Aircraft of the ADF – A69 MDC F-4E Phantom II

The record breaking Phantom had now attracted the attention of the USAF, which ordered the type in 1962 as the F-110A. This later became known under the more familiar designation, the F-4C. A reconnaissance version followed for the USAF in 1964 as the RF-4C, and in 1966 production switched to the F-4D with improved ground attack capabilities. However, the war in Vietnam had highlighted the need for an internal gun for tactical aircraft, and in June 1967 the F4E flew with the GE 20mm Vulcan gun installed in the nose, with a smaller APQ-120 type solid state radar. A further refinement was the introduction of leading edge slats for improved manoeuvrability. A total of 1405 of this variant of the Phantom was produced.

By November 3 1970, the 24 RAAF Phantoms had been delivered to Amberley. Ferried mainly by USAF crews, these aircraft had flown from California via Hawaii and Guam, accompanied by Strategic Air Command KC-135 tankers. The RAAF aircraft, the F-4E-43-MC variant, were to have been serialled 69-304 to 69-307, and 69-7201 to 69-7220. However, 69-7234 was ultimately delivered in lieu of 69-7218. As these aircraft were on lease, they retained their USAF serial numbers and standard USAF South East Asian style camou- flage. The RAAF roundels were applied in the standard four USAF positions: one each side of the fuselage, one upper port wing, the other lower starboard wing. No RAAF fin flashes were carried, and after arrival in Australia, the last two digits of the serial were added in large grey numbers on the fin to aid identification. However, for stores accounting, aircraft spares were identified by the A69 prefix, ‘A’ as the standard RAAF aircraft identifier, and ’69’ being the first digits of the USAF serial number. This out of sequence identifier may mean that A69 will not be allocated again in this third series of RAAF numbering.

At Amberley the aircraft were operated by No 82 Wing, with 482 Maintenance Squadron allocating the aircraft to the flying units-Nos 1 and 6 Squadrons. This centralised maintenance, plus the fact that the aircraft were only leased, meant squadron markings were never applied to RAAF Phantoms.

On October 19 1970, Phantom 69-7234 crashed on landing at Amberley, due to a fault with the runway arrestor cable. Although extensively damaged, the RAAF’s No 3 Aircraft Depot (3AD) completed repairs in September 1971, and to the amazement of the USAF, the aircraft was returned to service. Another Phantom, 69-7203, crashed into the sea off the Evans Head bombing range on the night of June 16 1971, with the loss of both crewmembers.

The Phantom was able to provide the RAAF with a stopgap strike capability, and gave Australian aircrew and maintenance personnel valuable experience with modern American equipment prior to the arrival of the F-111. When delivery of the F-111 was assured, eleven of the F-4Es were returned to the USAF in late 1972, as No 6 Squadron prepared for the new aircraft. No 1 Squadron continued to fly the Phantom into 1973, with the final twelve being that June. Most of these aircraft were later converted to the F-4G Wild Weasel electronic warfare configuration.

Many felt that some, or all, of the Phantoms should have been retained by the RAAF, perhaps in a reconnaissance role after the arrival of the F-111. Although the purchase conditions offered by the USAF initially looked very attractive, the practicality of retaining a further type was not considered a viable option.

Only in RAAF service for less than three years, the Phantom is remembered fondly by those who were fortunate to fly it. But the RAAF link with this thoroughbred continues; in 1989 the USAF (with the assistance of McDonnell Douglas) presented a Phantom to the RAAF Museum at Point Cook. This aircraft, 67-0327, has been restored in RAAF markings repre- senting 69-7234, the F-4E that 3AD rebuilt.

Although never utilising its air defence capability with the RAAF, the Phantom II was a true multirole combat aircraft. → Readers wishing to know the complete story of the development of the F-4 and its operation in RAAF colours are reminded that this is fully detailed in our Phantom, Skyhawk and Hornet in Australian Service book which is advertised elsewhere in this edition.