a note that it displayed at 20.9.69 Finningley Battle of Britain show.  Same aircraft XV861/V, but now with the strange RAF and RN joint training unit known as the 'Post Operational Training Unit' (POCU) at RAF Leuchars. No caption, so no idea if the Air Display is at Leuchars or elsewhere (Finningley to me fits as a possibility)   More POCU Phantom FG.1s, these shots known to be at Leuchars August 1976 and the photographer was Clive Harden. Can make out X..69/X on the solo image, but not the whole serial, while the pair are coded X and W.  This impressive photo of a 43 Sqdn Phantom XV573/L is clearly going at some speed. This image was quantity produced by the MAS and sold as a post card print. The 'fast pass' was a feature of Phantom air display routines, noisy and 'going like stink' it made a lasting impression!   This is another pair of Clive Harden photos, shot at RAF Leuchars in August 1976 and feature 43 Sqdn aircraft coded 'I' and 'D'. Note that one of the aircraft has the 43 Sqdn chequers on the intake, but not cockerel badge on tail.   Two Air Display images of 43 Sqdn Phantoms. XV590/Q, with lots of litter on the ground, is at Prestwick 14th June 1975, while the background to aircraft coded 'R' would appear to be RAF Leuchars, with an 'enemy' fort ready to be blown apart during an annual B of B Air Display, year not known.   Two rather different images of 'C' 43 Sqdn. Top one is captioned XV575/C, but no note as to the where, when or by whom. The dramatic shot of a Phantom, C/43 Sqdn, at speed and somewhat low(!) is stamped 'Oscar Smedley' and 'Lincolnshire Aviation Museum Coningsby'. No indication of where, when or indeed why! F-4M Phantom FGR.2   The two Phantom squadron's aircraft most rarely seen were those of 19 and 92 Sqdn, both based in Germany. The one time their aircraft operated from a British airfield were their visits to MPC (Missile Practice Camp) at RAF Valley. The top shot of B/19 Sqdn is taken by HJ Evans at RAF Valley 22nd February 1980. There is no caption to the other shot of B/19 Sqdn, but the trees clearly show a different location!   Two further RAF Valley shots contributed by Hewel Evans, these of 92 Sqdn aircraft taken on 24th June 1980. That of Q/92 Sqdn points out that it must be one of the final RAF Phantoms lacking the RWR (Radar Warning Receiver) on the fin top. While XV422/O is noted to be MPC, but departing on a mission fitted only with a gun pod! Clearly at this time 92 Sqdn were operating both camouflaged and grey overall schemed aircraft. As XV422/O does not appear to be wearing squadron colours, presumably only recently repainted.    A few of 41 Squadron aircraft. XV418/418 in low level flight is stamped on the back 'Lincolnshire Aviation Museum, Coningsby'. XV442/R of 41 Sqdn is sometime late summer '76 to mid summer '77. XT495/1 of 41 Sqdn, with 'shark's teeth' nose art added has the appearance of being at RAF Valley on MPC, but it is difficult to be certain without any caption on the reverse of the print - note a 4 FTS Gnat T.1 in the background, sometime in the period 9.76 to 8.77.  A well exposed image of XT892/892 in the colours of 64 Sqdn, a 'shadow' unit within 228OCU. Has been published by the MAS a very long time ago.  XV500/M, but with no unit colours worn. No clues as the place or date. XV500 was 'M' with both 54 and 111 Sqdns.  Final RAF Phantom of this post, regn partially decipherable could be XT900/E, but without unit colours, although operated by 228 OCU. Suspect this could be RAF Valley, taxiing off the runway with brake chute still deployed. A little bit of landing excitement that we don't see with the current Tornados or Typhoons. This photo has been published by the MAS at some stage. |
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Post by acklington on Sept 30, 2013 9:30:40 GMT 1
Starting with the same aircraft as this thread commenced with, XT868/153:VL of 767 Sqdn Royal Navy. No caption, but has been used in 'Flypast' at some stage. Same aircraft XV861/V, but now with the strange RAF and RN joint training unit known as the 'Phantom Operational Training Unit' (POCU) at RAF Leuchars. No caption, so no idea if the Air Display is at Leuchars or elsewhere (Finningley to me fits as a possibility) More Phabulous photos! Many thanks for posting them. This second view of XT868 confirms the location as Upper Heyford on 14th June 1969. The Hunter behind also appears in my photos. XV861 /V is at RAF Leuchars - you can just see the distinctive Officer's Mess building to the rear left. |
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Post by viscount on Sept 30, 2013 22:47:02 GMT 1
