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.
66-0384 is one of two RF-4Cs on display at the Veterans Freedom Memorial Park in Quartzsite, Arizona. It joined the USAF around 1967, initially with the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. In 1978, it became a "white tail" NRF-4C testbed, with the Air Force Flight Test Center and later the 412th Test Wing, both at Edwards AFB, California. It was retired in 1992 and donated to the town of Quartzsite.
Of the two RF-4s, 66-0384 is the better looking of the two, with its markings in marginally better shape--enough to tell which unit it was out of and its serial number. The forward canopy is slightly open, which has allowed the canopies to get fogged. Quartzsite is a strange place to find a pair of Phantoms, but it's worth a stop.
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.
66-0384 is one of two RF-4Cs on display at the Veterans Freedom Memorial Park in Quartzsite, Arizona. It joined the USAF around 1967, initially with the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. In 1978, it became a "white tail" NRF-4C testbed, with the Air Force Flight Test Center and later the 412th Test Wing, both at Edwards AFB, California. It was retired in 1992 and donated to the town of Quartzsite.
Of the two RF-4s, 66-0384 is the better looking of the two, with its markings in marginally better shape--enough to tell which unit it was out of and its serial number. The forward canopy is slightly open, which has allowed the canopies to get fogged. Quartzsite is a strange place to find a pair of Phantoms, but it's worth a stop.