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. 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-4Cs was the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing in 1964.[1]

List of units:[2]

Air Force Reserve
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-4G)
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 (F-4C)
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)

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.[3]

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.[4]

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.

See also

References

Citations
  1. Wilson, Stewart. McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phanton. Notebook Publications, 2000. ISBN 1-876722-00-2.
  2. Gerard Paloque "McDonnell F-4 Phantom, Vol. 2: US Air Force and Export Versions (Planes and Pilots)" ISBN 2-35250-149-0
  3. Thornborough and Davies 1994, p. 260.
  4. Crowther, M.J. and Baker, Rusty. The History of VMFA-112 Archived 2008-02-27 at the Wayback Machine Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 112, U.S. Marine Corps. Retrieved: 13 February 2008.
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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