McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II U.S. operators

An F-4J Phantom II of Fighter Squadron VF-74 Bedevillers, about to be launched from the USS America

American units that operated the F-4 Phantom II are listed below.

U.S. Navy

F-4N VF-111 launching from CV-42 1977

The Phantom entered service with the U.S Navy on 30 December 1960 with the VF-121 Pacemakers at NAS Miramar. The VF-74 Be-devilers at NAS Oceana became the first deployable Phantom squadron when it received its F4H-1s (F-4Bs) on 8 July 1961.[1]

Frontline & Reserve

Fleet Replacement Training

F-4S VF-171 landing on USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) c1984

These kind of units are known in Navy parlance as Replacement Air Groups (RAG) or Fleet Replacement Squadrons (FRS). The purpose of these particular training units was to provide fleet squadrons with F-4 Phantom-qualified aircrew and maintenance personnel. During the Vietnam War, they also furnished spare aircraft to replace those lost in combat.

The DACT detachment of VF-101 was located at NAS Key West, Florida and flew both the A-4 Skyhawk and the F-4 Phantom II.
The DACT detachment of VF-171 was located at NAS Key West, Florida, and flew the A-4 Skyhawk and the F-4 Phantom II. VF-171 assumed the Atlantic Fleet F-4 Fleet Replacement Squadron training role upon VF-101's transition to becoming the Fleet Replacement Squadron for the F-14 Tomcat.

Fleet Support

These units provided services to the fleet such as air combat training and enemy electronic warfare simulation support.

Flight Demonstration, Development, Test & Evaluation

Bunny F-4S VX-4 at Point Mugu 1982

U.S. Marine Corps

US Marine Corps F-4S

The U.S. Marines received their first F-4Bs in June 1962, with the VMFA-314 Black Knights at MCAS El Toro, California becoming the first operational squadron. In addition to attack variants, the Marines also operated several tactical reconnaissance RF-4Bs. Marine Phantoms from the VMFA-531 Gray Ghosts arrived in Vietnam on 10 April 1965, flying close air support missions from land bases as well as from USS America. Marine F-4 pilots claimed three enemy MiGs (two while on exchange duty with the USAF) at the cost of 75 aircraft lost in combat, mostly to ground fire, and four in accidents. On 18 January 1992, the last Marine Phantom, an F-4S, was retired by VMFA-112 Cowboys.[2]

Frontline and Reserve

NOTE: USMC squadrons shift their tail codes to the appropriate Carrier Air Wing (CVW) tail code when operating aboard aircraft carriers as part of an integrated USN/USMC CVW.

Fleet Replacement Training

These kind of units are known in Navy and Marine Corps parlance as Replacement Air Groups (RAG) or Fleet Replacement Squadrons (FRS). The purpose of this particular training units was to provide Fleet Marine Force (FMF) squadrons with F-4 Phantom-qualified aircrew and maintenance personnel. During the Vietnam War, they also furnished spare aircraft to replace those lost in combat.

U.S. Air Force

A US Air Force QF-4E Phantom takes off during a heritage demonstration in 2007

Following the test and evaluation of loaned Navy F-4Bs, the first production F-4C was delivered to U.S. Air Force in November 1963. The 4453rd Combat Crew Training Wing at MacDill AFB was the first unit to receive the Phantoms. The first combat unit to receive F-4C's was the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing in 1964.[3]

List of units:[4]

Active Duty

Tactical Air Command

United States Air Force Thunderbirds F-4E - Nellis AFB, Nevada (1969-1974)
1st Tactical Fighter Wing - MacDill AFB, Florida
27th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1971-1975)
71st Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1971-1975)
94th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1971-1975)
4th Tactical Fighter Wing - Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina
334th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1967-1970) F-4E (1970-1991)
335th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1967-1970) F-4E (1970-1990)
336th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1967-1970) F-4E (1970-1990)
337th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1985-1987)
15th Tactical Fighter Wing - MacDill AFB, Florida
43d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C (1964-1970) F-4E (1970-1982)
45th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C (1964-1971)
46th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C (1964-1971)
47th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C (1964-1971)
31st Tactical Fighter Wing - Homestead AFB, Florida
306th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1970-1988)
307th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1970-1988)
308th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1970-1986)
309th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1970-1986)
33d Tactical Fighter Wing - Eglin AFB, Florida
40th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1965-1967)
58th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1970-1979)
59th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1973-1979)
35th Tactical Fighter Wing - George AFB, California
21st Tactical Fighter Training Squadron F-4C (1972-1980) F-4E (1980-1992)
39th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1977-1980, 1982–1984)
431st Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1972-1976)
434th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C (1967-1972) F-4E (1972-1976)
37th Tactical Fighter Wing - George AFB, California
561st Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E/G (1980-1992)
562d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E/G (1972-1992)
563d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E/G (1975-1989)
49th Tactical Fighter Wing - Holloman AFB, New Mexico
7th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1968-1977)
8th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1968-1977)
9th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1968-1977)
56th Tactical Fighter Wing - MacDill AFB, Florida
13th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1975-1982)
61st Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1975-1980)
62d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1975-1981)
63d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1975-1981)
57th Fighter Weapons Wing - Nellis AFB, Nevada
414th Fighter Weapons Squadron F-4C/D/E (1969-1986)
58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing - Luke AFB, Arizona
426th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron F-4
550th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron F-4
67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing - Bergstrom AFB, Texas
7th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C (1967-1971)
10th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C (1966-1971)
22d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C (1966-1971)
75th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing - Bergstrom AFB, Texas
347th Tactical Fighter Wing - Moody AFB, Georgia
68th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1973-1987)
69th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1983-1988)
70th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1975-1987)
474th Tactical Fighter Wing - Nellis AFB, Nevada
428th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1977-1980)
429th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1977-1980)
430th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1977-1980)

