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McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service - data

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Royal Navy Phantom in 1977

A total of 185 F-4 Phantoms were produced for and operated by the United Kingdom between 1968 and 1992. Between 1966 and 1969, 170 Phantoms were specially built for the UK, replacing the de Havilland Sea Vixen in the fleet air defence role for the Royal Navy, and the Hawker Hunter in the close air support and tactical reconnaissance roles in the Royal Air Force. Subsequently, when replaced by the SEPECAT Jaguar for close air support and reconnaissance, the Phantom replaced the English Electric Lightning as the UK's primary air defence interceptor. The Phantom was operated by the Royal Navy until 1978, when HMS Ark Royal, the only British ship capable of operating the aircraft, was decommissioned. Following this, the Royal Navy's Phantoms were turned over to the Royal Air Force. In 1984, a batch of 15 former United States Navy and United States Marine Corps Phantoms were obtained by the Royal Air Force to form an additional squadron. The Phantom began to be replaced by the air defence variant of the Panavia Tornado from 1987, and was finally withdrawn from service in 1992.

Basic specifications

[edit]
Comparison of variants[1][2]
Variant designation Image Powerplant Speed (at 40,000 ft) Ceiling Range Weight Wingspan Length Height Production total
US UK Empty Maximum
F-4K FG.1[1] 2 x Rolls-Royce Spey 201/203 low-bypass turbofan 1,386 mph (2,231 km/h) 57,200 ft (17,400 m) 1,750 mi (2,820 km) 31,000 lb (14,000 kg) 58,000 lb (26,000 kg) 38 ft 5 in (11.71 m) 57 ft 7 in (17.55 m) 16 ft 1 in (4.90 m)[A] 52
F-4M FGR.2[1] 2 x Rolls-Royce Spey 202/204 low-bypass turbofan 118
F-4J(UK) F.3[2] 2 x General Electric J79-10B axial flow turbojet 1,428 mph (2,298 km/h) 64,700 ft (19,700 m) 29,900 lb (13,600 kg) 58 ft 3 in (17.75 m) 15 ft 8 in (4.78 m) 15

External weapons and other stores

[edit]

The Phantom had a total of nine weapons stations, with two under each wing, one under the fuselage, and four along the side of the fuselage (see diagram), with the aircraft ultimately rated to carry up to 16,000 lb (7,300 kg) of external stores. UK Phantoms could be fitted with a range of both air-to-air, air-to-ground and reconnaissance stores in varying quantities through the use of different adapters fitted to its weapon stations:[4]

  • Stations 1, 5 and 9 were plumbed to allow the carriage of external fuel tanks[5]
  • Stations 2 and 8 were each capable of being fitted with a pair of LAU-7/A missile rails for the carriage of AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles[5]
  • Stations 1, 2, 5, 8 and 9 could each be fitted with a Carrier Bomb Triple Ejector (CBTE) to allow the carriage of up to three weapons per station[5]
  • Stations 3, 4, 6 and 7 were semi-recessed ejector stations for the carriage of AIM-7 Sparrow or GEC Skyflash missiles[5]
Diagrammatic representation of Phantom weapon stations
Phantom FGR.2 with a fuel tank on station 9; LAU-7/A rails with missiles on stations 8; a missile on station 6; and a gun pod on station 5
Name Type Notes Weapons stations
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Gun
SUU-23/A[B] Gun pod Utilised in air-to-air and air-to-ground roles Green tickY
Air-to-Air weapons
AIM-7E Sparrow SARH air-to-air missile Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Skyflash Development of Sparrow with inverse monopulse seeker Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
AIM-9 Sidewinder IR air-to-air missile Initially fitted with AIM-9G before upgrading to AIM-9L Green tickY Green tickY
Air-to-Ground weapons
MC Mk13 1000lb bomb General-purpose bomb Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
M2 540lb bomb Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
BL755 Cluster bomb Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Matra Type 116 rocket pod[B] Rocket pod For carriage of SNEB 68mm rocket projectile Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Microcell No.7 rocket pod[C] For carriage of RP2 2-inch rocket projectile Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Special weapons
B43 variable yield thermonuclear bomb[D] Tactical nuclear weapon Variable yield of 70 kilotons to 1 megaton Green tickY
B57 variable yield nuclear bomb[D] Variable yield of 5 kilotons to 20 kilotons Green tickY
Reconnaissance
EMI pod Reconnaissance pod Contained side-looking radar, infrared linescan
and multiple cameras
Green tickY
LS-93 Night Flash Contained camera with night flash capability;
installed in 370 gallon fuel tank
Green tickY Green tickY
KB-18A Strike camera Green tickY
Fuel tanks
600 gallon external tank Fuel tank Green tickY
Sargent Fletcher 370 gallon external tank Green tickY Green tickY

