To all the air crews of these most elegant RF4, thank you for risking everything. Never forget those scuds coming over like clockwork every in 91. Regards from Israel.
Cool video that brought back a lot of memories. I worked the flight line at Bergstrom in the 45th and 91st from 88 to 91 and recognized BA 572 (1st jet in the video). Loved those old birds, but they could sure be a pain to work on!
49th FG, 7th TFs, new F4C/D acft 1966 at Spangdahlem, Germany. Was a crew chief. On F-105 and converted to the F4. Two weeks ground training in England B4 ours showed up. Loved that bird. 50 years ago. Tks for sweet memories. Love to see her flying!
Thanks for the great video ! I started my military career as an F/A-18 Airframer. Missed the Phantom's (F-4S) by two years at MCAS Kaneohe Bay HI. All the CPL's and SGT's in my shop had been Phantom Phixers. My favorite aircraft of all time since I was a kid growing up and going to air shows at Pt Magu CA. My Dad's best friend growing up had been an F-4 RIO in Vietnam, and I loved to pick his brain about the Phantom and Migs. Guess I was born a few years late, or should'a joined the Air Force, lol. Phantoms Phorever !
I started out as an Airframe Mechanic on IDF F-4 "Kurnass" in B-check. The Phantom is a classic plane to work on, not easy but an absolute joy to work on. Got to refabricate from scratch and fit loads of panels, replace a few windscreens, tighten JoeBolts, extract fasteners, replace stripped anchornuts, worked with PRC, Perlite, sealed fuel tanks (not so fun). When we transferred to the newer F-16 it was boring in comparison. We took pride in maintaining our Phantoms.
First jet taking off was an F4G the others were Reckies. Awesome, that was Bahrain I’d recognize that scruffy piece of tarmac anywhere! Those guys took over for us there we moved to Khabarovsk Towers flying out of Dahmam Saudi Arabia they were giving incentive flights before closing down, like we did. As a Lead or Designated Crew Chief, I got my ride in my own F4E 74-0663 when we got home 2 weeks before our unit was shuttered. What a freaking ride over the Mohave Desert went Mach 1.7 over Death Valley flying between two mountain ridges saw the waves breaking over the leading edges of my wings! Pulled +7.4 Gs -4.5 Gs doing a bunch of aerobatics while I had the Stick, freaking wild ride!! Didn’t puke though what a great aircraft she was!! Voted best looking best flying F4E by sortie rates , aircrew and wing commander at George AFB 2years in a row!
Great video, I remember them so well, just like yesterday. I was very proud to be part of the only F-4 Wing during Desert Storm. 35th TFW (P), 35th EMS, AMMO!Paul PerronMSgt (R) USAF 81-07
To my knowledge no. All the pilots I remember were from the 12 TRS because that's the patch they were wearing. But who knows, maybe one or two were from the 91st.
Just a little trivia. We at Bergstrom called the 12th the flying dildos because the eagle flying on their patch looks just like its caring a dildo in its talons LOL!! Look up the patch on ebay LOL!!
It was such a thrill when these ships came out of phase. Sometimes early dawn they'd run up engines then do a shakedown. Those lit engines against a dark cobalt sky just turning light on the Horizon. Years later I learned a US Navy Tomcat shot down one of my Recce's. Guess they were mad we bombed USS Forrestal with toilet paper years before. RIP 69-0381. 26th AMS, Zweibrucken '78 - '81.
How awesome is this !!! As of 2018, 60 years after its first flight, the F-4 remains in service with Iran, Japan, South Korea, Greece and Turkey. The aircraft has most recently seen service against the Islamic State group in the Middle East.
I worked on those rece's while at Bergstrom AFB from 1985-1987 as an Aircraft Electrical Systems Specialist then wen to Yokota AB for 3 years. Got out in 1990. 6 months before the Gulf war. F-4's are so sexy.
