McDonnell Douglas F-4C
McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II was designed as a missile-armed fleet defense fighter for the United States Navy. In 1962, the U.S. Air Force selected the F-4 for its own use as both a fighter and a fighter-bomber. Originally designated F-110 by the Air Force the plane became the F-4C under the unified designation scheme ordered by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. The F-4C is the first version of the Phantom built for the Air Force. Construction began in 1962 and concluded in 1966 with 583 built. These aircraft saw extensive use in the Vietnam War and remained the primary USAF fighter into the late 1970s.
Service History
Built by McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis, MO and delivered to the Air Force on March 15, 1965.
March 1965 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, Holloman AFB, New Mexico.
January 1966 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, Can Ranh Bay Air Base, South Vietnam.
May 1967 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, Ubon Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand.
May 20, 1967 Major Philip Combies and Lt. Daniel Lafferty shoot down a MiG-17 while flying this aircraft with the 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing. It is Combies’ second aerial victory and Lafferty’s first.
October 1967 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam.
| Wingspan | 38 ft 5 in. |
Wingspan |
| Length | 58 ft 3 in. |
Length |
| Height | 16 ft 3 in. |
Height |
| Weight | 60,630 lb (loaded) |
Weight |
| Max. Speed | 1,583 MPH |
Maximum Speed |
| Service Ceiling | 62,000 ft |
Service Ceiling |
| Range | 400 miles |
Range |
| Engines | Two General Electric J79-GE-15 turbojets with 17,000 pounds of thrust each |
Engines |
| Crew | 2 |
Crew |
Manufacturer
McDonnell Douglas
Markings
8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 1967
Designation
F-4C
Serial Number
64-0673
February 1968 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, Can Ranh Bay Air Base, South Vietnam.
February 1970 347th Tactical Fighter Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
May 1971 18th Tactical Fighter Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan.
July 1975 35th Tactical Fighter wing, George AFB, California.
March 1979 159th Tactical Fighter Group Louisiana Air National Guard, Naval Air Station New Orleans, Louisiana.
March 1985 To Boeing Aircraft, Wichita, Kansas.
July 1985 114th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron Oregon Air National Guard, Kingsley Field, Oregon.
April 1987 To storage at Davis-Monthan AFB Tucson, Arizona.
1987 Loaned to the Pima Air & Space Museum by the National Museum of the United States Air Force.