Hellenic AF RF-4E retirement, 5/5/17
 

This Friday will see the HAF retire their last RF-4E's, currently with 348 MTA at Larissa, after almost 40 years of service.
Another Phantom type disappearing from European skies, leaving just the Turkish AF's F-4E 2020's and the HAF's own F-4E AUP's, when you think of of all the different types of F-4 that were plying their trade in the skies during the 70'/80's/early 90's, it brings a tear to the eye...

-RP

Thanks for pointing out. I should find the T-Shirt of the 348 MTA to wear that day. I am glad I played a very very small part of the history of this legend: I served at a GCA unit when the aircraft was still going strong. The first time I heard their call sign (obviously EYES) pronounced literally out of context I thought it was ICE - I was told few days ago that RF-4E pilots tend to be more quiet, distant rather different from the other pilots. So I thought ICE was describing the unit aptly - fortunately one of the GCA controllers did correct me.

In the pre- F-15/F-16 era, USAFE alone had almost 600 F-4G / F-4E / F-4D / F-4C / RF-4C in 9 x 72-aircraft wings and an independent squadron:

Alconbury, UK - 10 TRW
Bentwaters / Woodbridge, UK - 81 TFW
Lakenheath, UK - 48 TFW
Bitburg, W Germany - 36 TFW
Hahn, W Germany - 50 TFW
Ramstein, W Germany - 86 TFW
Spangdahlem, W Germany - 52 TFW
Zweibrucken, W Germany - 26 TRW
Torrejon, Spain - 401 TFW
Soesterberg, Netherlands - 32 TFS

In addition, TAC had 57 FIS at Incirlik, Iceland and planned to deploy many hundreds more within 10 days in TTW to NATO bases which had spare HASs ready and waiting for them.

A memorable time for me growing up near Upper Heyford with the sound of 10>20 J-79 powered visitors howling most weekends.

Just a few short years later, I had the privilege of being a JEngO on the RAF Wildenrath Phantom FGR2 Wing during the brief period in time that it was at the top of the AD food chain - with Skyflash - in continental Europe when most other NATO partners were flying the F-104G with just 2 x Sidewinders and an M-61 cannon.

In addition to the RAF - who had most of the 118 Phantom FGR2 and 48 FG1 ordered still in service in the late 1970s - the Luftwaffe had 88 RF-4E and 175 F-4F.

A great machine at a time when smart weapons were few and far between and quantity had a quality all of its' own. Until the F-15A came along, everyone associated with the F-4 thought they flew or maintained the "top dog" [excluding the F-111E and F-111F in their niche "Warsaw Pact Central Heating" role].

Interesting article here on the surviving Hellenic AF F-4E AUP.

Military Aviation ? Hellenic Air Force 117 Combat Wing | GAR - We've got aviation covered

Also, I didn't realize the RF-4Es could be armed with Sidewinder - the USAF RF-4Cs were not - "Alone, Unarmed & Unafraid" as the RF-101C and RF-4C articles and display boards used to say back in the day.

Actually the RF-4C could, several USAF/ANG units had the capability added around the time of GW1 and some ANG units also had the capability to fire unguided rockets, primarily for target marking in the SCAR role, aiming was via an 'iron sight' which was bolted to the windscreen arch...

-RP

The HAF HQ did release some pictures but did not bother to do in the English part of their site - only in the Greek one.

Here they are
https://www.haf.gr/2017/05/anastoli-...8mta-040-2017/

In the English part they show how they moved by road one from Larissa to Tanagra AFB.

HAF also made a nice video - with English subtitle.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/215797482?autoplay=1

Combat Aircraft magazine has a feature on the HAF RF-4E retirement. Amazing pics and a good read. Bloody sad to see the F4 slowly disappearing from the skies, under Warbird in the dictionary there is a pic of an F4.

Plus an excellent article on Indian Jags.

Jags with pointy noses.:)

They plan to keep them going until 2030 !!

Nearly 60 years since first flight........................... and designed and built in less than 4 years

A few images from the final shindig, Greek text...

http://plane-pics.********.co.uk/201...hantom-ii.html

Replace the asterix with 'b l o g s p o t', no spaces

-RP

The Greeks will be bringing an F-4E for the static at RIAT again in July.