Comparison of Phantom FG.1 with Sea Vixen and Lightning

[edit]
Comparison of Sea Vixen FAW.2,[9] Lightning F.6[10] and Phantom FG.1[1]
Aircraft Powerplant Thrust
(each engine)
Speed
(at 40,000 ft)
Ceiling Range Armament
(air defence)
Avionics
Combat Maximum
Sea Vixen[9] 2 x Rolls-Royce Avon Mk.208 turbojets 11,000 lbf (49 kN) 700 mph (1,100 km/h) 48,000 ft (15,000 m) 600 mi (970 km) 2,000 mi (3,200 km) 4 x Firestreak or Red Top air to air missile (AAM) GEC AI.18 X-band radar
Lightning[10] 2 x Rolls-Royce Avon Mk.301 turbojets 12,690 lbf (56.4 kN)
dry thrust

16,360 lbf (72.8 kN)
with afterburner

1,500 mph (2,400 km/h) 60,000 ft (18,000 m) 800 mi (1,300 km) 1,250 mi (2,010 km) 2 x Firestreak or Red Top AAM
2 x 30mm ADEN cannon
Ferranti AI.23 X-band monopulse radar
Phantom[1] 2 x Rolls-Royce Spey Mk.203 turbofans 12,140 lbf (54.0 kN)
20,515 lbf (91.26 kN)
with afterburner
1,386 mph (2,231 km/h) 57,200 ft (17,400 m) 1,000 mi (1,600 km) 1,750 mi (2,820 km) 4 x AIM-7 Sparrow or Skyflash AAM
4 x AIM-9 Sidewinder AAM[E]
Ferranti AN/AWG-11 X-band multi-mode fire control system

F-4J airframes selected for conversion to F-4J(UK)

[edit]

In 1982, the UK government took the decision to procure an additional squadron of Phantoms, going on to select a number of used F-4J airframes stored at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center in Arizona.[11] A total of 15 airframes were purchased although, over the course of the procurement process, 19 were selected, with four ultimately not being used for various reasons.[12][13] Of the fifteen airframes ultimately selected, seven had previously seen active service in Vietnam.[14]

Black coloured US Navy F-4 Phantom
BuNo 153783 of VX-4 in its original incarnation in 1969
Barley grey coloured F-4 Phantom of the RAF
Ex-153783 in its second incarnation as ZE352 of No. 74 Squadron in 1987
White F-4 Phantom of the US Navy banking away from the camera
BuNo 155784 of VF-114 in 1972; this was one of the originally selected airframes that was subsequently rejected
BuNo Number United States service Fate RAF serial
USN USMC Vietnam
combat?
153768 To RAF as F-4J(UK) ZE350
153773 To RAF as F-4J(UK) ZE351
153783 To RAF as F-4J(UK) ZE352
153785 Green tickY To RAF as F-4J(UK) ZE353
153795 Green tickY To RAF as F-4J(UK) ZE354
153803 Green tickY To RAF as F-4J(UK) ZE355
153824 Upgraded to F-4S[F]
153850 Green tickY To RAF as F-4J(UK) ZE356
153892 To RAF as F-4J(UK) ZE357
155510 To RAF as F-4J(UK) ZE358
155529 Green tickY To RAF as F-4J(UK) ZE359
155574 To RAF as F-4J(UK) ZE360
155734 To RAF as F-4J(UK) ZE361
155755 Green tickY To RAF as F-4J(UK) ZE362
155784 Green tickY Upgraded to F-4S[F]
155841 Lost during transport[G]
155849 Upgraded to F-4S[F]
155868 To RAF as F-4J(UK) ZE363
155894 Green tickY To RAF as F-4J(UK) ZE364

