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MEET THE PHANTOM In 1954, James S. McDonnell from McDonnell Aircraft Company proposed the F-4 Phantom to Navy officials seeking a twin-engine, air-superiority fighter, and Pentagon brass gave him the green light for what they considered to be a futuristic fighter, one needed to defend the fleet with missiles and lots of electronic wizardry. The plane entered Navy service in 1960. Later, in 1963, then Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara decided the Air Force would have the plane, too. This “shove-it-down-your-throat” play by McNamara left progressive Air Force leaders and pilots reeling and resentful. In their ire, they coined many unflattering nicknames for the F-4, including “Old Smokey,” because the J79 engines left a smoke trail that could be seen for miles, plus “Double Ugly” and the “Band-Aid Aircraft.” Author Richard Coram, in his book, Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War, described the prevailing sentiment this way: “…every bend in its wing and every angle in its tail covered a design flaw…it had two engines and two crew members—one too many of everything…the F-4 proved that with enough power, anything could be made to fly….”
In spite of this negativity, crews contending with the present made the best of what they were given, and the Phantom performed admirably, fulfilling with honor every conceivable mission assigned to it, including near-vertical rocket-chasing, air-to-air combat or tactical interdiction (aka Mig-chasing), forward air control, bomber support, combat air patrol, SAM missile seek and destroy missions, photo recon, and many more. In time, even Air Force pilots grew to appreciate the “Rhino.”
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With over four decades of service, the Phantom has woven its way into the deepest fabric of aviation history and lore. Aerophiles and aviatiors alike cannot help but be impressed with its service history. Below are some highlights of its impressive record.
- Angel and Thunderbird: The F-4 Phantom is the only aircraft to be used by both the US Navy Blue Angels and US Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration teams. The Blue Angels flew F-4 J models and the Thunderbirds flew the F-4 E.
- Record Breaker: The F-4 Phantom claimed 15 world-performance records during its heyday. It is also the most widely produced supersonic jet aircraft to date, with just under 5,200 units made. Additionally, besides the United States, the Phantom served in 11 other countries, including Australia, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Iran, Israel, Japan, Spain, Turkey, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
- 280 Confirmed Kills: During the Viet Nam conflict, US F-4 Phantoms tangling with MIGs and other flying threats downed more adversaries than any other aircraft type. When a pilot achieved ace status (five kills), he was promptly pulled from combat duties, so that’s why one doesn’t see large numbers of high-scoring aces from this era as in times past.
- Royal Blood and a Drooping Tail: The Royal Navy (RN) gave up on its plans to develop the VTOL Hawker P.1154RN as a replacement for an aging fleet of Sea Vixens in favor of the Phantom. Designated the F-4K or FG.1, RN Phantoms carried two powerful and fuel-efficient Rolls Royce Spey engines in place of the J79s. The airplane was also modified with bigger intakes, and the exhaust nozzles were slanted downward to increase carrier take-off capability. The Royal Air Force (RAF) likewise moved to replace their Hunters and Canberras with Phantoms. These Phantoms were designated the F-4M, but the RAF ended up taking delivery of F-4Ks too when plans for a new super carrier and multiple upgrades to existing carriers fell through.
- E-M Theory and the Phantom: USAF Colonel John Boyd’s “Energy-Maneuverability Theory” helped explain why the F-4 Phantom was the wrong plane for air-to-air fighter tactics in Viet Nam; but, ironically, fighter pilots who applied the theory soon found that they could come out on top in a dogfight. Lessons learned from F-4 experiences helped pave the way for a new generation of pure fighters, like the F-15 and F-16.
The professionalism displayed by Phantom crews across the US Navy, USAF, and US Marines when called upon to do a job with less-than-perfect equipment is inspiring, and it is that professionalism that allowed the F-4 Phantom to soar into history as a true masterpiece. They made the best of what they had with an attitude of success: "I always said, If you were worried about dying, you weren't doing a good job!" exlaimed Ret. AF Colonel Chuck DeBellevue, who flew 220 missions in the F-4 over Viet Nam and shot dow six MIGs, making him the leading ace of the war. (See "Any Mission at Mach 2," Air and Space Smithsonian, March 2015, p. 47.)
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