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.
65-0886 was delivered to the USAF's 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw AFB, South Carolina in 1967. It remained stateside and didn't see action during Vietnam, and in 1971, was transferred to the 117th TRW (Alabama ANG) at Birmingham. After a short stint in Illinois, 65-0886 was sent to the 152nd TRW (Nevada ANG) at Reno in 1978, where it would serve for the rest of its career.
It was among the aircraft deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield, and then flew combat during Desert Storm--the First Gulf War. Despite extensive use, the 152nd lost no aircraft during the war. (Supposedly, one of the wing's RF-4s dropped its wing tanks after it came under attack from Iraqi MiGs, and the tank promptly hit the MiG and destroyed it. This is not corraborated by any USAF official MiG kill records, and likely is just a wing legend...but stranger things have happened.) In 1994, when the 192nd switched over to the airlift mission, 65-0886 was retired and was preserved as a gate guard at the Nevada ANG's base at Reno International Airport.
Having seen this aircraft on Google Earth, I made it a point to see it during my May 2021 trip to California and Nevada. It is in excellent shape, one of the finest gate guards I've seen, wearing its "war paint" of Egypt One camouflage adopted by RF-4C units towards the end of its career. Though it is displayed "clean" with only wing pylons, it should be noted that the 152nd's RF-4Cs did carry Sidewinders operationally; the wing was a little reluctant to completely embrace the motto of "Alone, Unarmed, Unafraid." The wing's distinctive "High Rollers" emblem is carried on the tail--very appropriate for a unit based in Reno!
The 152nd has a RF-101 on display as well, but that one is on display inside the base itself, and sadly is off-limits to civvies such as myself.
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.
65-0886 was delivered to the USAF's 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw AFB, South Carolina in 1967. It remained stateside and didn't see action during Vietnam, and in 1971, was transferred to the 117th TRW (Alabama ANG) at Birmingham. After a short stint in Illinois, 65-0886 was sent to the 152nd TRW (Nevada ANG) at Reno in 1978, where it would serve for the rest of its career.
It was among the aircraft deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Shield, and then flew combat during Desert Storm--the First Gulf War. Despite extensive use, the 152nd lost no aircraft during the war. (Supposedly, one of the wing's RF-4s dropped its wing tanks after it came under attack from Iraqi MiGs, and the tank promptly hit the MiG and destroyed it. This is not corraborated by any USAF official MiG kill records, and likely is just a wing legend...but stranger things have happened.) In 1994, when the 192nd switched over to the airlift mission, 65-0886 was retired and was preserved as a gate guard at the Nevada ANG's base at Reno International Airport.
Having seen this aircraft on Google Earth, I made it a point to see it during my May 2021 trip to California and Nevada. It is in excellent shape, one of the finest gate guards I've seen, wearing its "war paint" of Egypt One camouflage adopted by RF-4C units towards the end of its career. Though it is displayed "clean" with only wing pylons, it should be noted that the 152nd's RF-4Cs did carry Sidewinders operationally; the wing was a little reluctant to completely embrace the motto of "Alone, Unarmed, Unafraid." The wing's distinctive "High Rollers" emblem is carried on the tail--very appropriate for a unit based in Reno!
The 152nd has a RF-101 on display as well, but that one is on display inside the base itself, and sadly is off-limits to civvies such as myself.