List of surviving complete aircraft and aircraft sections

[edit]

While the majority of UK Phantoms were ultimately scrapped, a number of complete examples survived after the type's final withdrawal in 1992, either preserved in museums, or for further use as static articles by other units. Additionally, a number of examples that were ultimately scrapped had sections preserved for display in museums. These surviving complete examples and preserved sections are listed.[16][17][H]

YF-4K Phantom XT596 at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton.
F-4M Phantom XV424 at the RAF Museum, Hendon.
F-4J(UK) Phantom ZE359 in its original identity as BuNo 155529 of VF-74 at the Imperial War Museum Duxford.
Nose section of F-4K Phantom XV591 at the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands
Aircraft serial Variant First UK operator Final UK operator Fate Notes
XT596 YF-4K Rolls-Royce British Aerospace Preserved (Yeovilton) Oldest preserved UK Phantom[21]
XT597 F-4K Ministry of Defence
(Procurement Executive)
Aeroplane and Armament
Experimental Establishment
Preserved (Kemble) Final UK Phantom to fly[22]
Under restoration by BPAG[23]
XT863 F-4K 700P Naval Air Squadron No. 43 Squadron Scrapped Nose section stored (Cowes)
XT864 F-4K 700P Naval Air Squadron No. 111 Squadron Preserved (Lisburn)
XT891 F-4M No. 228 OCU No. 74 Squadron Preserved (Coningsby) Gate guardian
XT895 F-4M No. 228 OCU No. 74 Squadron Scrapped Nose section preserved
XT899 F-4M No. 228 OCU No. 19 Squadron Preserved (Kbely)
XT903 F-4M No. 228 OCU No. 56 Squadron Scrapped Nose section preserved (Cosford)
XT905 F-4M No. 54 Squadron No. 74 Squadron Preserved (Kemble) Under restoration by BPAG[24]
XT914 F-4M No. 228 OCU No. 74 Squadron Preserved (Wattisham)
XV399 F-4M No. 228 OCU No. 56 Squadron Scrapped Nose section preserved (Vik)
XV401 F-4M No. 228 OCU No. 74 Squadron Preserved (Bentwaters)
XV402 F-4M No. 31 Squadron No. 56 Squadron Scrapped Nose section preserved
XV406 F-4M Ministry of Defence No. 228 OCU Preserved (Carlisle)
XV408 F-4M No. 6 Squadron No. 92 Squadron Preserved (Tangmere)
XV409 F-4M No. 228 OCU No. 1435 Flight Scrapped Nose section preserved (Stanley)
XV415 F-4M No. 54 Squadron No. 56 Squadron Preserved (Boulmer) Gate guardian
XV419 F-4M No. 54 Squadron No. 19 Squadron Scrapped Nose section preserved (Ruthin)
XV424 F-4M No. 6 Squadron No. 56 Squadron Preserved (Hendon)
XV426 F-4M No. 31 Squadron No. 56 Squadron Scrapped Nose section preserved (Norwich)[25]
XV460 F-4M No. 14 Squadron No. 74 Squadron Scrapped Nose section preserved (Bentwaters)
XV470 F-4M No. 2 Squadron No. 56 Squadron Stored (Akrotiri)
XV474 F-4M No. 17 Squadron No. 74 Squadron Preserved (Duxford) First Phantom in air superiority grey[26]
XV489 F-4M No. 2 Squadron No. 92 Squadron Scrapped Nose section preserved
XV490 F-4M No. 54 Squadron No. 74 Squadron Scrapped Nose section preserved (Newark)
XV497 F-4M No. 41 Squadron No. 74 Squadron Preserved (Flixton) Final RAF Phantom to fly[1]
XV499 F-4M No. 228 OCU No. 74 Squadron Scrapped Nose section stored (St Athan)
XV581 F-4K No. 43 Squadron Scrapped Nose section preserved (Aberdeen)
XV582 F-4K No. 43 Squadron No. 228 OCU Preserved (St Athan)
XV586 F-4K 892 Naval Air Squadron No. 43 Squadron Preserved (Yeovilton)
XV591 F-4K 892 Naval Air Squadron No. 111 Squadron Scrapped Nose section preserved (Cosford)
ZE350 F-4J(UK) No. 74 Squadron Scrapped Nose section preserved (Adelaide)
Preserved in US Navy livery[27]
ZE352 F-4J(UK) No. 74 Squadron Scrapped Nose section preserved (Preston)
ZE359 F-4J(UK) No. 74 Squadron Preserved (Duxford) Preserved in US Navy livery[28]
ZE360 F-4J(UK) No. 74 Squadron Preserved (Kemble) Formerly used for firefighting training
Under restoration by BPAG[29]

