F-4 retires from the USAF after 53 years service...

[Rhino power]

Yesterday (21/12/16) saw the last operational USAF F-4's, the QF-4E's of the 82nd ATRS based at Holloman AFB, finally retire after 53 years of USAF F-4 ops.
In total, the F-4 served the US military for just short of 56 years. The US Navy received their first operational F4H-1 on 30/12/60, VF-121 was the recipient at NAS Miramar. The USMC were next, receiving their first F4H-1 into VMF-314 at MCAS El Toro on 29/6/62.
Finally the USAF joined the party, receiving their first operational F-4, a loaned US Navy F-4B (one of 20 odd which were initially used while the USAF waited for delivery of it's own F-4C's), it joined the 4453rd CCTS at MacDill AFB on 4/2/63...
So, as another chapter is closed in the magnificent career of Mr MAC's finest, take solace in the fact that it's not quite all over yet, Greece, Turkey, Japan, South Korea and Iran all still fly F-4's as frontline aircraft...

Final flight farewells Phantom > Holloman Air Force Base > Article Display

-RP

[ShotOne]

When a 12 year old ShotOne was building his 1/72 scale version he didn't imagine they'd still be operational forty years later

[ORAC]

Existing thread.

http://www.pprune.org/military-aviat...ml#post9609889

Nice video on YouTube by the way, first time I've ever seen unmanned 4 ship fly pasts an run and break to land.....

[Rhino power]

Originally Posted by ORAC

Nice video on YouTube by the way, first time I've ever seen unmanned 4 ship fly pasts an run and break to land.....

If you're referring the the final 4 ship that flew on the 21st of December, they were not unmanned, they were very much manned...

-RP

[tarantonight]

Quality Aircraft......

The best in my opinion.

My father was an FAA 121 exchange pilot back in the day (don't mention Top Gun to the yanks......).

Didn't know they were the first USN Squadron to take the beast on.

TN.

[Frostchamber]

I make that the equivalent of the Sopwith Camel serving until 1973. Not bad going...