McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II
The age and vulnerability of the RF-101C Voodoo was apparent by the Vietnam War. As losses rose among the Voodoo community, the USAF sought a faster and newer replacement. The solution turned out to be yet another variant of the eminently adaptable F-4C Phantom II. The basic airframe was retained with a new nose, with three cameras placed inside. As the RF-4C was meant to be unarmed, it was not necessary to retain the multimode interception radar of the F-4C, and the RF-4C used the smaller AN/APQ-99 navigation radar. Lighter and more aerodynamic than the F-4C, the RF-4C proved to be the perfect replacement for the RF-101 and remaining RF-84F Thunderstreaks in USAF service. It entered service in 1965.
The RF-4C would be the last dedicated manned tactical reconnaissance aircraft in USAF service. They were used extensively over Vietnam, and in active-duty USAF squadrons until the late 1980s, when they were relegated to Air National Guard units. The last two squadrons of ANG RF-4Cs saw service during the First Gulf War, after which they were retired completely. A number were supplied to foreign air forces afterwards, but the RF-4E (built off of the early F-4E variant) remains the primary foreign RF-4 version.
This RF-4C was assigned to the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing based at Zweibrucken, West Germany. It's painted in standard USAF Southeast Asia camouflage; at the time when Dad built it, the USAF was transitioning from white undersides to wraparound colors; this RF-4 still has the white. Like all USAF RF-4s, it is unarmed, according to the USAF's photo recon community--"Unarmed, Alone, Unafraid." (Though some crews might dispute that last part.) The white "towel rack" on the spine is a LORAN navigation antenna, now replaced by GPS. The real 68-0595 served with the 26th TRW nearly all of its career, save a stint with the Idaho ANG at the end of its career; it was retired in 1988 and later scrapped. I still have this model, though.
McDonnell Douglas RF-4C Phantom II
The age and vulnerability of the RF-101C Voodoo was apparent by the Vietnam War. As losses rose among the Voodoo community, the USAF sought a faster and newer replacement. The solution turned out to be yet another variant of the eminently adaptable F-4C Phantom II. The basic airframe was retained with a new nose, with three cameras placed inside. As the RF-4C was meant to be unarmed, it was not necessary to retain the multimode interception radar of the F-4C, and the RF-4C used the smaller AN/APQ-99 navigation radar. Lighter and more aerodynamic than the F-4C, the RF-4C proved to be the perfect replacement for the RF-101 and remaining RF-84F Thunderstreaks in USAF service. It entered service in 1965.
The RF-4C would be the last dedicated manned tactical reconnaissance aircraft in USAF service. They were used extensively over Vietnam, and in active-duty USAF squadrons until the late 1980s, when they were relegated to Air National Guard units. The last two squadrons of ANG RF-4Cs saw service during the First Gulf War, after which they were retired completely. A number were supplied to foreign air forces afterwards, but the RF-4E (built off of the early F-4E variant) remains the primary foreign RF-4 version.
This RF-4C was assigned to the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing based at Zweibrucken, West Germany. It's painted in standard USAF Southeast Asia camouflage; at the time when Dad built it, the USAF was transitioning from white undersides to wraparound colors; this RF-4 still has the white. Like all USAF RF-4s, it is unarmed, according to the USAF's photo recon community--"Unarmed, Alone, Unafraid." (Though some crews might dispute that last part.) The white "towel rack" on the spine is a LORAN navigation antenna, now replaced by GPS. The real 68-0595 served with the 26th TRW nearly all of its career, save a stint with the Idaho ANG at the end of its career; it was retired in 1988 and later scrapped. I still have this model, though.