McDonnell Phantom (1968 - 1992)

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Fine shot of FGR Mk 2 XV489 unmarked but probably with 29 Sqn Coningsby (BAe)

The McDonnell Phantom rates as one of the most successful warplanes of all time. It was developed by the company which had produced the F2H Banshee and F3H Demon shipboard fighters as an air defence fighter for the United States Navy. First flight of the F4H-1, as the new aircraft was initially designated, was on 27 May 1958. The first F4H-1 Phantoms entered USN service with VF74 in July 1961. The new comprehensive designation system introduced in 1962 resulted in the F4H becoming the F-4. Before that time the F4H had been selected by the USAF as a tactical fighter designated F-110. Subsequently the Phantom served with distinction in a range of roles with US air arms and further afield.

Selection of the Phantom for British services was the result of strong but inappropriate Government policy between 1957 and 1965 when the TSR.2 was cancelled. The Hunter ground attack replacement was due to be the Hawker P.1154 a type which the Royal Navy was encouraged to buy as a Sea Vixen replacement. The operational requirements were so dissimilar that both users had to accept compromise which eventually led to the Navy looking instead to the Phantom which had been vigourously marketed. When the TSR.2 was cancelled, the initial replacement was the F-111K which in turn was cancelled in favour of the Phantom and Buccaneer. From 1962 McDonnell had been studying F-4 and Rolls Royce Spey compatibility and orders for the type for both British air arms specified the Spey engine. In addition British avionics were specified although the Westinghouse AWG-10 radar was retained, albeit built in the UK under licence. The Royal Navy's requirement was subsequently reduced in size when the Government in 1968 decided to scrap the carrier force. Phantoms in British service (except the F-4J) were easily distinguished from other variants. The Spey installation resulted in a 20% larger air intake and quite different, drooping, jetpipes. From 1976 the distinctive Marconi ARI18228 RWR was added to the fintip.

FG Mk 1 XV587/G of 43 Sqn at Mildenhall in May 1986

FG Mark 1 The Mark 1 was the senior service's version of the Phantom, the original order for which was 140. The type was based on the F-4J and designated F-4K. The nose cone was hinged to allow use of British carrier lifts and the nose-wheel leg increased in height to 40ins to increase the angle of attack at launch. Other devices to ease operation from small carriers included a strengthened undercarriage and arrester hook, drooped ailerons and enlarged leading edge flaps. The Phantom was not built with internal armament and the naval aircraft were not fitted for the SUU-23A under-fuselage gunpack. In the air defence role armament options were four AIM-9 Sidewinders and four AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missiles. In the ground attack or strike roles there was provision for the carriage of up to 16,000lbs of stores on eight underwing and one fuselage hardpoints. A wide range of stores could be carried and on British aircraft the wing points were capable of taking 1,000lb bombs. In the air defence role the eight missile fit would typically be complemented by two 370 gal wing tanks and one 600 gal centreline tank. In the attack roles stores would normally be confined to around 6,000lbs plus fuel tanks. The FG Mk 1 entered naval service with 700P NAS in April 1968 and with the decision to reduce the naval requirement, some went direct to the RAF (43 Sqn) from September 1969.

Service Air defence 43, 111 Fighter, ground attack 892 NAS Training 700P, 767 NAS; PTF

FG Mk 1 XT875/K of 43 Sqn as delivered in gloss camouflage in 1970

XV572/N 43 Sqn in dull camouflage, Chivenor 1972

FG Mk 1 XV571/A of 43 Sqn in the later grey scheme, Mildenhall 1982

FG Mk 1 XV574/Z of 111 at Greenham Common 1983

XV592/L 111 Sqn Alconbury 1986

FGR Mk 2 XT8995/CJ of 64 Sqn/228 OCU at Boscombe Down in 1990

FGR Mark 2 The Mark 2 was the RAF version of the Phantom, the F-4M. It was similar to the FG Mk 1 but lacked the extendable nose leg and had a standard stabilator. The version was also fitted for the SUU-23A gun-pod and some were wired for the EMI reconnaissance pod carried on the centreline. The RWR was also fitted from 1976 and some aircraft were equipped with dual controls. The FGR Mk 2 began its operational RAF career with 6 Sqn in January 1969 and it was used primarily in the tactical role until replaced by Jaguars. The last tactical operator was 41 Sqn which replaced its aircraft in September 1977. Two units, 2 and 41 Sqns, had a primary reconnaissance role. From 1974 the FGR Mk 2 was switched to the air defence role; the last was withdrawn from UK service with 56 Sqn in June 1992, while 1435 Flt in the Falklands converted to the Tornado two months later.

Service Air defence 19, 23, 29, 43, 56, 74, 92, 111; 1435 Flt

XV404/I of 19 Sqn, Mildenhall 1990

Camouflaged FGR Mk 2 XV490/H of 23 Sqn Wattisham 1982

Fine air to air shot of XT903/X of 23 Sqn (Keith Maxwell)

Take-off shots of XV485/P of 23 Sqn Wattisham 1982

XV501/B of 23 Sqn with Falklands markings

FGR Mk 2 XV487/Q of 29 Sqn Mildenhall 1986

XT897/Y of 56 Sqn Greenham Common 1983

FGR Mk 2 XV415/O of 74 Sqn at Fairford 1991

XV415/P of 92 Sqn in camouflage Greenham Common 1983

Tactical 2, 6, 14, 17, 31, 41, 54;

XV432 of 6 Sqn fully armed (MoD)

FGR Mk 2 XT912/912 of 14 Sqn 1972 (MoD)

XV498 of 17 Sqn (MoD)

FGR Mk 2 XV460/460 of 31 Sqn passes through the washing plant at RAF Bruggen 1974 (MoD)

XV483/U of 41 Sqn flying over St Omer from whose arms the unit took its badge in 1916 (MoD)

Training 228 OCU (64)

FGR Mk 2 XT897/CC of 64 Sqn at Wyton in 1989

F Mark 3/F-4J This was the initial designation applied to fifteen F-4J aircraft (F-4JUK) purchased to address the reduction in air defence capability when one unit had to be based in the Falklands. The aircraft retained their American engines and equipment and were operated by one unit, 74 Sqn at Wattisham, from July 1984 to early 1991.

Service Air defence 74

F-4J ZE355/S of 74 Sqn landing at Wattisham 1986. The blue/grey finish is distinctive.

Black fins soon appeared as seen on ZE362/V landing at Coningsby in 1988

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FGR Mk 2 XV487/K of 56 Sqn sits at readiness in the Q shed at Wattisham, March 1983

Specification and production

Mark	Role	Engine	Thrust	Weight lbs	Speed mph	Numbers

FG1	Fighter	2 x Spey 203	20,515*	58,000	M1.9	50
FGR2	Fighter	2 x Spey 202	20,515*	58,000	M1.9	116
F3/F-4J	Fighter	2 x J79-GE-10	17,900*	61,795	M2.1	15