McDonnell Douglas RF-4E 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. Iran, Greece, Turkey and Japan are the last remaining operators of the RF-4E.
By the time West Germany ordered a reconnaissance version of the F-4 Phantom II to replace their RF-104G Starfighters and RF-84F Thunderflashes, the RF-4C production line had closed. Instead, the Luftwaffe would get the RF-4E, based on the F-4E airframe, with uprated engines, though externally it was difficult to tell the difference between the RF-4C and the RF-4E. They were later modified to be able to act as emergency bombers as well as reconnaissance aircraft.
Dad snapped this picture of an AG 51 RF-4E at Ramstein in 1979. AG 51 used a red owl as their symbol, as seen on the intake; this aircraft also shows the two shades of gray splinter scheme used by the Luftwaffe in the 1970s and 1980s. 35+29 was later passed to the Hellenic (Greek) Air Force around 1993, was finally retired in 2013, and today is in storage in Greece.
McDonnell Douglas RF-4E 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. Iran, Greece, Turkey and Japan are the last remaining operators of the RF-4E.
By the time West Germany ordered a reconnaissance version of the F-4 Phantom II to replace their RF-104G Starfighters and RF-84F Thunderflashes, the RF-4C production line had closed. Instead, the Luftwaffe would get the RF-4E, based on the F-4E airframe, with uprated engines, though externally it was difficult to tell the difference between the RF-4C and the RF-4E. They were later modified to be able to act as emergency bombers as well as reconnaissance aircraft.
Dad snapped this picture of an AG 51 RF-4E at Ramstein in 1979. AG 51 used a red owl as their symbol, as seen on the intake; this aircraft also shows the two shades of gray splinter scheme used by the Luftwaffe in the 1970s and 1980s. 35+29 was later passed to the Hellenic (Greek) Air Force around 1993, was finally retired in 2013, and today is in storage in Greece.