I was at BAFB worked as an INS specialist avionics nav troop from '86-90 when I separated just prior to Desert Storm. Had friends on the SP team for the 12 that went over to get things set up just prior. I worked flight line side in 45th AMU until just prior to them inactivated in Sept '89 MSgt Zuniga or Sgt Z was head of our flight/amu directly over out team as well as TSgt Snearl and I trained under TSgt Moroni who was all of 5 ft if he was that. A little Italian guy who used to say F-4 es easy to fix like piss of cake! Great guy and funny to listen too. There was another guy by the name of Earl smart guy as we're many of these guys I worked with. Lost touch with most of them and they left the Austin, Texas area as many stayed. There was a Stephen Campbell another INS troop who I briefly stayed in touch with who was doing active reserve time after the Gulf War who was one of the guys I worked with in all 3 units I believe. I started in the 45th then as they inactivated them I moved to the 62nd and then to the 12th AMU/TRS before I start out-processing. They offered me munitions/armament on F-16s and I politely declined and decided to become a civilian. They froze everyone else's orders that had not started out-processing 10 days after I had started mine. So I missed going by 10 days and there times I wish I had stayed in or re-upped but with the F-4 being fazed out and the only option possibly being reserves which they were not pushing for that since we were on the brink of the war and Desert Shield has just been activated they were pushing for roles supporting that effort.
Btw we probably crossed paths,last name is Goodman known as Goody. Not sure if you remember meeting me or any of the people I mentioned. There were so many others and if I saw pics as I am better with faces but have forgotten the names of so many of them. I enjoyed my time in the AF but mostly it was the people and the good times we had. We worked hard and we played hard!
Moved to Austin in '79 after high school and I would park near Bergstrom AFB for hours just to watch the RF-4's. In 1983 I was a USAF SP guarding and patrolling our side of the flightline at Taegu, Korea - F-4E - 497th TFS Night Owls (Hooters). Phantom still my favorite bird!
the f4s in the beginning of the video with WW on tail are Wild Weasels from George and think even have a few marked GA from george as well taking off, to blurry to tell for sure. Feel like that was only a few years ago. Glad you put this online
the Wally World jet is WW from George AFB. No need for tail marking the harm 88 under the wing is the proof its a G model. I was there with Spangdahlem (SP) this was at that shithole called Shaikh Isa Air Base in shithole Bahrain. I hated that place.
I was lucky to get a back seat hop in a F 4J while in the Corps. We flew 45 degree rocket and bomb attacks at Pinecastle near Jacksonville Fla. We came home at 500. Ft over Jax Beach. Wow..
I was stationed at Bergstrom AFB, Texas and was assigned to the 12th AMU and 91st AMU and at the 460th CAMS in Teagu, South Korea (K-2). DCC on 352 and 564.
I was there from late '86 to late '90 as an INS troop. Assigned to 45th, 62nd until they inactivated them then finished out my time in the 12th AMU until October of 1990. I started my out-processing 10 days before they froze everyone's orders so I did not go but would have as I was on the SP Team I think they call it and had friends from the 12th that were already over there when I separated building up pallets of fuel tanks etc prepping for the rest of the unit/squadrons arrival. Have no doubts we knew each other or crossed paths depending on the years you were there. Certainly I worked on those jets if they were still there. I helped launch many of them as well. Fun times and great people! I still love the F-4. My assumption from this video is that the 45th footage is prior to Gulf War as they were inactivated in late 89 along with the 62nd as well. I don't believe other than the 12th TRS non of the other jets from the 67TRW BAFB were sent including the 91st? Unless someone knows something I don't. I know Zweibrucken and some of the other RF-4C squadrons like the ANG units including Alabama went but I don't think this footage or at least that part is from Gulf War era. No doubt the other footage is but those were other units. Still great footage and brings back alot of memories! Phantom Phoever! Always proud to call myself a Phantom Phixer phor sure!
Hell of a plane! Sat in many, dad was csmsgt 363rd Shaw. i stayed on flight line in hanger, after school in kindergt-3 grade and good thing i never messed with ejection pull. times are definitely different now.
The seats are safetied once they are parked and the pilots exit. One of the first things they do. Unless someone forgot and did not do their job no one sits in that seat unless the safety pins have been put in the different places to prevent such an accident from happening so you were safe....unless you had pulled all the pins and then pulled one of the handles then God help you! Lol
Attended an air show at Quonset Point RI the early 70s. Started talking to a Marine Corps Aviator standing next to his F4. Asked what was it landing on the Flight deck at sea and at night, he said to me, go to the darkest spot in your house, light a match, hold it at arms length and when it starts guttering out, that’s what it’s like. Always loved the Phantom and still do.
