Thunder & Lightnings

McDonnell-Douglas/BAC F-4K/M Phantom II - Survivor XV401

FGR.2 XV401 - Bentwaters Cold War Museum, Bentwaters Airfield, Suffolk

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Phantom FGR.2 XV401 at Bentwaters Cold War Museum, 13th May 2023; Jake Wallace

XV401 served with 23, 29, 41, 56, 74 and 111 Squadrons plus 228 OCU, ending active service with 74 at RAF Wattisham.

Transported to Boscombe Down and put under DERA's care, she was transferred to the new museum there in the year 2000. XV401 was a bit tired looking at this point but still pretty much intact. Unfortunately, she was not then easy to see, with the collection not open to the public until they moved away from Boscombe - and they didn't get a chance to take either of the Boscombe F-4s with them.

In November 2012, XV401 was disposed of to Everett Aero, and moved to Bentwaters for storage in August 2013 before being acquired by the Bentwaters Cold War Museum (BCWM) later that year.

It appears that preparation for a possible repaint has begun but little progress seems to have been made within the past few years. Hopefully, in the not-to-distant future, she can receive some paint.

Information on this page current as of 05/06/2023, last updated by Jake

Find other photos of XV401 on the following sites:

Air-Britain - Airliners.net - Airplane-Pictures.net - flickr.com - WorldAirPics.com - JetPhotos.net - PlanePictures.net