The 33rd Phantom was built as a F4H-1F in 1960 for the USN with serial 148261. It was redesignated F-4A in 1962 and written off on 16 October 1964 while operating with VF-101. The aircraft caught fire when the nose gear collapsed duing landing at NAS Key West. By 1983, it had been restored and placed at the NAS Oceana main gate. The F-4A has had dfferent colourschemes and fake serials. It is seen here representing F-4B 152249 of VF-143. On the other side, it represents 152295/AB-200 of VF-32.

This should be the commanders bird with that modex, but unfortunately, the squadron decided different. This fiscal year 2013 Super Hornet previously served VFA-81 as NA-214 and AB-414.

Just on the day I was visiting Oceana, this beautiful retro F-14B came out the paint shop. AG-143 made its last operational flight a few day's later and was then flown to Bradley AFB (CT) for preservation in the New England Air Museum