Phantom bases

[edit]
A Phantom of No. 23 Squadron catches the wire upon landing at RAF Stanley.
A Phantom attached to the A&AEE on the flight deck of HMS Ark Royal.
  • Aircraft carriers
    • Although cross-decking with the aircraft carriers of the United States Navy was a regular occurrence for Fleet Air Arm aircraft,[37] Ark Royal was the only regular shipboard home for the UK's Phantoms during their service with the Royal Navy. However, at the introduction of the Phantom into the Fleet Air Arm, two other aircraft carriers, one British and one American, briefly played host to UK Phantoms:

Accidents and incidents

[edit]

Over the course of the Phantom's service with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, a total of 47 aircraft were lost to crashes, while another 8 were damaged and not repaired.[43]

Date Variant Aircraft serial Operator Location Country Fatalities Description Notes
9 July 1969 FGR.2 XV395 No. 6 Squadron Horncastle, Lincolnshire  United Kingdom 0 Crash due to loss of hydraulic pressure leading to locking of controls [44]
3 May 1970 FG.1 XV566 A&AEE[O] Lyme Bay, Dorset  United Kingdom 2 Crashed into Lyme Bay; no trace of aircraft found [45]
19 May 1971 FG.1 XT862 767 Naval Air Squadron Off Newquay, Cornwall  United Kingdom 0 Crash due to engine flameout [46]
29 June 1971 FG.1 XV565 892 Naval Air Squadron Off Mayport, Florida  United States 0 Crash while undertaking low level air combat manoeuvring [47]
12 October 1971 FGR.2 XV479 No. 54 Squadron Holstebro, Holstebro Municipality  Denmark 0+2[P] Crash due to engine failure [48]
15 October 1971 FGR.2 XT904 No. 228 OCU Off Cromer, Norfolk  United Kingdom 0 Crash following loss of aerodynamic control in spin [49]
10 January 1972 FG.1 XT876 767 Naval Air Squadron Trevose Head, Cornwall  United Kingdom 1 Crash following loss of aerodynamic control in spin [50]
14 February 1972 FGR.2 XT913 No. 228 OCU Off Happisburgh, Norfolk  United Kingdom 0 Crash due to hydraulic failure [51]
20 November 1972 FGR.2 XV477 No. 6 Squadron Scarrowmanwick Fell, Cumbria  United Kingdom 2 Crash into Fell as a result of attempt to climb to altitude due to poor visibility at lower level [52]
1 June 1973 FGR.2 XV397 No. 17 Squadron Kempen, North Rhine-Westphalia  West Germany 1 Crash following steep dive as a result of instrument failure [53]
25 June 1973 FGR.2 XV440 No. 31 Squadron Off Vlieland, Friesland  Netherlands 2 Crash believed to be due to pilot error [54]
17 July 1973 FG.1 XT871 892 Naval Air Squadron Firth of Forth  United Kingdom 0 Crash due to engine failure [55]
22 August 1973 FGR.2 XV427 No. 17 Squadron Arfeld, North-Rhine Westphalia  West Germany 2 Crashed into high-ground during low level sortie [56]
15 October 1973 FG.1 XT869 892 Naval Air Squadron Tentsmuir Forest, Fife  United Kingdom 0 Crash due to engine failure [57]