Should still be in the inventory, not only for Recce duties but also for Wild Weasel. Should NOT be sitting in the desert or being used at target drones!
@terry waller Greece, Turkey, Iran and Korea are still flying F-4's. Japan just retired their fleet in December 2018 but continued flying till March of 2019 with hours of potential operation still on the air frames. I think it became a maintenance cost to operational hour issue in most cases. Japan replaced their F-4's with F-35's. Wow, What a great plane the phantom is. (Not was)
@terry waller Hopefully more will become available to foundations or individuals with the resources to keep some flying examples. I live in Fort Worth and saw them fly daily for a decade out of Carswell AFB and I miss seeing and hearing the Phantoms. Very unique howl on landing.
Another Phantastic video from F4 Flys. You made my day. FYI: Phancon 2015 will be at Holloman AFB N.M. They will be using Qf4s for 2-3 more years. Tyndall will be finished with Qf4s between March to June 2015. Hope you can make it. Thanks again, Troy.
Ah, good old Shaikh Isa. I was the guy in the M-60 tank at the end of the run way. Base commander told me to push off any F-4 that couldn’t take off the first night of the air war. Figured I was a dead man if that happened. All that jet fuel would have cooked me, plus a few HARM missies going off wouldn’t have helped either! Glad you all made it off the ground that night, and made it home safe!! Good times!!
I hate it when they "bait n switch" airplanes. here @ 0:05 it was an RF-4 Recce then @ 0:23 it was a F-4G Wild Weasel like no one would notice.... to a car nut a Mustang is never gonna be a Gremlin...
I got out of the USAF in early 91 from Bergstrom AFB. Never did find out what my old Wing (67th TAC Recon) did in Desert storm. Anybody out there know?
Karin Lefevre I didn't know exactly what the USAF Phantom squadrons did in Desert Storm, or how many were deployed etc... All I knew was I had a warm secure feeling in '91, knowing Phantoms were flown in anger. Sadam's forces didn't stand a chance. Regards from Israel
@@rodr7451 That's what I understand, better today than when I served my 3 years. Seems the Phantom airframe, without the forward slats, excelled in this role. We still had a handful of RF's in the Israeli Airforce when I got out, a most magnificent machine up close and personal. In my opinion even more impressive than an F-15.
If I recall, BH left 6 -8 birds over there for the duration of Desert Storm. One of the Phantoms (64-1056) was lost out over the gulf due to an engine fire after hostilities "ended"...if I remember correctly. 047 (seen here) was the work horse during DSH/DST and now proudly rests at Wright/Pat....proud memories and PHANTOMS PHOREVER!!!!
@@Rhinodrvr44 There was one B'ham aircrew lost, before the war started I think. My dad worked with the back seater in his civilian job. I think they were lost doing low level work.
Philippine Life yes, BK Henderson and Steve Schram we’re lost in NOV 90. Low level flight, clipped a sand dune...one attempted inverted ejection, the other rode the aircraft in. Tragic accident and had long term affect on the squadron.
So I’m confused some now. The Bergstrom tail was something I never knew went over. I had always assumed/read that the Recce mission was covered by only the ANG. Are you also indicating that they were supplemented by AD crews too? If so, why? My Dad’s former Recce was a FY69 that was with the 67th, prior to transfer to Idaho, and I have also seen some photos of BAs FY71s at AMARG. Did 64-1047 with BH have something different as opposed to the AD birds? Sorry for the QandA but really curious about F-4/RF-4 history.
jcheck6 Really was trying to verify if whether the shot of the Bergstrom jet was legit in the Middle East, or just B-roll from somewhere else. Had not known that any BA birds went over.
@@pilotmulerider975 Did some checking, the 12th TRS from Bergstrom AFB deployed 6 jets to the war from Jan '91 to May'91. The one with BA on the tail I flew in the late '70's.
BA was Bergstrom AFB in Austin now the airport. 45th TTRS was the training squadron along with the 62nd which supported the 91st TRS and the 12th TRS. The 12th was the only squadron to send troops and jets to the Gulf. Btw previous to them being designated BA they were BB in the early 80's I believe.
No guns....and General Horner bared the RF's form carrying the sidewinders as well. Was concerned that "Recee pilots" would try to be "Fighter pilots" and not get critical footage back home. So glad we got the NWDS upgrade!!!
