RF-4C Phantom II walkaround
Among the earliest USAF Phantoms, the RF-4C was also one of the last, not bowing out of service until the mid 1990s. The original requirement was for an RF-101 replacement, based on the F-110A/F-4C airframe, which at that time had not yet flown. As was typical with tactical recon aircraft, the RF-4C was to have no self defense armament, with the fitting for AIM-7 and AIM-9 AAMs being dispensed with. Without an air/air mission, the F-4C's radar was not fitted, in favor of the AN/APQ-99 - this set had a smaller antenna, allowing a slimmer radome to be used.
Just as RF-4Cs were among the last active USAF Phantoms, they will also be among the final F-4s used as Full Scale Aerial Targets. In April 2013, after having been in storage since 1989, RF-4C 68-0599, still wearing the weathered remnants of a "lizard" camouflage paint scheme, was resurrected for conversion to a QRF-4C, marking the end of Phantom drone conversions.
The NMUSAF's RF-4C is a combat veteran of both Vietnam and Desert Shield/Storm, and was retired to Dayton in May 1994, some twenty-nine years after it was first delivered.
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RF-4C Bibliography:
Robert D. Archer Edwards Air Force Base: Open House at the USAF Flight Test Center 1957-1966 p.172: rear quarter view of an early RF-4C
Randy Walker More Painted Ladies Modern Military Nose-Art & Unusual Markings 1994 ISBN: 0-88740-514-2 RF-4Cs 66-0148 Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, 65-0939 Lady Di 155th RG, 65-0878 Rambo, 64-0133 Alabama ANG, 64-1062 Free Spirit 155th RG, 68-0551 NoGun Shogun 15th TRS
AirDOC No.01: USAFE Phantoms Part 1 - The MDD F-4 Phantom II over Germany by Patrick Martin, Christian Gerard
Color profiles include RF-4Cs 72-0152, 68-0557, 68-0570 and 71-0249 / 38th TRS in various camouflage schemes
Robert F. Dorr, Norman E. Taylor US Air Force Nose Art - Into the '90s RF-4C 68-0854/Alabama ANG with commemorative markings
Photo: early RF-4C in flight Aviation Week & Space Technology February 24, 1964 front cover
Goodyear Aerospace ad, featuring a large color photo of RF-4C 12200 Aviation Week & Space Technology November 23, 1964 p.56-57
Erwin J. Bulban "Detachable Recon Pod Developed for F-4" Aviation Week & Space Technology February 12, 1973 p.47 Includes a photo of RF-4C 66-419 with B-52Ds in the background.
Photo: AFLC RF-4C 65-0905 in red/white scheme Air International May 1989 p.245
Bill Spidle "Photo Phantom Phaseout" Smoke Trails: Quarterly Journal of the F-4 Phantom Society Vol.6 No. 2 1991 RF-4Cs in the twilight of their service
"Ron Hilker's Phabulous photo Phantom" FineScale Modeler January 2001 The big 1/32 Revell RF-4C as a Desert Storm aircraft.
The United States Air Force in Southeast Asia, 1961-1973: An Illustrated Account Carl Berger, editor p.88-89: photo sequence showing an RF-4C breaking apart after being hit by an SA-2.