One of things about a box of assorted photographs, is that on closer examination, the photos throw up oddities. Could be a case of odd identity, paint scheme, markings or location. A few of these debating points in the next batch of non-British Phantoms. A conundrum here, 148412 is an early F-4B Phantom built for the U.S.Navy. Why then is it here in U.S.Navy grey colours and serial, yet with clear titling 'U.S. Air Force'. A look in the reference books shows it was not one of the F-4Bs used by the USAF for training prior to early F-4C deliveries. A quick scan of Google results on the registration, throws up a number of photos of this aircraft at the HertigeinFlight Museum, Lincoln, Illinois in USAF camouflage and false serial 48-412/IL, apparently worn from 4.91 until at least 6.06. But why, on this pre-1986 image is it in the mixed markings shown on this overexposed photo?  Cannot quite make out the serial on this U.S. Navy Phantom coded 104:AG of VF-102 squadron on the deck of USS Independence. Such an exuberance of markings and colour on U.S. Navy aircraft during the 1970s.  On this one I cannot quite work out the Carrier name, but this U.S. Marine F-4J Phantom is 155511/127:AJ of VFMA-333. This photo has been used in MAS Flypast, so sometime I may discover the when, where and by whom! Added later - indeed (with help) I have, see a couple of posts down.  Just the two photos in the collection of British based USAFE Phantoms. RF-4C Phantom 64-1081/AR of 10 TRW at an unknown location. F-4D Phantom 65-0763/WR is seen just turning off the runway still trailing its braking parachute almost certainly at RAF Valley, although there are no clues on the reverse of the print unfortunately. Likely late 70s/early 80s at this aircraft was with the Woodbridge Wing then.  Clearly at an air show (note the F-104 Starfighter behind, likely Royal Canadian Air Force) F-4E Phantom 68-0513/HS of 50th TFW, Hahn is seen here at Wildenrath 5th July 1970. Although later all the F-4Es of 50 TFW squadrons wore HR tail codes, initially for a short time each squadron had its own tail code. 'HS' allocated to the 496TFS of the 50 TFW.  When I first flicked through these prints, my first thought was 'what is a Woodbridge 'WR' Phantom doing in Japan?'. Slower inspection shows it coded 'WP', the electroluminescent strip providing the illusion of an 'R'. In fact 'WP' is the tail code denoting the 8th TFW based in South Korea during the late 70s. Although it appears to be marked AF80-608/WP, fiscal year '80 is I'm sure too late for a Phantom, while AF60-608/WP is certainly far too early! However F-4D Phantom 66-7608 is known to have been a 8 TRW 'WP' aircraft. The place is no mystery, with the large sign declaring 'Yokota Air Base', which is in the Tokyo region of Japan. In pencil on the back of the photo is 'MAP', denoting the origins of the print.   Final pair of USAF Phantom images show two pairs of RF-4C aircraft of the 363 TRW normally based at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. In the colour selection earlier, there were photos of this unit on deployment to Alconbury. Where these photos were taken is unclear, but somehow the concrete and revetments don't look like British airfield 'architecture'. Note the change of colour for the fin markings from white to black as 'down-toning' of military markings began to take place. These shots are likely late 70s. Aircraft shown are RF-4Cs: 71-0254/JO & 67-0438/JO and 66-0452/JO & either 66-0461/JO or 67-0461. Both these shots have been published in some form of MAS publication. Added later These two shots by Geoff Longmire appeared in the September 1979 issue of MAS Flypast. 18 RF-4C deployed from the USA to Alconbury for a 30 day detachment on 24th July 1979. There was a mix of high and low-viz marked aircraft. The 'press day' for enthusiasts was held on Saturday 18th August, one interesting facility was a Simon Snorkel hydraulic lift 'cherry picker' from which to take air-to-ground pictures. So they were at a British airfield after all my speculation! To complete this selection of Phantom photos, a few further shots of West German Air Force aircraft:  These are both RF-4E Phantoms of unit AKG51. I have no details for the shot of 35+81, but 35+12 is another Hewel Evans shot at RAF Valley.  Final shot of this post is an F-4F Phantom 37+27 of Squadron JG71 'Richthofen'. This photo has been used in MAS Flypast. so someday I may come across the when and by whom in a magazine caption. Added later Indeed I now have: Binbrook Air Display, 19th July 1975, photograph is the work of Phil Butler.
