Phantom News
2008 - 50th Anniversary year of the First Flight of the F-4 Phantom II
07-07-2008 - The GAF have reported they will now fly at least 12 F4F Phantoms to 2014 extending their mission by 3 years. (Info from F-4Phantom@googlegroups.com)
02-07-2008 - The last 3 F-4F Phantom departed from Neuburg for their new home of Wittmundhafen at 10.02 local time.The serials were in departure order 38+37(special markings), 38+64 and 37+85.
30-06-2008 - Preceeding the above news 38+74
departed Neuburg for Wittmundhafen on Monday 30 June.
(Info
from Le Addeur noir (scramble Forum) and F-4Phantom@googlegroups.com)
06-06-2008 - A McD-D RF-4E Phantom II of 348 Rec. Sqn. of the Hellenic Air Force (ser.no 71763) made an emergency landing on the island of Santorini, after a hydraulics failure.The aircraft was taking part in an exercise. During landing the aircraft skidded off the runway and ended-up in a nearby vineyard.The crew abandoned the aircraft safely and was taken to the Air Force hospital for examination.
(Info from F-4Phantom@googlegroups.com)
27-05-2008 - The 50th Anniversary of the First Flight of the F-4 Phantom II. 50 Years ago today Robert Little took the F-4 Phantom to the sky for the first time and the rest is History.....still being made !
17-04-2008 -
Iran has been displaying its military power at a ceremony to mark the country's annual army day. Official media claimed the ceremony included the largest ever show of aerial strength, with a fly past by almost 200 aircraft, including F-4 Phantoms see here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7352654.stm07-04-2008 -
South Korean RF-4C crashes both crew eject ok. - The aircraft took off at 9:15 a.m. from its home base and was on a training mission. 25 minutes later it crashed in a mountainous area.Two pilots ejected safely. One of the pilots suffered minor injuries while the other, a captain, was rescued from the top of a tree
19-02-2008 -
More Phantom parts on Ebay including XT902 Cockpit mirror (Sold at £129.01), FGR-2 wheel (Not sold) and half a canopy (still on sale)09-01-2008-
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M - For the first time, an air-to-ground missile was launched from a full-scale aerial target drone QF-4G (69-7968 Det 1 of the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron)01-01-2008 - The 50th Anniversary year begins !
2007
16-12-2007 - 20 modernised McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantoms and 30 Lockheed Martin F-16s attack Kurdish rebel camps 150km (81nm) inside northern Iraq.
26-11-2007 - Iranian F-4 Phantom crashes into Sea Of Oman. Fate of crew and circumstances of crash unknown at this time.
20-10-2007 -
The first Greek woman pilot in a fighter jet Ioanna Xrisaygi is right now in the
last stages of training with the RF-4E Phantoms of 348 MTA 110 Fighter Wing at
Larisa AB:
http://tinyurl.com/3bu2q9 - Source Thanks to Hionia Martos of
F-4Phantom@googlegroups.com
19-10-2007 - Luftwaffe Phantom 38+48 makes arrested landing see link for details
08-10-2007 - Various F-4 parts for sale on Ebay including XV404 (Tiger Scheme) Tail Fin at £2000 or best offer !
11-07-2007 - 2 X Luftwaffe F-4Fs (37+77 & 37+81) arrive for the RIAT 2007 at RAF Fairford UK.
14-06-2007 - Brig Gen Robin Olds passes away. RIP - More Info Here
19-04-2007 - 6 x German F-4Fs (37+17, 37+26, 37+48, 38+44, 38+46, 38+67 from JG-71) visit RAF Lossiemouth UK.
17-04-2007 -
Bae to upgrade more 20 F-4s to QF-4 Drones - see Bae
Story Here.
11-01-2007 - Turkish F-16 intercepted by Greek F-4s and F-16s - http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=158712
2006
07-09-2006 - The 200th QF-4 drone has been delivered. The Air Force has issued contracts to Bae for a total of 243 QF-4 aerial targets.
08-06-2006 - F-4D Phantom #550 (66-7550 - Shot down Mig-21 16-04-1972) has been recovered and is being restored in Bowling Green, Kentucky USA. Larry Bryant and his team are in the process of returning the Phantom to her former glory for more info see this link www.aviationheritagepark.com
12-07-2006 - 2 X Turkish F-4E Phantom of 172 Filo (68-0342, 68-0374) arrive for RIAT 2006.
30-06-2006 - Greek RF-4E Phantom (69-7519/7519 - 348 MTA) arrives in the UK for the RAF Waddington show.
20-06-2006 More Phantom parts apear on Ebay. F-4J (UK) tail part and parachute rip cord handle.
27-05-2006 Front Canopy of Phantom FGR-2 XV461 on sold at auction Ebay for £278.00 !
23-05-2006 Rear Canopy of Phantom FGR-2 sells on Ebay for £41.00.
16-03-2006 Last manned QF-4G Flown see link for more details http://f4phantom.com/features.asp?cat=12
2005
16-12-2005 - 337 MPK - Fantasma - F-4E - 110th/Larissa disbanded in Greece.
13-07-2005 - RoKAF (South Korean) F-4E (from 17 FW) crashes into sea with the loss of both crew, during a night vision goggles training exercise. (Source AFM - Sept 2005)
13-07-2005 - Greek RF-4E (7519) and two German F-4F (38+17 and 38+29) arrive at RAF Fairford for this years RIAT.