9 August 1974 FGR.2 XV493 No. 41 Squadron Fordham Fen, Norfolk  United Kingdom 2+1[Q] Crash following mid-air collision [58]
11 October 1974 FGR.2 XV431 No. 31 Squadron RAF Brüggen  West Germany 0 Crash due to wing tips being left unlocked and folding on take-off [59]
21 November 1974 FGR.2 XV441 No. 14 Squadron Maasbree, Limburg  Netherlands 0 Crash due to engine fire on take-off [60]
3 March 1975 FGR.2 XV416 No. 111 Squadron Coningsby, Lincolnshire  United Kingdom 0 Crash due to engine failure [61]
18 September 1975 FG.1 XV580 No. 43 Squadron Kirriemuir, Tayside  United Kingdom 0 Crash due to loss of control during practice sortie for air display [62]
24 November 1975 FGR.2 XV405 No. 228 OCU Skegness, Lincolnshire  United Kingdom 0 Crash due to loss of control [63]
17 December 1975 FGR.2 XV463 No. 41 Squadron Mawbray, Cumbria  United Kingdom 2 Crash due to loss of control [64]
23 July 1976 FGR.2 XV417 No. 29 Squadron Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire  United Kingdom 0 Crash during air combat manoeuvring when wing tip folded due to loose securing bolt [65]
18 May 1977 FG.1 XV588 892 Naval Air Squadron RAF Leuchars  United Kingdom 0 Aircraft burnt out due to engine fire during aborted take-off [66]
12 May 1978 FG.1 XT868 892 Naval Air Squadron RAF Leuchars  United Kingdom 1 Crash due to engine flameout [67]
24 July 1978 FGR.2 XV483 No. 92 Squadron Drenke, North-Rhine Westphalia  West Germany 2 Crash during practice intercept [68]
4 August 1978 FGR.2 XV403 No. 111 Squadron Off Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire  United Kingdom 2 Crash during practice intercept [69]
23 November 1978 FG.1 XT598 No. 111 Squadron St Andrews Bay, Fife  United Kingdom 2 Crash during landing approach [70]
28 February 1979 FG.1 XV578 No. 111 Squadron Off Montrose, Angus  United Kingdom 0 Crash due to engine failure [71]
5 March 1980 FGR.2 XV436 No. 29 Squadron RAF Coningsby  United Kingdom 0 Aircraft ran off runway having missed arrestor cable following hydraulic failure [72]
3 June 1980 FG.1 XV589 No. 111 Squadron RAF Alconbury  United Kingdom 0 Crash due to loss of aerodynamic stability from nose radome unlocking and folding back [73]
11 July 1980 FGR.2 XV418 No. 92 Squadron Lohne, Lower Saxony  West Germany 2 Crash due to loss of control during manoeuvring [74]
12 November 1980 FGR.2 XV413 No. 29 Squadron Off Cromer, Norfolk  United Kingdom 2 Crashed into the North Sea during night flying [75]
9 December 1980 FGR.2 XV414 No. 23 Squadron Off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk  United Kingdom 0 Crash due to fire caused by ignition of fuel leak [76]
9 July 1981 FG.1 XT866 No. 43 Squadron RAF Leuchars  United Kingdom 0 Crash on landing due to loss of control as a result of slipstream [77]
14 April 1982 FGR.2 XT912 No. 228 OCU Billinghay, Lincolnshire  United Kingdom 0 Crash due to mid-air collision with second aircraft in formation [78]
