The are two F-4S Phantoms on the SDACM aircraft roster. This is an early photo of the first one, when she was still stored in the yard during initial restoration.
Midway's Hangar
The Restoration Facility for the USS MIDWAY museum
(Currently known as The San Diego Aircraft Carrier
Museum, on the USS Midway CV-41)
McDonnell Douglas F-4S Phantom II #1
The
McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II was destined to become one of the finest weapons the Navy
had ever used. It was first conceived as an attack aircraft, but was redesigned to fill
the role of a long range high altitude interceptor using air-to-air missiles. Deliveries
to operational units began in 1960, and by 1966 twenty nine Navy and Marine squadrons were
flying the Phantom. The primary role for the early Phantoms had been interception and air
superiority, but deployment of the type to Vietnam put emphasis on the secondary strike
role, carrying a wide range of external stores. The F-4S variant was an F-4J model
upgraded with structural strengthening, plus the provision for the later installation of
leading-edge manoeuvre slats as used on the USAF F-4E. |
The are two F-4S Phantoms on the SDACM aircraft
roster. This is an early photo of the first one, when she was still stored in the yard
during initial restoration.
This is an ex-Midway aircraft. In this early photo the markings from her prior service
still show through, despite the green zinc chromate primer covering the sanded panel
lines.
Later the F-4 was put in the hangar during the final stages of her restoration prior to
her new paint job.
Here we see the F-4 being painted by the NADEP personnel at the NASNI paint shop.
These are some of the many markings that were being put on the F-4 as it was being
painted.
Here is the F-4 with her new paint job. This side was sponsored by Guy Freeborn, and is
done in the markings of VF-142 on the USS Constellation.
The other side of the F-4 is sponsored by Darrell Gary, and is in the markings of VF-51 as
she appeared on the USS Coral Sea.
UPDATE: the F-4 has now been moved on board the USS Midway, where it will be the primary focus of a flight deck exhibit.
This particular aircraft's history (#153880):
Date Of manufacture: unknown
Where manufactured: unknown
Assignment Locations:
| 13 FEB 1969 | VMFA-333 Beaufort |
| 20 MAR 1970 | VMFA-333 USS America (as F-4J) |
| 24 JUL 1970 | VMFA-451 Roosevelt Roads |
| 07 APR 1971 | VMFAT-201 Cherry Point |
| 21 DEC 1972 | VMFAT-201 Yuma |
| 0l JUL 1974 | VMFAT-101 Yuma |
| 22 SEP 1975 | VMFAT-101 NAS North Island |
| 25 FEB 1976 | VMFAT-101 Yuma |
| 20 AUG 1976 | VMFAT-101 NASM |
| 31 AUG 1976 | VF-194 Miramar |
| 30 NOV 1976 | VF-194 USS Coral Sea (as F-4J) |
| 20 JAN 1977 | VF-194 Miramar |
| 19 SEP 1977-19 APR 1978 | USS Midway (as F-4J) |
| 21 MAY 1978 | VF-161 Atsugi |
| 21 SEP 1978-24 FEB 1979 | USS Constellation (as F-4J) |
| 27 MAR 1979 | VF-161 Atsugi |
| 30 MAR 1979 | VF-21 USS Ranger (as F-4J) |
| 09 MAY 1979 | VF-21 Miramar |
| 07 DEC 1979 | NARF NAS North Island |
| 15 JAN 1980 | (upgraded to F-4S) |
| 19 SEP 1980 | VF-121 Miramar |
| 08 DEC 1980-02 SEP 1981 | VF-151 USS Midway |
| 29 OCT 1981 | VF-151 Atsugi |
| 12 APR 1986 | NASCFS NAS North Island |
This aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of Naval Aviation.