01-07-2005 - Two Turkish F-4E Phantoms appear at RAF Waddington Air Show.
22-06-2005 - Turkish F-4E crashed in a filed after experiencing a technical failure. Both crew ejected ok (Source AFM August 2005) A/C 68-0473 172 Filo.
11-04-2005 - German Phantoms (37+13 & 38+24 from JG-74) visit RAF Lakenheath after a visit to RAF Lossiemouth. (Source UK Airshow Review)
- RIAT announce RF-4E from the Greek airforce to appear at RAF Fairford. see http://www.airtattoo.com/airtattoo
10-04-2005 - RIAT announce two Luftwaffe F-4Fs are to appear at RIAT 2005 at RAF Fairford. see http://www.airtattoo.com/airtattoo
15-03-2005 - Greek and German Phantoms take part in the Tactical Leadership Program exercise in Florennes, Belgium.
01-03-2005 - Turkey announces plans to upgrade a further 48 F-4Es to F-4E 2020 Terminator standard (Source AFM April 2005).
11-01-2005 - According to the The Phantom Shrine's records four Phantoms were lost in accidents in 2004. 5 crew lost their lives.... lets just spare a thought and prayer for them and their families as we enter 2005.
2004
20-12-2004 - 20th FS 'Silver Lobos' is deactivated. 72-1118 and 72-1218 are delivered by Col. Kevin Zeeck, the 20th FS Director of Operations to AMARC. See this web site for more details. http://www.amarcexperience.com/AMARCArticle20FS.asp
24-11-2004 - QF-4S 153821 "Scooby" has been saved from the Scrapman's Torch and will be preserved and displayed at the Forward Air Controller's Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. (Source Jim "Boomer" Bloomberg)
17-11-2004 - 20th FS 'Silver Lobos' retires the first of 15 a/c to AMARC at Davis-Mothan AFB. All but two of the remaining F-4s will be retired in Dec 2004. The last two F-4s will be retired 7-01-2005. This will mark 41 years of USAF Phantom operations. (Source AFM Jan 2005)
08-11-2004 - 20th FS 'Silver Lobos' the Luftwaffe F-4F training unit at Holloman AFB, is due to disband in on 20th December 2004. (Source AFM Nov 2004)
01-11-2004 - Japanese F-4EJ Kai suffered multiple bird strikes on take off. Damaged occured to port undercarriage and engine intake. Both crew ok. A/c from 83rd Kokutai/302nd Hikotai. (Source AFM Jan 2005)
00-10-2004 - 113 Filo (RF-4E) and 132 filo (F-4E) of the Turkish air force participate in the Turkish held multinational exercise Anatolian Eagle 2004. (Source AFM Nov 2004)
19-09-2004 - Japanese F-4EJ Kai (17-8302) rear canopy became detached. A/c made emergency landing. Crew ok. A/c from 83rd Kokutai/302nd Hikotai 17-8302 (Source AFM Nov 2004)
07-09-2004 - Japanese F-4EJ Kai made an emergency landing after a fault warning light for the flaps was seen. Crew ok. A/c from 83rd Kokutai/302nd Hikotai (Source AFM Nov 2004)
00-07-2004 - Turkish squadrons 131 Filo (F-4E) and 173 Filo (RF-4E) disbanded. (Source AFM Oct 2004)
21-07-2004 - 38+25 F-4F of the German Luftwaffe damaged after tyre blow out on landing at Hopsten AFB. Crew ok. A/C unlikely to be repaired due to Phantoms pending retirement (Source AFM Oct 2004)
12-07-2004 - Japanese F-4EJ Kai damaged after aborted take off crew ok. F-4EJ Kai 47-8338 83rd Koukuutai/302nd Hikoutai (Source AFM Sept 2004)
28-06-2004 - German F-4F will not fly a display at RIAT due to German fast jet policy see RIAT web site for more details (Source http://www.rafbfe.co.uk/AirTattoo)
15-06-2004 - F-4E (70-1516) 117 PM Greek Air Force crashed with the loss of both crew (Source AFM Aug 2004)
12-05-2004 - 201 Sqn Israeli Defence Force/Air Force ceases F-4 Kurnass operations. 119 Sqn ceases ops in 2003. A/C 498 RF-4E(S) handed over to IAF Museum. 492 and 499 stored at Ovda AFB (Source AFM)
2003
05-12-2003 - The
North East Aircraft Museum is to look after XV415 on site at RAF Boulmer
from next year. This should secure XV415's future when disposed of,
hopefully ending up at NEAM. (Source Phil Moore)
23-11-2003 - German F-4s to fly until 2008 according to Luftwaffe F-4 Pilot at RNLAF Airbase Twenthe. (Source Erik van Leeuwen)
18-10-2002 - Spanish RF-4Cs retired after almost 25 years of service (Source AFM)
31-01-2002 - JG-72 and Staffel 721 Disband (Source AFM March 2002 and AI March 2002)
16-06-2001 - Luftwaffe (German Air Force) 37+47 F-4F is to be the first German Phantom scrapped. All Luftwaffe F-4s should be gone by 2006 (Source Air Forces Monthly July 2001)
Long Live The Rhinos !
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Corsair Publishing 05-10-2001 © 2001-2007.