JASDF 501 Sqn has disbanded upon retirement of its RF-4E and RF-4EJ aircraft.
Formed in 1961, 501 Sqn operated the RF-4E for 48 years from 1972.
It recently clocked up 80,000 aircraft accident-free hours - a huge achievement for nay front-line unit.
The RF-4EPhantom was the last of the mass-produced, specialized, low-level recce aircraft - replaced the RF-101C Voodoo.
The USAF operated 499 x RF-4Cs - the last of which was retired in 1995.
USAFE operated 120 aircraft in the 10 TRW at Alconbury (3 x 24-aircraft sqns) and 26 TRW at Zweibrucken (2 x 24-aircraft sqns).