F-4 Phantom II

First flown in May 1958, the Phantom II was originally designed for the US Navy and entered service in 1961. The US Air Force evaluated it in 1961 for close air support, interdiction, and counter-air operations, then approved an Air Force version in 1962. The F-4C made its first flight on May 27, 1963. In its air-to-ground role, the F-4 could carry twice the normal bomb load of a WW II B-17 aircraft. The first production F-4Cs were delivered to the 4453rd Combat Crew Training Wing at McDill AFB, FL, in January 1964, and the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing became the first combat wing to convert to the F-4C and took them to Cam Rahn Bay AB, South Vietnam, in 1965. Production ended in 1979 after more than 5,000 had been built, including more than 2,600 for the USAF, 1,200 for the Navy and Marine Corp, and the rest for Allied foreign nations. This F-4C, serial number 64-0817, was last flown by the 3246th Test Wing at Eglin AFB, FL, on 5 May 1986. It was later given to the AF Armament Museum for display and is depicted as F-4C 64-0813, an aircraft assigned to the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, in tribute to a tough aircraft and the first unit to use it in combat.

Florida · United States