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Post by viscount on Oct 1, 2013 23:27:43 GMT 1
Having created what I thought was the final Phantom post from me having exhausted my supply of photos, I realised that I had not looked in the 'large prints' box of ex-MAS Clubroom photographs. Looking through, found some Phantom shots, then realised that two were at Liverpool Airport Air Displays! I'll slot these into the Liverpool Air Display reports and photo thread as they are a significant find, but first use them on this thread. The Ark Royal Phantom shot I'm sure I've used before on this forum in a thread displaying impressive b&ws, but as an action shot is well worth a second look. Phantom FG.1 XT875/K of 43 Sqdn Leuchars clearly at Liverpool Airport (check out the generator below the aircraft) for the 1st May 1971 Air Display. An early Phantom photo, note the rectangular style of fin flash, Phantoms usually have a swept version, also the cockerel badge is not applied, although the intake checkers are. This aircraft was delivered to the UK October 1968. Briefly 155/767 Sqdn spring '69, to 43 Squadron Sept '69 and coded 'K' Jan '70 and remained so right through the '70s until a short spell as E/111 Sqdn 3.79 until 8.79 when it returned to K/43 Sqdn again.  With a river behind, I'm sure that this shot of XV500/J of 56 Sqdn Wattisham is at the Liverpool Air & Transport Extravaganza 18h & 19th August 1984. Note the grey colours which seem to have been adopted as the 70s ran into the 80s, and the 'shark's mouth' motif around the nose.  Clearly a popular aircraft, here is XV500/J of 56 Sqdn again, clearly at a different air show, but no details known.  XV501/B of 23 Sqdn seen at IAT Greenham Common 1983 in this Alan Green photo. Odd how the 3 'grey' Phantom photos out of the same box all are in remarkably similar pose! XV501 was the final F-4M Phantom to be delivered to the RAF, in October 1969.  A striking shot of Royal Navy Phantom FG.1 XV589/006:R of 892 Sqdn on launch from HMS Ark Royal (the last two '89' can be made out under the wing). So fast is the acceleration that while the nose is sharp the tail is movement blurred. Clearly an official publicity photo, it is stamped on the back 'Photographic Section, HMS Ark Royal, 1975'. Some years later as P/111 Sqdn this aircraft crashed 3.6.80 at Alconbury after the radome opened on approach. XV589 was the final F-4K Phantom FG.1 built.  A major Europe based Phantom wing was based at Ramstein in Germany and has, as yet barely had a mention on this thread. 68-0526/RS a F-4E Phantom of the 86th TFW,  A UK based RF-4C of the 10th TRW based at Alconbury, 65-0908/AR seen sometime 1976-78, the period of use by 10 TRW.  Earlier there were colour photos of 'JO' code RF-4C Phantoms on detachment to Alconbury in 1976 and b&ws in 1979. More shots taken on a further detachment, seen at an 'invitation only' enthusiasts photo-day, 19th June 1982, this 67-0465 of 363 TFW, 62 TFS normally based at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. A 'Photogenix' photo.  With 2-D lettering RF-4C 69-0363 is the 'lead ship' of the 363TRW/62 TRS, the unit and serial matching. Alconbury 19th June 1982, another 'Photogenix' photo. Both these photos used on the inside cover of MAS Flypast 1982:5 issue.  A F-4F Phantom 38+57 of JbG 36 on late finals at RAF Valley, 20th March 1979. Although the details are captioned on the back of the print, the photographer is not identified, but this could well be another Hewel Evans shot.  Final Phantom shot is a Hellenic Aerospace Industry PR photo titled 'Final check of a Phantom aircraft prior to test flight'. No individual identity is worn, so either not applied or a 'doctored' photo, so as not to give away any Greek Air Force secrets! As I'm sure that I have no further Phantom shots to share - well there are very many more scattered around my own slide collection, but filed by date taken so would take forever to locate - this is the final post of mine on the subject for now. If you have Phantom shots to share, especially more recently taken than before the mid '80s, or of other users than those pictured so far, you are welcome to post and share.
I do hope you have enjoyed an extensive ramble down memory lane. I'll do this style of thread again, but with a British military aircraft type in a couple of weeks time.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2013 18:38:17 GMT 1
Some JASDF Phantoms shot at Okinawa in April 2007 (posted originally on the old forum):    Last one is a grab shot whilst taxying out:  GC |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2013 18:45:58 GMT 1
Preserved at Detroit - Willow Run and shot in April 2008:  GC |
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Post by gerrymanning on Oct 2, 2013 22:14:56 GMT 1
Brian, the post of 30th September has a USMC F-4 155511 127/AJ/VFMA-333 and your comment of not knowing where or when. Not 100% but guess it was on board USS Nimitz in the Firth of Forth 5th September 1975 on its shake-down cruise. I have slide of another from this unit and there were a number from this squadron on board. It had a scratch air wing as the USN F-4s from VF-31 were still marked as USS Saratoga.
Gerry
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Post by bulldog on Oct 2, 2013 22:22:07 GMT 1
Brian
I said earlier brilliant selection of shots. Scary to think we were going to air shows in the early 70s didn't,t think I am that old. I would challenge anyone to find a more awesome or sexy aircraft than the Phantom. It looked right, made lots of noise,brings tears to the eyes to think it unlikely we will ever see one fly again.