7 July 1982 FGR.2 XV491 No. 29 Squadron Off Cromer, Norfolk  United Kingdom 2 Crash in fog due to faulty altimeter [79]
17 October 1983 FGR.2 XV484 No. 23 Squadron Mount Usbourne, Falkland Islands  Falkland Islands 2 Crashed into mountain following descent through cloud [80]
31 July 1985 FG.1 XT857 No. 111 Squadron RAF Leuchars  United Kingdom 0 Aircraft overran runway on landing [81]
7 January 1986 FGR.2 XV434 No. 29 Squadron Walden Head, North Yorkshire  United Kingdom 0 Crash due to loss of control [82]
3 July 1986 FGR.2 XV471 No. 19 Squadron Rath-Anhoven, North-Rhine Westphalia  West Germany 0 Crash due to fire destroying stabilator control unit, leading to total loss of control [83]
26 August 1987 F.3 ZE358 No. 74 Squadron Pant-y-Gwair, Dyfed  United Kingdom 2 Crash while undertaking low level air combat manoeuvring [84]
7 September 1987 FG.1 XT861 No. 43 Squadron Off Firth of Tay, Perthshire  United Kingdom 0 Crash as a result of mid-air collision [85]
20 April 1988 FG.1 XT860 No. 43 Squadron Leuchars, Fife  United Kingdom 2 Crash as a result of poor visibility due to sea fog [86]
2 August 1988 FGR.2 XV501 No. 56 Squadron Mayenne, Pays de la Loire  France 0 Crash due to loss of control during practice intercept [87]
23 September 1988 FGR.2 XV428 No. 228 OCU RAF Abingdon  United Kingdom 2 Crash during aerobatic manoeuvre [88]
18 October 1988 FGR.2 XV437 No. 92 Squadron Holzminden, Lower Saxony  West Germany 0 Crash due to engine failure [89]
9 January 1989 FGR.2 XT908 No. 228 OCU Off Dundee, Tayside  United Kingdom 1 Crash due to loss of control following pilot loss of consciousness [90]
24 April 1989 FGR.2 XT893 No. 56 Squadron Flamborough Head, North Yorkshire  United Kingdom 0 Crash following loss of aerodynamic control in spin [91]
1 April 1990 FGR.2 XV478 No. 19 Squadron RAF Wildenrath  West Germany 0 Aircraft caught fire while on the ground [92]
30 April 1990 FGR.2 XV402 No. 56 Squadron RAF Valley  United Kingdom 0 Aircraft caught fire during landing due to tyre burst [93]
9 October 1990 FGR.2 XV394 No. 92 Squadron RAF Wildenrath  Germany 0 Aircraft sustained minor damage on landing - not repaired due to imminent retirement of type [94]
8 January 1991 FGR.2 XV462 No. 19 Squadron Off Limassol, Limassol District  Cyprus 0 Crash due to uncontrollable roll [95]
12 August 1991 FGR.2 XV438 No. 56 Squadron RAF Wattisham  United Kingdom 0 Aircraft damaged due to mid-air collision - not repaired due to imminent retirement of type [96]
30 October 1991 FGR.2 XV421 No. 1435 Flight Off McBrides Head, Falkland Islands  Falkland Islands 2 Crash believed due to crew disorientation in cloud [97]
15 July 1992 FGR.2 XV473 No. 56 Squadron RAF Waddington  United Kingdom 0 Aircraft damaged by faulty fuel pump - not repaired due to imminent retirement of type [98]

