Completely contrasting with the white/red F-4Es at the Edwards flightline was this Vietnam camo F-4E. Nice to know is that this Phantom once flew with the famous Thunderbirds flight demonstration team in the seventies. After that, it was transferred to an operational squadron and was selected for flight tests from Edwards. The F-4 was stored at Davis Monthan as FP0629 from March 1992 and then... became a Thunderbird again!! The Phantom was repainted in the right colours, but never took the skies like that, its is now preserved like that in the Pima Air museum (AZ).

A NRF-4C Phantom II in its test livery at the huge Edwards AFB flight line. You can still enjoy this aircraft, is is currently preserved at Lackland AFB/Kelly (TX).

A test F-4C (designated as NF-4C) at the massive platform of Edwards AFB (CA). In these day's countless F-4s in all variants could be found here. Check the large pitot tube of this old Phantom. The 6512th Test Squadron under command of the 6510th Test Wing operated at that time with A/YA-7D, VA-7F, A-7K, NA/OA-37B, NF-4C/D/E, YF-4E, NRF-4C, F-15A/B/C/D/E, F-111A, F-111D, FB-111A (later, F-111G), UH-1N, O-2A, T-37B, T-38A, AT-38B, T-38C, and UV-18 (haha!) in all kinds of test missions. The F-4s were eventally pashed out in 1992. The squadron is currently known as 4445th Flight Test Squadron.

56 Sqn with commanding aircraft markings. Static display during IAT 1990. Scrapped in 2005.

This F-4E flew with the 457th Tactical Fighter Squadron from Carswell AFB (TX). This base was later renamed to Naval Air Station , Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth. The 457th, part of the Air Force Reserves (AFRes) flew with the squadron until March 1991 after which is was stored at Davis Monthan (as FP0622). In 2007 it was selected for the QF-4E programme and delivered to the 82d Aerial Targets Squadron (ATRS) at Tyndall in 2008. The Phantom was shot down (unmanned) over the Gulf of Mexico on 11 March 2010. Check the 7th Bomb Wing B-52Hs on the back ground, these were also based at Carswell.

A "Spads" F-4E at the flight line of Carswell AFB (TX) in Aug'89. The 457th started to fly the F-4D in 1981 and converted to the F-4E in 1987. These birds were swapped to F-16A/B Block 25 in 1991. The tailcode of the F-4Es stands for "Texas Humpbacks" (the F-16s now fly with TX tailcode). This 67-0392 is marked with two MiG-kills and a fine Texas flag over the intake. While operating with the 469th TFS from Korat, Thailand, this F-4E shot down a MiG-19 (or J-6) with an AIM-7E-2 "Sparrow" on 2 September 1972 and out manoeuvered a MiG-19 (or J-6) on 6 October 1972 that subsequently crashed.

The trademark cloud of smoke from the J79 engines is much in evidence here as this JG71 Phantom taxies out prior to a Neptune Warrior 071 mission.

Spectacular departure by this Phantom from JG71 after being on static display at Leuchars Airshow.

Modernisation in progress. 136FIS upgrading to F-4C from F-101B/F's. Seen here together with F4C's 63-7541 & 63-7662, F101B 59-0429 and F101F 58-0338.

Past appearance of a USAFE Phantom on an exercise.

The 141st Tactical Fighter Squadron, part of the 108th Tactical Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard, swapped from F-105D Thunderchief to F-4D Phantom in 1981. The Deltas were exchanged into F-4E Phantoms IIs in 1985. They operated the F-4E untill 1991 after which the Tiger unit (the badge shows a Great Bengal Tiger) transferred to the KC-135 Stratotanker and the unit was subsequently redesignated into the 141-st Air Refueling Squadron. Currently they still operate the KC-135R. This 68-0370 was transferred to the RoKAF in late 1991 as 80-370.

The 141th TFS had three different colorschemes in use during fall 1987, this most modern F-4E camo jacket named Egypt One, the older Lizard or European One camouflage and the old-style Vietnam colours. Nice to see those all on the McGuire flightline. This 68-0625 shows also the Tiger markings on the nose. The Great Bengal Tiger with orange and black markings playing with a German helmet and Iron Cross is the 141st squadron marking.

A visit to McGuire Air National Guard Base (NJ) in the fall of 1987 yield this fine Vietnam-style camouflaged F-4E. The aircraft was sold to the Republic of South Korea Air Force (RoKAF) in October 1991 as 80-401.

Flying with the Air Force Flight Test Centre.

Hopsten based JBG36 (later JG72 and now "Fluglehrzentrum F-4F") often took part in DACT (Dissimilar Air Combat Training) operations at Leeuwarden.

NATO 70th Anniversary tail scheme