Thunder & Lightnings

McDonnell-Douglas/BAC F-4K/M Phantom II

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McDD advert from late 1966. Short and to the point!

Doomed...?

A selection of pictures telling the disgraceful tale of the Phantom's troubled retirement... thanks to Des Brennan, Eric Dewhurst, Hans Rolink and Hermen Goud for their contributions on this page. If you want to redistribute or republish their pictures, you must get in contact with the appropriate person to ask permission.

XV460 at RAF Coningsby in 1999. She was so well looked after - now she exists only as a nose section, having been scrapped in March 2000. XV577 at RAF Leuchars, 11th March 2000. Used for BDR training, the blue X marks an aircraft as being out of use for satellite surveillance purposes, or Open Skies flights. The FILE addition is not standard! With the remains of XT903 nearby when this photo was taken, time was clearly running out for XV577 and sure enough she was scrapped in April 2001. XT867 - same day, same place, same fate - scrapped in July 2001. Compare the condition of these two with XV460, which avoided BDRT use though it was officially used as such. XT905 at RAF Coningsby, 14th August 1996. Another one in great condition for many years past retirement; since moved to RAF North Luffenham for EOD duties. XV497, same day, same place, scrapped since? XV426, same day, same place, scrapped by the end of 1999, but thankfully the nose at least is now preserved at the City of Norwich Aviation Museum. XV425 at RAF Brüggen, 18th July 1995. Since scrapped. XV475 at RAF Brüggen, 18th July 1995. Since scrapped. Not sure what the star on the tail signifies - perhaps a 31 Sqn visit? XV485 at RAF Brüggen, 18th July 1995. Since scrapped. ZE357 at RAF Brüggen, circa 1996. Since scrapped. I like the 9 Sqn zap on the tail... ZE350 (9080M) at RAF Laarbruch, 14th May 1994. Since scrapped, with the nose saved.

The Barley Collection

These pictures supplied by Allan Barley. They are free for personal use but if you wish to redistribute them or make any other use of them you must contact him for his permission.

Wearing a combination of both 74 and 56 Sqn markings, display ship XT914 blasts off at RAF Wattisham for a practice display, 25th March 1992. Same place, same day - FGR.2 XV408 of 92 Sqn trails her brake chute. Same place, same day, and a paired take-off from these two 56 Sqn aircraft. The one in the background is XT910, I think the one in the foreground is XT900. You guessed it - same place, same day! 74 Sqn's XV487 taxies past, looking mean and moody - just like the weather.

The Rolink Collection

These pictures supplied by Hans Rolink. They are free for personal use but if you wish to redistribute them or make any other use of them you must contact him for his permission.

FG.1 XT597 of the A&AEE showing off her 25th Anniversary scheme at RAF Greenham Common, 23rd July 1983. FGR.2 XV490 of 92 Sqn shows off a mixture of the toned down grey/green camo and the newer overall grey scheme at Leeuwarden, 21st June 1985. F.3 ZE357 of 74 Sqn sunbathing at Montijo, 28th June 1987. FGR.2 XV420 of 56 Sqn taxiing in pastoral surroundings at Twenthe, 23rd March 1990.

The Charlton Collection

These pictures supplied by Phil Charlton. They are free for personal use but if you wish to redistribute them or make any other use of them you must contact him for his permission.

XT914 doing the opposite from what she's up to at the top of the page! RAF Wattisham, early 1990s. FGR.2 XV574 of 111 Sqn at RAF Fairford, 1987. FG.1 XV587 of 43 Sqn at RAF Coningsby, 1988. Anybody know what the black horse zap is for? F.3 ZE350 of 74 Sqn in the QRA shed at RAF Wattisham, 1989.

The Pole Collection

These pictures supplied by Martin Pole. They are free for personal use but if you wish to redistribute them or make any other use of them you must contact him for his permission.

RAF Wattisham, 17th September 1991 - FGR.2 XT899 of 19 Sqn. Same day, same place - FGR.2 XV408 of 92 Sqn in a similar scheme. So who copied who? Same day, same place - FGR.2 XV426 of 56 Sqn grinning for the camera. Sorry, too good to resist... :) Same day, same place - FGR.2 XV490 of 23 Sqn, in Falklands colours to boot. Well you've probably guessed by now there was a photocall on - here's the full line-up! FG.1 XV582 of 111 Sqn at Mildenhall, 26th May 1990. 'Black Mike' was a popular airshow visitor needless to say! F.3 ZE359 of 74 Sqn, retiring to Duxford, 24th September 1991. Later she was repainted in USN colours and put on display in the American Air Museum there.

The McGhee Collection

These pictures supplied by Tom McGhee. They are free for personal use but if you wish to redistribute them or make any other use of them you must contact him for his permission.

XT899 of 19 Sqn looking rather less pristine - and less blue! - than in the piccy at the top of this page. RAF Akrotiri, February 1987. FGR.2 XV406 of 228 OCU/64 Sqn, RAF Wattisham. Same place, same day - FGR.2 XV465 of 19 Sqn. RAF Akrotiri, and F.3 ZE353 taxis out while an Omani Jaguar skulks in the background. No mistaking this hangar - RAF Wattisham, and F.3 ZE353 shortly after delivery, yet to gain a black tail, and still bearing '903' on her nose gear door (her 'Iran' no. in the USN was F903). The slightly odd blue-grey paint applied by the Yanks shows up well in this shot. F.3 ZE359 at RAF Akrotiri, some time later, 74 Sqn having by now painted some of their F.3's tails black. Note the demarcation line of the two greys on the radome - F.3s were definitely not standard in the paintwork department! F.3 ZE362, Akrotiri again, showing another paintwork variation - single colour radome, but no black tail. And finally, wave bye bye - F.3 ZE363 taxiing back to the hangars at Wattisham.

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Site contents copyright © 2012 Damien Burke/Handmade by Machine Ltd.
This page last updated on Thursday 12th April 2012

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