Phantom units

[edit]

In addition to the various units of the Fleet Air Arm and RAF, the Phantom was operated by two units of the A&AEE – 'A' Squadron, which was responsible for fast jet evaluation, and 'C' Squadron, which dealt with naval aircraft testing.[99]

Unit Formed Variant Role Previous operations (withdrawn) Disbanded Replaced by Reference
700P Naval Air Squadron 1968 FG.1 Operational Evaluation[R] Wessex HAS.3[S] (1967) 1969[T] Sea King HAS.1[U] [32]
767 Naval Air Squadron 1969 Operational Conversion Attacker FB.2 (1955)[V] 1972 N/A[W] [32]
892 Naval Air Squadron 1969[T] Fleet Air Defence Sea Vixen FAW.2 (1969) 1978 no replacement [X] [107]
No. 2 Squadron 1970 FGR.2 Tactical Reconnaissance Hunter FR.10 (1970) 1976 Jaguar GR.1 [108][109]
No. 6 Squadron 1969 FGR.2 Close Air Support/Tactical Strike Canberra B.16 (1969) 1974 [110]
No. 14 Squadron 1970 FGR.2 Canberra B(I).8 (1970) 1975 [111]
No. 17 Squadron 1970 FGR.2 Canberra PR.7[Y] (1970) 1975 [113]
No. 19 Squadron 1977 FGR.2 Air Defence Lightning F.2A (1977) 1992 Hawk T.1[Z] [117]
No. 23 Squadron 1975 FGR.2 Lightning F.3/F.6 (1975) 1988 Tornado F.3 [118]
No. 29 Squadron 1975 FGR.2 Lightning F.3/F.6 (1975) 1987 [119]
No. 31 Squadron 1971 FGR.2 Close Air Support/Tactical Strike Canberra PR.7[Y] (1971) 1976 Jaguar GR.1 [120]
No. 41 Squadron 1972 FGR.2 Tactical Reconnaissance[AA] Bloodhound Mk.2 SAM (1970) 1977 [122]
No. 43 Squadron 1969 FG.1 Air Defence Hunter FGA.9[AB] (1967) 1989 Tornado F.3 [124]
No. 54 Squadron 1969 FGR.2 Close Air Support/Tactical Strike Hunter FGA.9 (1969) 1974 Jaguar GR.1 [125]
No. 56 Squadron 1976 FGR.2 Air Defence Lightning F.6 (1976) 1992 Tornado F.3[AC] [127]
No. 64 Squadron[K] 1968 FGR.2[AD] Operational Conversion Javelin FAW.7/FAW.9[AE] (1967) 1991 N/A [130]
No. 74 Squadron 1984 F.3[AF] Air Defence Lightning F.6 (1971) 1991 Hawk T.1A[Z] [115]
No. 92 Squadron 1977 FGR.2 Lightning F.2A (1977) 1992 [131]
No. 111 Squadron 1974 FGR.2[AG] Lightning F.3/F.6 (1974) 1990 Tornado F.3 [132]
No. 1435 Flight 1988 FGR.2 N/A[AH] 1992 [133]
Phantom Training Flight[AI] 1972 FG.1 Operational Conversion N/A 1978 N/A [33]
1991 FGR.2 Refresher Training 1992