Happy memories
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Post by viscount on Oct 2, 2013 23:14:37 GMT 1
Gerry, Thank you. Gone straight back to the 1975 MAS 'Flypast' magazines and hey presto, as you predict a photo of F4J 155511 of USMC VMFA-333 on USS Nimitz CVN-68 with a below full strength air wing CVW-8. The photo was the work of Phil Butler. The visit to the Firth of Forth was the first of a nuclear powered carrier to the UK and was marking the 200th year since the formation of the USN and was between 4th and 8th September 1975, the carrier had arrived from Wilhelmshaven and left for Spithead, Portsmouth, before proceeding to Oslo for a NATO exercise.
Also in the same issue find that the shot of F-4F 37+27 of Jago 71 was also a Phil Butler photo, taken at the 1975 Binbrook show on 19th July.
I have amended the captions and added information to others too. Many thanks.
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Post by mhoupt on Jan 18, 2014 17:39:03 GMT 1
One of things about a box of assorted photographs, is that on closer examination, the photos throw up oddities. Could be a case of odd identity, paint scheme, markings or location. A few of these debating points in the next batch of non-British Phantoms. A conundrum here, 148412 is an early F-4B Phantom built for the U.S.Navy. Why then is it here in U.S.Navy grey colours and serial, yet with clear titling 'U.S. Air Force'. A look in the reference books shows it was not one of the F-4Bs used by the USAF for training prior to early F-4C deliveries. A quick scan of Google resultse registration, throws up a number of photos of this aircraft at the HertigeinFlight Museum, Lincoln, Illinois in USAF camouflage and false serial 48-412/IL, apparently worn from 4.91 until at least 6.06. But why, on this pre-1986 image is it in the mixed markings shown on this overexposed photo? Viscount, I can clear up the paint issue with 148412. First, let me say she lives today. She is still in Lincoln, IL and painted ficticiously as an Illinois Air National Guard F-4C. The museum she is at felt because the 183rd FW was down the road 30 miles in Springfield, this would be a tribute to that unit. I live in Lincoln and I would like to restore her to her operational glory, which leads me to why USAF markings. 148412 never served with a Navy squadron as far as I can tell. She was retained by McD down in St. Louis as an F -4B airframe test aircraft. When the F-4B had been surpassed and J's were the production type no one had a use for her, so she was either shipped or flown to Chanute AFB in Rantoul, Illinois. Chanute was a schools training base for the USAF and received many one off types like this. In fact, the museum on the former base currently has the first RF-4C, one of the first F-15's (#8 I believe), a YF-111A still with the old boat tail, the last YB-47, a B-66 test airplane with a Bomarc missile nose on the B-66 nose and more. So, while in Chanute, she of course could not be a Navy plane the new USAF recruits were training on, so they painted her as you show here.
Later, after or during Chanute's closure ('91 ish), some of the planes were dispersed out to other places, 412 is one of those. She was slung under a helicopter (can't remember the type but it must have been a CH-53), and airborne carried to Lincoln, IL where she now rests. That was not without incident though. At some point in the roughly 60nm journey she started to shift and slip in her sling and had to be set down in a corn field. Their she stayed overnight. The next morning the straps were readjusted and she finished her trip. The importance of 412 is also interesting. McD used this phantom to run tests on the AIM-54 Phoenix missile and she may have (still searching for evidence) even fired one. As you may recall, the F-14 proposal program, after the F-111B, was called VFX. McD was of course submitting their design. But unlike any fighter I know of, the F-14/VFX was designed around the radar and missile as a requirement. The AIM-54 had been developed for the YF-12, not used there, then added to the F-111B airframe and not used there. It was a great /revolutionary system so the VFX requirement had it to be used as a prime system. So, this phantom tested the systems for McD so they could become familiar with it. They developed a release pod for the AIM-54 that would work with the phantom and even considered offering it to the USN as a fleet option or the USAF as an ADC interceptor option. Here is 412 carrying the Phoenix back in her hey day. up-ship.com/blog/?p=6201 (NB images no longer open Aug '23) Regards, Mark |
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Post by viscount on Jan 18, 2014 21:43:09 GMT 1
Thank you "mhoupt" for joining nwan and bringing your knowledge to our forum. Interesting story behind this Phantom aircraft that I could not pick up off the Internet, despite the unusual markings as a Navy aircraft with Air Force titles. None of my references or internet search (which included the IL museum that displays her) gave any indication of her being a McDonnell test aircraft with links to F-14 development. Makes sense too that the Air Force titles were applied on the US Navy colours only after her flying days were over. Good to hear that she is still in Museum hands, albeit in false 'local' Air Force markings.
If you would like a scan of the original, though overexposed b&w print, drop me your e-mail on the private message system attached to the forum.
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