QF-4S Phantom II

This plane flew combat in Vietnam and was aboard the “America” when 333 earned the only Marine Mig kill.

Warbird Overview

This plane flew combat in Vietnam and was aboard the “America” when 333 earned the only Marine Mig kill.

ABOUT THE QF-4S PHANTOM II

This plane flew combat in Vietnam and was aboard the “America” when 333 earned the only Marine Mig kill. The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom was first flown in May 1958. Originally developed for the U.S. Navy as fleet defense and entered service in 1961. The USAF evaluated it (as the F-110A Spectre) for close air support, interdiction, and counter-air operations, and in 1962, approved a USAF version. The USAF’s Phantom II, designated F-4C, made its first flight on May 27, 1963. Production deliveries began in November 1963. In its air-to-ground role, the F-4 can carry twice the normal bomb load of a World War II B-17 Flying Fortress. USAF F-4s also flew reconnaissance and “Wild Weasel” anti-aircraft missile suppression missions. Phantom II production ended in 1979 after over 5,000 had been built — more than 2,800 for the USAF, about 1,200 for the Navy and Marine Corps, and the rest for friendly foreign nations.

Fact #1
This was the last Naval F-4 to fly and is one of our open cockpit aircraft.
Fact #2
The Q designates this aircraft as a drone. It was flown at Point Magu, California, as a target for air-to-air missile testing. It was named “Scooby” and successfully survived seven missile attacks and was retired.
Fact #3
This was the first actual aircraft acquired by the OV-10 Bronco Association, Inc., dba Fort Worth Aviation Museum.

Manufacturer: McDonnell Douglas
Engines: Two General Electric J-79-GE-15s of 17,000 pounds thrust each
Maximum speed: 1,400 mph
Cruising speed: 590 mph
Range: 1,750 miles with one 600 gallon and two 370 gallon external tanks
Service ceiling: 59,600 feet
Span: 38 feet, 5 inches
Length: 58 feet, 3 inches
Height: 16 feet, 6 inches
Weight: 58,000 lbs. maximum takeoff weight

Armament: Up to 16,000 pounds of externally carried nuclear or conventional bombs, rockets, missiles, or 20mm cannon pods in various combinations
Crew: Two

The Fort Worth Aviation Museum has two F-4 Phantoms. After a lengthy service career, this one was converted into a target drone and was designated as a QF-4. However, it all began long before in St. Louis, Missouri, where it was built. McDonnell Douglas built this F-4J-30-MC and it was assigned Navy Bureau of Aeronautics Number 153821, c/n 2135. It had the service nickname “Rhino” and was the last Navy/Marine Corps F-4 to fly.

We are awaiting the official history, but we know this aircraft served with:

VMFA-451 “Warlords” 9/75 to 11/78 MCAS Beaufort with tail code VM
NARF NASCFS Naval Air Rework FacilityNaval Air Systems Command Fleet Support 12/78
VMFA-251 “Thunderbolts” 11/79 to 4/84
Naval Air Rework Facility, Cherry Point, North Carolina, 5/84 to 9/84
Back to VMFA-251 “Thunderbolts” 9/84 to 9/95
VMFA-333 “Fighting Shamrocks” or “Trip Trey” 10/85 to 6/86
VMFA-312 “Checkerboard” 6/86 to 11/86
VMFA-212 “Lancers” 12/86 to 6/88
VMFA-235 “Death Angels” 8/88 to 2/89
Naval Aviation Depot, Cherry Point, North Carolina, 2/89 to 7/98. It was during this time that the aircraft was converted to a QF-4 drone (8/97)
Naval Weapons Test Squadron, Point Mugu, Calif. 7/98 to 4/02
Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 30 (AIRTEVRON THREE ZERO), VX-30, “Bloodhounds” at Point Mugu, California. 5/02 to 9/04. Aircraft Number 107.
Reported to also have been operated by VFA-31 “Tomcatters” and flew combat missions over Vietnam from the USS America while with VMFA-333.

Locally, F-4s were operated by the USAF/USN/USMC at Carswell AFB and NAS Dallas. They were also operated by the Air National Guard and Air Force around the state of Texas.

Formerly known as “Scooby,” the F-4 was restored in October 2013 by members of VMFA-112 “Cowboys” from JRB Fort Worth. With the financial support of the Trip Trey (VFMA-333) Association, the aircraft now looks like the F-4 flown by “Bear” Lasseter and “Lil John” Cummings on 11 September 1972 after shooting down a 1.5 Mig-21s. The original Bureau of Aeronautics number 153821 was retained. Although this F-4 was converted into a target drone or QF-4S, it did not get used for that purpose. This was the first aircraft acquired by the Fort Worth Aviation Museum in 2004 and is on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) in Pensacola, Florida.

REFERENCES

Elward, Brad and Peter Davies. US Navy F-4 Phantom II MiG Killers: 1972-73.

In really good shape and paint job holding really well. Due for wash and wipe down. Another very good Cockpit viewing aircraft for visitors.

Note: Scheduling is always a moving target depending on weather and workload. All schedules are subject to changes.