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.
RF-4C 69-0350 was delivered to the USAF in the late 1960s, and went directly to Vietnam, where it served with the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. After the end of American involvement, 69-0350 came home and was assigned to the 363rd TRW at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, and in 1979, was sent overseas again, this time to the 26th TRW at Zweibrucken, West Germany. (There's a small chance I may have seen this aircraft as a kid, as it was at Zweibrucken the same time my dad was at Sembach.) After its time in Germany, 69-0350 would have a short stint with the 67th TRW at Bergstrom AFB, Texas, before finishing its career with the 124th TRW (Idaho ANG) at Gowen Field, Boise from 1984 to 1988. It was retired to become a battle damage trainer, and eventually donated to the Idaho Military Museum.
69-0350's world travels have come to an end (hopefully), and it still wears the "Egypt One" camouflage adopted by RF-4C units in the late 1980s. Idaho's RF-4s were rather plain, and didn't carry any sort of tail markings other than the data block. 69-0350 also retains its LORAN "towel rack" antenna on the fuselage spine. The missile below the aircraft is an AGM-45 Shrike antiradar missile; the RF-4 couldn't carry the Shrike, but the 124th's later F-4Gs could.
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.
RF-4C 69-0350 was delivered to the USAF in the late 1960s, and went directly to Vietnam, where it served with the 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Ubon RTAFB, Thailand. After the end of American involvement, 69-0350 came home and was assigned to the 363rd TRW at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, and in 1979, was sent overseas again, this time to the 26th TRW at Zweibrucken, West Germany. (There's a small chance I may have seen this aircraft as a kid, as it was at Zweibrucken the same time my dad was at Sembach.) After its time in Germany, 69-0350 would have a short stint with the 67th TRW at Bergstrom AFB, Texas, before finishing its career with the 124th TRW (Idaho ANG) at Gowen Field, Boise from 1984 to 1988. It was retired to become a battle damage trainer, and eventually donated to the Idaho Military Museum.
69-0350's world travels have come to an end (hopefully), and it still wears the "Egypt One" camouflage adopted by RF-4C units in the late 1980s. Idaho's RF-4s were rather plain, and didn't carry any sort of tail markings other than the data block. 69-0350 also retains its LORAN "towel rack" antenna on the fuselage spine. The missile below the aircraft is an AGM-45 Shrike antiradar missile; the RF-4 couldn't carry the Shrike, but the 124th's later F-4Gs could.