United States Air Forces in Europe

32d Tactical Fighter Squadron - Soesterberg AB, Netherlands F-4E (1969-1979)
57th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron - NAS Keflavik, Iceland F-4C (1975–1978) F-4E (1978-1985)
10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing - RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom
1st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C (1966-1988)
30th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C (1966-1976)
32d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C (1966-1976)
26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing - Zweibrücken AB, Germany
17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C (1969-1978)
38th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C (1965-1991)
36th Tactical Fighter Wing - Bitburg AB, Germany
22d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1966-1973) F-4E (1973-1977)
53d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1966-1973) F-4E (1973-1977)
525th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1966-1973) F-4E (1973-1977)
48th Tactical Fighter WingRAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom
492d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1972-1977)
493d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1972-1977)
494th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1972-1977)
50th Tactical Fighter Wing - Hahn AB, Germany
10th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1966-1976) F-4E (1976-1982)
313th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1976-1981)
496th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1970-1982)
52d Tactical Fighter Wing - Spangdahlem AB, Germany
23d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1981-1987) F-4G (1983-1991)
81st Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1983-1986) F-4G (1979-1994)
480th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E/G (1972-1987)
81st Tactical Fighter Wing - RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge, United Kingdom
78th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C (1965-1972) F-4D (1972-1979)
91st Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C (1965-1972) F-4D (1972-1979)
92d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C (1965-1972) F-4D (1972-1979)
86th Tactical Fighter Wing - Ramstein AB, Germany
512th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1976-1985)
526th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1970-1986)
401st Tactical Fighter Wing - Torrejon AB, Spain
612th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1971-1983)
613th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1971-1983)
614th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1971-1983)

Pacific Air Forces

3d Tactical Fighter Wing - Clark AB, Philippines
3d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1975–1991)
90th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1975-1977) F-4G (1977-1991)
8th Tactical Fighter Wing - Ubon RTAFB, Thailand
12th Tactical Fighter Wing - Cam Ranh Air Base, South Viet Nam (1964–1971)
18th Tactical Fighter Wing - Kadena AB, Japan (1967–1989)
36th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Squadrons
Assigned to: 15th Tactical Fighter Wing, 8 January 1964 - 15 July 1970
Attached to: 405th Fighter Wing, 20 August 1965 – 31 October 1965
Attached to: 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 November 1965 - 4 January 1966
Assigned to 21st Composite Wing, 15 July 1970 - 15 November 1977
Assigned to 343d Tactical Fighter Group, 15 November 1977 - 1 January 1980
Assigned to 21st Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 January 1980 - 1 October 1982
Geographically Separated Unit (GSU) of 53d Wing at Eglin AFB, Florida

Air Force Reserve

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Air National Guard
An RF-4C with auxiliary fuel tanks in flight August 1968. This aircraft was assigned to the 152nd Tactical Reconnaissance Group, Nevada Air National Guard
116th Reconnaissance Squadron, 117th Reconnaissance Wing (RF-4C)
184th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 188th Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C)
194th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 144th Fighter Interceptor Wing (F-4D)
196th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 163rd Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C, F-4E)
196th Reconnaissance Squadron, 163rd Reconnaissance Group (RF-4C)
121st Tactical Fighter Squadron, 113th Tactical Fighter Wing (F-4D)
128th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 116th Tactical Fighter Wing (F-4D)
199th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 154th Group (F-4C)
Reconnaissance Weapons School, 189th Tactical Reconnaissance Training Flight, 190th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 124th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (RF-4C)
190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Fighter Group (RF-4C, F-4E)
170th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 183rd Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C, F-4D)
163d Tactical Fighter Squadron, 122d Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C and F-4E)
113th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 181st Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C and F-4E)
127th Tactical Fighter Squadron and 177th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, 184th Tactical Fighter Group (F-4D)
165th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 123d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (RF-4C)
122d Tactical Fighter Squadron, 159th Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C)
171st Tactical Fighter Squadron, 191st Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C and F-4D)
179th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 179th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron; 148th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 148th Fighter Interceptor Group (RF-4C and F-4D)
153d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron; 186th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (RF-4C)
110th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 131st Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C and F-4E)
173d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 173d Reconnaissance Squadron; 155th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 155th Reconnaissance Group (RF-4C)
192d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, later 192d Reconnaissance Squadron; 152d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, later 152d Reconnaissance Group (RF-4C)
141st Tactical Fighter Squadron, 108th Tactical Fighter Group (F-4D and F-4E)
136th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 107th Fighter-Interceptor Group (F-4C and F-4D)
178th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 119th Fighter-Interceptor Group (F-4D)
123d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 142d Fighter-Interceptor Wing
111th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 147th Fighter-Interceptor Wing (F-4C and F-4D)
182d Tactical Fighter Squadron, 149th Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C)
134th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 158th Tactical Fighter Group (F-4D)

See also

References

Citations
  1. Thornborough and Davies 1994, p. 260.
  2. Crowther, M.J. and Baker, Rusty. The History of VMFA-112 Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112, U.S. Marine Corps. Retrieved: 13 February 2008.
  3. Wilson, Stewart. McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phanton. Notebook Publications, 2000. ISBN 1-876722-00-2.
  4. Gerard Paloque "McDonnell F-4 Phantom, Vol. 2: US Air Force and Export Versions (Planes and Pilots)" ISBN 2-35250-149-0
Bibliography
  • Thornborough, Anthony M. and Davies, Peter E. The Phantom Story. London: Arms and Armour Press, 1994. ISBN 1-85409-121-2.
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