F-4C 63-7414 at Baginton, 11th May 2002; author	F-4C 63-7699 at Baginton, 11th May 2002; author

63-7414 served with the USAF's 4453rd Combat Crew Training Wing and ended its active life with the New York ANG, retiring in 1986. Used as a BDRT airframe at RAF Woodbridge, it was eventually placed on loan to the Midland Air Museum and is stored there in a dismantled state, used for spares for the Museum's other F-4.

A genuine MiG-killer, this F-4 served with the 123rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron and the 142nd FIG (Oregon ANG). Seeing action over Vietnam, that was where a MiG-21 of the NVNAF met her, and didn't go home to tell the tale! After ANG service she was retired to BDR duties in the UK and was finally loaned to the Midland Air Museum by the.USAF Museum. Recently repainted in the South-East Asia camo scheme, she looks superb and is in excellent condition. Information current as of 03/2005.

F-4C 65-777 at Lakenheath, March 2001; Andrew Whiteley	F-4S 155848 at East Fortune, 28th August 2001; Andy Dawson

Displayed to dramatic effect in the Liberty Wing Memorial Park within RAF Lakenheath, 63-7419 is painted to represent an F-4 once based at Lakenheath, 65-777. If you want to get a look at her yourself, you'll need to arrange a base visit or possibly have a look at the memorial park during the yearly bazaar (advertised locally around Easter time). You certainly won't be able to get a look at her if you just turn up and ask, especially given the security state the base has been on since late 2001. Information current as of 03/2005.

155848 first flew in 1968 as an F-4J and flew as such with the US Navy before being converted to F-4S standard and transferring to the US Marine Corps in 1978. In 1983 she was retired and the Fleet Air Arm Museum acquired her not long afterwards in a strange deal that saw Scimitar XD220 crossing the pond in the opposite direction. Initially painted in RN colours and displayed at the museum, when they got hold of FG.1 XT596, this F-4 became surplus to requirements and languished on the airfield for a long time while all and sundry fought over her - it seems there wasn't a museum in the UK that didn't want to get hold of her. Unfortunately the usual Phantom bureaucrats were meddling, and it looked like she was going to be scrapped until, all of a sudden it seemed, the National Museum of Flight won the battle and she was handed over to them in May 1999. She's displayed in the colours of the USMC's VMFA 232, and looks pretty swish. Information current as of 28/08/2001.

FG.1 XT596 at Yeovilton, 9th June 2001; author	FG.1 XT597 at Boscombe Down, 1st May 2000; author

One of the F-4K prototypes (YF-4K), XT596 first flew on 30th August 1966 and was delivered to the MoD(PE) for trials work. Later she moved to BAe at Holme-on-Spalding Moor and later Scampton, was retired in 1987 and presented to the FAA Museum at Yeovilton, flying into there on 19th January 1988. The oldest UK Phantom now in existence, she's presented as part of a take-off diorama in the Museum's Carrier exhibition. Information current as of 09/06/2001.

XT597 first flew on the 1st of November 1966 and spent her entire life on various trials work, including the initial carrier suitability trials on USS Coral Sea. Moving from the MoD(PE) to the A&AEE, she became a laboratory aircraft from 1974 onwards and had the long nose probe fitted then. She was used as a high-speed chase and calibration aircraft and on retirement was earmarked for lightning strike trials before finally being donated to the Boscombe Down Museum where she is one of the star exhibits. Hopefully the museum will open on a regular basis to the public from this summer onward; the picture above was taken during the station's Family Fun Day in 2000. Information current as of 01/05/2000.

FG.1 XT864 at RAF Leuchars, February 2001; Clive Pattle	FG.1 XV582 at Leuchars, 14th September 2002; Bob Lawson

XT864 first flew in April 1968 and was delivered to the RN later that year. Serving with 700(P), 767 and 892 NAS. On retirement from the navy in 1978 she spent a few months stored at RAF St. Athan before re-entering service, now with 111 Squadron, in 1979. In December 1988, a year before 111 were due to re-equip with the Tornado F.3, a refuelling bowser caused some damage to the tailplane and she was retired once it was realised how much work would be involved in a full repair. She ended up as the gate guard at RAF Leuchars, replacing the Lightning that used to be on display, and becoming the first RAF Phantom to be put on display like this. Information current as of 02/2001.

One of the most popular static exhibits at the annual Leuchars Battle of Britain airshow is 'Black Mike' - possibly the most well known RAF Phantom. Now kept as a BDRT airframe/mascot, she is in immaculate condition and very well looked-after. Information current as of 14/09/2002.

FG.1 XV586 at RAF Leuchars, 1999; Ron Male/F4 Aviation	FGR.2 XT891 at RAF Coningsby, 2001; Garry Lakin

XV586 first flew on the 11th of April 1969 and was delivered to the Royal Navy two months later. She is now displayed at RAF Leuchars as the 43 Squadron mascot. The board by her reads as follows: "After crossing the Atlantic XV586 was delivered to RNAS Yeovilton on 25th June 1969. It served with 892 Sqn on HMS Ark Royal until 5th April 1977 when it joined 43(F) Sqn at RAF Leuchars. It rejoined 892 Sqn on HMS Ark Royal until November 1978. Following major servicing at RAF St. Athan, it returned to Leuchars and served on 43(F) Sqn from 19th October 1979 to September 1989. It was then transferred to A&AEE at Boscombe Down before retiring to Leuchars on 27th October 1989, as the 43(F) Sqn Gate Guardian, having accumulated a total of 3,770 flying hours." Information current as of 1999.

This is a Phantom with a busy history! Delivered in July 1968 to the RAF, she was issued to 228 OCU the next month, but moved on to 54 Squadron when they re-formed with Phantoms. She then passed back to 228 OCU and served with them until 1984 when her crew ejected from the aircraft when it veered off the runway onto the grass due to a nosewheel steering failure. Repaired and returned to the unit, she suffered a fire, was repaired once more, suffered another fire and finally returned to active service. On retirement she was earmarked for gate guard duties at Coningsby where she had spent most of her flying career. She was repainted in the old camo colours in 1999 and looks absolutely glorious as a result. Information current as of 2001.