photographer Masumi Wada

on board USS Midway. This Phantom served with VF-151 between 1973 and 1977, when it was decommissioned. Its last carrier cruise was in 1975. Photographer unknown

F-4N 150441 leading a section take off from NAS Cubi Point. The other F-4N, 151400, is in the colors of the Commander, Carrier Air Wing Five and is also assigned to VF-151. Both of these F-4Ns were retired to MASDC in October 1977, with VF-151 having been their last squadron tour.

The F-4 Phantom II required an extendable nose gear to increase the angle of attack on the wing. This resulted in a lower takeoff speed making it compatible with the catapults in use on USN aircraft carriers. This F-4N is loaded out with two live AIM-9 Sidewinder air to air missiles.

Each squadron aboard USS Midway had an aircraft painted in recognition of the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial. Here is the VF-151 design. This a/c has just been relocated to this spot on the flight deck. The tug is still hooked up, the plane captain is in the cockpit, and a flight deck director (yellow shirt) is signaling the plane captain to hold the brakes. Next the chocks will be put in, the a/c secured with no less than 6 tie down chains, and the tug unhooked. If the sea state is causing a large amount of deck movement up to 18 chains may be required.

Originally built as a F-4B and later converted to F-4N. In the background the barricade has been raised in preparation for the recovery of a low fuel state EA-3B Skywarrior assigned to VQ-1 and operating from USS Midway. The barricade arrestment was successful with minimal damage to the a/c.

F-4N in tension moments before launch. Note that the F-4 used the bridle launch method, the bridle cables seen running from the shuttle behind the nose gear up to hooks located at both wing roots. The F-4 nose gear extends for catapult launches so the wing has more angle of attack. This lowers the takeoff speed thus allowing launches within the capabilities of the catapult. This F-4N is carrying two live AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. White object in lower left is a video camera recording the launch.

F-4N 150452 in 1976 U.S. Bicentennial paint scheme. Two VF-151 F-4N a/c are refueling from a VA-93 A-7A (BuNo. 153228) in tanker configuration. The F-4N tailhooks are extended indicating they are holding over USS Midway (CV-41) awaiting their recovery time. This was the high tanker (10,000') which provided extra fuel to the airborne F-4 a/c prior to their descent and landing aboard the aircraft carrier. I took this slide from another VA-93 A-7A.

This VF-151 F-4B is seen here at Miramar, just prior to its deployment to USS Midway as the CVW-5 Commander's aircraft. It was later converted to F-4N and then to QF-4N.

This VF-151 F-4B had been deployed to the USS Coral Sea in 1969 and 1970. it is seen here at Miramar, carrying the markings connected to that deplyment. In April 1971, however, VF-151 was deployed to USS Midway and moved to Atsugi.

This aircraft was deployed to the USS Midway in 1974 and 1975 in the Gulf of Tonkin off Vietnam and supported the evacuation of Saigon in 1975.

this aircraft was lost on the 7th of January 1980. Photo by Masumi Wada

This Panther is displayed at the National Naval Aviation Museum in the markings of VF-151. She flew with this squadron in the summer of 1953 on combat missions over Korea from the carrier USS Boxer.