Aviation Center Australia

One of the most famous and easily recognized fighter aircraft of the post-WWII era was the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II. This aircraft was developed as a private venture by the aircraft company but was soon ordered by the USN as a carrier-based attack aircraft. Its first flight took place on May 27, 1958 and it entered active service in December 1960. It wasn’t long after the F-4B appeared that a fly-off was set up with USAF front-line fighters. It was no contest, the F-4 performed so well that the USAF ordered their own variant, the F-4C. As time went on, the F-4 evolved into well over a dozen variants.

VMFA-531 “Grey Ghosts” along with their F-4s were assigned to the USS Forrestal for a Mediterranean deployment from September 22, 1972 until July 6, 1973. From February 23 until March 6, 1973 VMFA-531 carried out cross operating with F-4Ks from HMS Ark Royal. During this period the VMFA-531 F-4B wore the dark sea grey tail and fin flash of the host No. 892 Squadron. Urban legend has it F-4B AA/207 went mechanical while on Ark Royal and was painted this scheme to mask the aircraft when HMS Ark Royal sailed into Malta who was at odds with the USA.

One of the most famous and easily recognized fighter aircraft of the post-WWII era was the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II. This aircraft was developed as a private venture by the aircraft company but was soon ordered by the USN as a carrier-based attack aircraft. Its first flight took place on May 27, 1958 and it entered active service in December 1960. It wasn’t long after the F-4B appeared that a fly-off was set up with USAF front-line fighters. It was no contest, the F-4 performed so well that the USAF ordered their own variant, the F-4C. As time went on, the F-4 evolved into well over a dozen variants.



The VF-84 operated between 1955 until 1995. The unit nickname was the “Jolly Rogers” and between 1970 and 1975 was assigned to CVA-42 USS Franklin D. Roosevelt of CVW-6 for 4 deployments. The USS FDR was originally launched as the USS Coral Sea. The final deployment of the F-4 on the USS FDR took place between January 3, 1975 and July 16, 1975. VF-84 flew several variants of the F-4 Phantom II between 1964 and 1976 when they were replaced by the Grumman F-14 Tomcat. VF-84 received their F-4N’s in 1975. F-4N 150438 was sent to MASDC as 8F0112 on August 19, 1982.

One of the most famous and easily recognized fighter aircraft of the post-WWII era was the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II. This aircraft was developed as a private venture by the aircraft company but was soon ordered by the USN as a carrier-based attack aircraft. Its first flight took place on May 27, 1958 and it entered active service in December 1960. It wasn’t long after the F-4B appeared that a fly-off was set up with USAF front-line fighters. It was no contest, the F-4 performed so well that the USAF ordered their own variant, the F-4C. As time went on, the F-4 evolved into well over a dozen variants.



Fighter Squadron One Six One VF-161 “Chargers” was formed during WWII. On February 1, 1971 the squadron was assigned to the USS Midway and CVW-5 for the first time. In the summer of 1977 VF-161 traded their F-4N for the F-4J variant. Once the F-4Ns were replaced most of them were sent to AMARC including BuNo. 151433 c/n 425. The aircraft originally was an F-4B and converted to an F-4N and was the CAG aircraft in 1977 when the F-4Ns were replaced. 151433 was wfu (withdrawn from use) on October 20, 1977 and was stored at AMARC as AN 8F072 until 1993 when it was finally scrapped.

Starting in 1973 the Japan Air Self-Defense Force received 154 F-4EJ Phantoms that were based on the USAF F-4E. 138 of these aircraft were manufactured under license by Mitsubishi who produced the last F-4 Phantom II several changes were made to the F-4E to make it an F-4EJ. Basically it had any offensive weapons removed but eventually these restrictions were lifted and the aircraft were updated with missiles and the latest electronic equipment.


The J.A.S.D.F 8th SQ, 3rd AW are stationed at Misawa Air Base, Aomori Prefecture, Honshu and was one of two Japanese squadrons stationed there. The squadron is known as the “Black Panthers”. Misawa Air base was built in 1938 and is the only joint service installation in the western Pacific region for both Japanese and American military services. It is home to more than 20,000 American and Japanese military personnel and their families. Misawa is also the headquarters for the JASDF Northern Air Defense Force.

The McDonnell Douglas F-4 was the main multipurpose aircraft for the US Military for 20 years. The F-4E variant was an improved version of the C/D with an elongated nose and compact radar. These two things made it possible to install a 20mm M61A1 6 barrel 640 round Vulcan gun pod in the nose. The F-4E was the most produced variant with 1387 aircraft being made over its 12 year production period. The “E” also equipped more air forces than any other variant of the Phantom II.

The Türk Hava Kuvvetleri (THK - Turkish Air Force) was one of the prominent F-4 users with approximately 233 aircraft. The original order for F-4’s was 40 aircraft with the first being delivered in August 1974. In 1981 F-4E 66-0312 was delivered to the THK and with reorganization of Filo’s (squadrons) and its aircraft this F-4 became the property of 172nd Filo “Sahin”. In early 1990’s 172nd Filo was one of 3 squadrons assigned to the 2nd Tactical Air Force, 7 Ana Jet Us (Jet Air Base), Erhac-Malataya. With this reorganization the 172nd Filo became an interception squadron. In April 2009 172nd Filo was disbanded in anticipation of the arrival of the new F-35 Lightning II. To mark the occasion F-4E 66-0312 was given this special paint scheme “Kara Sahin”(Black Falcon - Black Hawk).