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RF-4EJ “ Goodbye Woodpecker Phantoms "
- Thread starter Ματθιας
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When I was a kid, the local Air Guard flew Phantoms. This was the '70s, when the Cold War was raging. Regulations were a little less strict. Being on a family vacation, camped out in the desert and hearing and seeing a pair of them go over, followed soon by a double boom as they "chased that demon in the sky".
Even as a kid, it made feel safe. Today, they're flying the new Eagle II. Got the first operational ones, in fact. Heard them fly over the other day. Still felt safe. But a part of me misses the Phantoms.
Even as a kid, it made feel safe. Today, they're flying the new Eagle II. Got the first operational ones, in fact. Heard them fly over the other day. Still felt safe. But a part of me misses the Phantoms.
Glynn863
Member
A former coworker was a backseater on a RF4C in the AL ANG in Birmingham for many years. He and his pilot flew it to the boneyard in AZ in 1994 and took a commercial flight back to AL.
AJ
US Veteran
My aircraft was the A6 Intruder. They last flew with the Marines in 1993 and with the Navy in 1997. Darn, I guess I am old!
cherrypointmarine
SWCA Member
You might know who this was AJ . On the USS Midway we had a Marine Sqd of RF-4's with us . Can't remember who they were , but seeing them take a cat shot at night was a thing of beauty .
At NAS Whidbey Island there was a really big sign . It said " Please pardon the noise , it's the sound of freedom ." Truer words have ever been put to paper .
At NAS Whidbey Island there was a really big sign . It said " Please pardon the noise , it's the sound of freedom ." Truer words have ever been put to paper .
AJ
US Veteran
What year was that? RF-4's out of MCAS Cherry Point, would have been VMCJ-2. If out of MCAS El Toro, it should have been VMCJ - 3. VMCJ - 1 was in WestPac and not deployed aboard ship. I was in VMCJ-2 when I got back from my first tour in RVN, J-2 had both RF-4B's and EA6-A's in the squadron. Since I was an A6 Electrician, I got assigned there as a a Cpl. Within a 7 month time frame I weaseled my way back to WestPac in a A6 unit. I was back in VMAQ-2 (same unit as before now with EA6-B's only) 20 years later as a 1stSgt. Disbanded in 2019.
The same sign is at the front gate of MCAS Cherry Point, nowadays.
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I remember visiting my sister and her kids for a couple weeks when her Marine husband was deployed. They were at Cherry Point MCAS at that time. As I was passing through the base to her housing I was stopped at a runway crossing. I got to watch two Harriers doing a fixed nozzle slow landing from quite close. Brought a huge smile to my face.
AJ
US Veteran
Loud too! Our on-base house was in line with the approach to the east/west runways. At times it was hard to hear yourself think1
My trip was in 2007, and their house backed up to, I'm guessing, Alligator Gut. It was amazing how many fossil shark teeth and other bits I found when walking the shoreline with my nieces. It was one of my favorite vacations I ever took.
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The Phantom will always be one of my favorites.
My uncle Dick was a crew chief on F105 'Thuds' then later F4 Phantoms. If I remember correctly he was at Takhli and did two or three deployments.
After his tours during the war he was sent to Iran to help train the Shah's airmen on the F4.
Here is a photo of him early in his Air Force career. He's the tall man on the left. He always said it was the best job anyone could ever have and would do it all over again. Sadly he has passed.
If any of you could ID the jet in the photo I would appreciate it. Is it a T38?
My uncle Dick was a crew chief on F105 'Thuds' then later F4 Phantoms. If I remember correctly he was at Takhli and did two or three deployments.
After his tours during the war he was sent to Iran to help train the Shah's airmen on the F4.
Here is a photo of him early in his Air Force career. He's the tall man on the left. He always said it was the best job anyone could ever have and would do it all over again. Sadly he has passed.
If any of you could ID the jet in the photo I would appreciate it. Is it a T38?
