McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II "Scat XXVII"
Under pressure from the Kennedy administration to reduce the military budget by having more commonality between the services, the USAF evaluated the US Navy's F4H-1 Phantom II against the F-105 Thunderchief (as a tactical fighter), the F-106 Delta Dart (as an interceptor), and the RF-101 Voodoo (as a tactical reconnaissance aircraft). To the USAF's surprise, the F4H-1 outperformed all three, and was capable of doing all three missions with the same general type of aircraft.
Impressed, the USAF asked for the loan of two F4H-1s for further evaluation preparatory to purchase. These were painted in overall ADC Gray and redesignated F-110A Spectre in 1961. Soon thereafter, it was announced that the USAF would purchase the F-110A as its standard tactical fighter, to replace the F-105 (the F-106 would remain the USAF's standard interceptor), while the RF-110A would replace the RF-101. However, to eliminate confusion over aircraft types, the Tri-Service Aircraft Designation System was adopted in 1962; both the F4H-1 and F-110 were renamed simply the F-4. The Spectre name was dropped (though it would be adopted later for the Lockheed AC-130) in favor of the Navy's Phantom II. The Navy and USAF variants were designated F-4B and F-4C respectively, though the F-4C would be modified slightly for USAF requirements. This included wider main landing gear tires (which resulted in a bulge in the upper wing), flight controls for the backseater, and boom/plug refueling rather than probe/drogue.
In combat, the F-4C was something of a mixed bag. It was still an interceptor rather than a dogfighter, and over Vietnam, where it was pitted against more agile MiG-17s and MiG-21s, the Phantom was at a disadvantage. Its raw speed allowed its crews to pick and choose a fight, but it could not turn with the smaller North Vietnamese fighters. Its biggest problem was the lack of an internal gun, especially since the AIM-7 Sparrows and AIM-9 Sidewinders that formed its normal warload were unreliable. Finally, a lack of dogfight training left USAF pilots at a disadvantage. Though tactics would change and missiles would improve, F-4C crews were barely reaching parity with an enemy the USAF outnumbered and outgunned. There was nothing wrong with the aircraft itself: it was simply being committed to a role it was not designed for.
The F-4C was gradually replaced in Vietnam by improved F-4D/E variants, though C models would be involved until the end of the war. Following the end of American involvement, the F-4C was relegated to Air National Guard interceptor units. These would remain in service until the early 1990s, when they were retired in favor of the F-15 Eagle.
64-0289 may be the most famous F-4C ever to fly. It was delivered brand new to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing ("Wolfpack") at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand in 1967, where it became the personal aircraft of Colonel Robin Olds, the commander of the 8th. Olds, who had already made ace during World War II in P-38s and P-51s, named his F-4 "Scat XXVII"--all of his aircraft had been named Scat, going back to his P-38 in 1944. Though Olds did not always fly "Scat," it was considered "his" aircraft.
On 20 May 1967, Olds was flying with backseater Lt. Stephen Croker when they shot down two MiG-17s over North Vietnam. This would prove to be Olds' last kills, which left him with a total score of 16 (12 in World War II, four in Vietnam). Robin Olds left Southeast Asia at the end of his tour later in 1967, and would retire as a Brigadier General. Awarded the Air Force Cross and four Silver Stars, Olds would be arguably the most respected and revered fighter pilot of the Vietnam Era. He passed away in 2007.
"Scat" remained in Vietnam with the 8th and 12th TFW until 1972, when it was sent to Europe as the war wound down. It would then serve with several active and reserve USAF units until it was retired in 1986 after a stint with the 149th TFG (Texas ANG). The USAF considered itself lucky that "Scat" had survived a long career, and it was immediately flown to the National Museum of the USAF on retirement. There it was restored to its appearance during the Vietnam years, and was dedicated by Gen. Olds when it went on display a few years later.
"Scat" is shown armed for a strike mission over the North, with six Mk 117 750-pound bombs, four AIM-7E Sparrow radar-guided missiles, four AIM-9B Sidewinder heat-seeking missiles, two external drop tanks, and an ALQ-87 ECM pod (not seen from this angle). The FG tailcode indicates an aircraft of the 8th TFW, while the devil's head on the nose shows the squadron affiliation (433rd TFS, "Satan's Angels"). The two kill stars on the splitter plate show Olds' two kills in 64-0289. Just below the nose is a picture of Gen. Olds as he looked in 1967, complete with "bulletproof" mustache!
I got to meet Olds twice at River Rat reunions with my dad. He was a fun guy and took time out of a busy schedule at the reunion to talk to me about my graduate thesis (which was on the air war over North Vietnam). I also accidentally beaned him on the head with a dinner roll during a food fight at the reunion--which may make me one of the few people ever to hit Robin Olds and live to tell about it. He was larger than life, and I was saddened to hear of his passing. Finally getting to see "Scat" in 2017 was a dream come true.
McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II "Scat XXVII"
Under pressure from the Kennedy administration to reduce the military budget by having more commonality between the services, the USAF evaluated the US Navy's F4H-1 Phantom II against the F-105 Thunderchief (as a tactical fighter), the F-106 Delta Dart (as an interceptor), and the RF-101 Voodoo (as a tactical reconnaissance aircraft). To the USAF's surprise, the F4H-1 outperformed all three, and was capable of doing all three missions with the same general type of aircraft.
Impressed, the USAF asked for the loan of two F4H-1s for further evaluation preparatory to purchase. These were painted in overall ADC Gray and redesignated F-110A Spectre in 1961. Soon thereafter, it was announced that the USAF would purchase the F-110A as its standard tactical fighter, to replace the F-105 (the F-106 would remain the USAF's standard interceptor), while the RF-110A would replace the RF-101. However, to eliminate confusion over aircraft types, the Tri-Service Aircraft Designation System was adopted in 1962; both the F4H-1 and F-110 were renamed simply the F-4. The Spectre name was dropped (though it would be adopted later for the Lockheed AC-130) in favor of the Navy's Phantom II. The Navy and USAF variants were designated F-4B and F-4C respectively, though the F-4C would be modified slightly for USAF requirements. This included wider main landing gear tires (which resulted in a bulge in the upper wing), flight controls for the backseater, and boom/plug refueling rather than probe/drogue.
In combat, the F-4C was something of a mixed bag. It was still an interceptor rather than a dogfighter, and over Vietnam, where it was pitted against more agile MiG-17s and MiG-21s, the Phantom was at a disadvantage. Its raw speed allowed its crews to pick and choose a fight, but it could not turn with the smaller North Vietnamese fighters. Its biggest problem was the lack of an internal gun, especially since the AIM-7 Sparrows and AIM-9 Sidewinders that formed its normal warload were unreliable. Finally, a lack of dogfight training left USAF pilots at a disadvantage. Though tactics would change and missiles would improve, F-4C crews were barely reaching parity with an enemy the USAF outnumbered and outgunned. There was nothing wrong with the aircraft itself: it was simply being committed to a role it was not designed for.
The F-4C was gradually replaced in Vietnam by improved F-4D/E variants, though C models would be involved until the end of the war. Following the end of American involvement, the F-4C was relegated to Air National Guard interceptor units. These would remain in service until the early 1990s, when they were retired in favor of the F-15 Eagle.
64-0289 may be the most famous F-4C ever to fly. It was delivered brand new to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing ("Wolfpack") at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand in 1967, where it became the personal aircraft of Colonel Robin Olds, the commander of the 8th. Olds, who had already made ace during World War II in P-38s and P-51s, named his F-4 "Scat XXVII"--all of his aircraft had been named Scat, going back to his P-38 in 1944. Though Olds did not always fly "Scat," it was considered "his" aircraft.
On 20 May 1967, Olds was flying with backseater Lt. Stephen Croker when they shot down two MiG-17s over North Vietnam. This would prove to be Olds' last kills, which left him with a total score of 16 (12 in World War II, four in Vietnam). Robin Olds left Southeast Asia at the end of his tour later in 1967, and would retire as a Brigadier General. Awarded the Air Force Cross and four Silver Stars, Olds would be arguably the most respected and revered fighter pilot of the Vietnam Era. He passed away in 2007.
"Scat" remained in Vietnam with the 8th and 12th TFW until 1972, when it was sent to Europe as the war wound down. It would then serve with several active and reserve USAF units until it was retired in 1986 after a stint with the 149th TFG (Texas ANG). The USAF considered itself lucky that "Scat" had survived a long career, and it was immediately flown to the National Museum of the USAF on retirement. There it was restored to its appearance during the Vietnam years, and was dedicated by Gen. Olds when it went on display a few years later.
"Scat" is shown armed for a strike mission over the North, with six Mk 117 750-pound bombs, four AIM-7E Sparrow radar-guided missiles, four AIM-9B Sidewinder heat-seeking missiles, two external drop tanks, and an ALQ-87 ECM pod (not seen from this angle). The FG tailcode indicates an aircraft of the 8th TFW, while the devil's head on the nose shows the squadron affiliation (433rd TFS, "Satan's Angels"). The two kill stars on the splitter plate show Olds' two kills in 64-0289. Just below the nose is a picture of Gen. Olds as he looked in 1967, complete with "bulletproof" mustache!
I got to meet Olds twice at River Rat reunions with my dad. He was a fun guy and took time out of a busy schedule at the reunion to talk to me about my graduate thesis (which was on the air war over North Vietnam). I also accidentally beaned him on the head with a dinner roll during a food fight at the reunion--which may make me one of the few people ever to hit Robin Olds and live to tell about it. He was larger than life, and I was saddened to hear of his passing. Finally getting to see "Scat" in 2017 was a dream come true.