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ 16 ft 9 in (5.11 m) with Radar Warning Receiver[3]
  2. ^ a b Royal Air Force aircraft only[6][7]
  3. ^ Fleet Air Arm aircraft only[6]
  4. ^ a b RAF Phantoms stationed in Germany were assigned to the nuclear strike role between 1968 and 1974, when they began to be transferred to the air defence mission. The Fleet Air Arm instead employed the Buccaneer in the nuclear strike role using the UK developed WE.177 weapon.[8]
  5. ^ Phantoms serving in the RAF were also capable of carrying the SUU-23/A gun pod, which featured a 20mm M61 rotary cannon
  6. ^ a b c Originally selected, but subsequently rejected by the UK and retained for further service with the US Navy and US Marine Corps.[12]
  7. ^ Dropped from helicopter during transport for conversion to F-4J(UK).[15]
  8. ^ Other Phantoms are also on display in the UK – a former United States Air Force F-4C version (63-7699) is preserved at the Midland Air Museum in Coventry; the museum has a second F-4C (63-7414) that was used as a spares source for the display example.[18] A third F-4C, painted to represent 65-0777, is mounted on display at the "Wings of Liberty Airpark" at RAF Lakenheath.[19] An ex-United States Marine Corps F-4S (BuNo 155848) at the National Museum of Flight in East Fortune.[20]
  9. ^ Phantoms were assigned to two separate elements within the A&AEE – 'A' Squadron was the Fast Jet Evaluation element, to which the majority of aircraft earmarked for testing were allocated, while 'C' Squadron was the Naval Testing element, intended to clear the aircraft for operation at sea. Both FG.1s and FGR.2s were assigned to 'A' Squadron, but only FG.1s were used by 'C' Squadron.[34]
  10. ^ 892 NAS deployed to sea aboard Ark Royal for the last time in April 1978. On 27 November 1978, while the ship was still in the Mediterranean, the air group disembarked for the final time, with the aircraft delivered to RAF St Athan to be handed over to the RAF.[35] 892 NAS was finally disbanded on 15 December 1978.[36]
  11. ^ a b c No. 64 Squadron was the "shadow" squadron number of No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit[128]
  12. ^ No. 228 OCU was originally formed in August 1968, and was assigned the shadow squadron identity of No. 64 Squadron in July 1970.[33]
  13. ^ Phantoms from the A&AEE's 'C' Squadron were initially deployed to Eagle to undertake a series of approaches and touch-and-go landings in March 1969; the aircraft operated from land while the ship was working up in the English Channel.[39] Then, in June, A&AEE aircraft operated from Eagle undertaking full flight deck trials, including both catapult launch and arrested recovery.[40]
  14. ^ The deployment to Saratoga was to allow 892 NAS to undertake carrier qualifications while Ark Royal was still in refit.[42]
  15. ^ On loan from 892 Naval Air Squadron.[45]
  16. ^ The aircrew survived, but two civilians on the ground were killed.[48]
  17. ^ Both the crew of the Phantom and the pilot of the second aircraft were killed.[58]
  18. ^ 700 NAS is the assigned number to all units evaluating new aircraft for the Fleet Air Arm[100]
  19. ^ As 700H NAS[101]
  20. ^ a b Upon being disbanded, 700P NAS formed the nucleus of 892 NAS[102]
  21. ^ As 700S NAS[103]
  22. ^ The Attacker was used as a trainer for deck landing control officers[104]
  23. ^ Phantom conversion training was undertaken by the Phantom Training Flight following the disbanding of 767 NAS[105]
  24. ^ Following the decommissioning of HMS Ark Royal in 1978, the Royal Navy was no longer able to operate conventional fixed wing aircraft at sea. The British Aerospace Sea Harrier was introduced into both the air defence (replacing the Phantom) and strike (replacing the Buccaneer) roles in the Fleet Air Arm with 800 NAS and 801 NAS in 1980[106]
  25. ^ a b The Canberra was used in the tactical reconnaissance role[112]
  26. ^ a b The instances where the Phantom was replaced in squadron service by the Hawk were a result of the "Options for Change" defence cuts, with the squadrons being transferred to training roles[114][115][116]
  27. ^ 41 Squadron converted to this role from being an air defence SAM squadron[121]
  28. ^ The Hunter was used in the close air support role[123]
  29. ^ This unit became the "shadow" squadron number of 229 OCU, the Tornado OCU[126]
  30. ^ No. 228 Operational Conversion Unit was the training unit for the FGR.2 from 1968 until 1978, with training on the FG.1 provided first by 767 Naval Air Squadron, and then the Phantom Training Flight. 228 OCU assumed responsibility for all Phantom training in 1978.[33]
  31. ^ The Javelin squadron was an operational interceptor unit[129]
  32. ^ No. 74 Squadron converted to the FGR.2 in 1991 prior to disbanding[33]
  33. ^ No. 111 Squadron converted to the FG.1 in 1979[33]
  34. ^ The original No. 1435 Flight served from December 1941 to April 1945[133]
  35. ^ The Phantom Training Flight was originally established in 1972 as the FG.1 conversion unit following the disbanding of 767 NAS. It was later reformed to provide refresher training on the FGR.2 in the final year of RAF Phantom operations.[33]

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Bibliography

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