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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: McDonnell F-4 Phantom II
    Latest Model:F-4S Phantom II
    Last Military Serial:157307 USMC
    Construction Number:4018
    Compressed ID:McDonnell F-4S sn 157307 USMC cn 40...
    Latest Owner or Location:Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Reston, Virginia

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a F-4J-44-MC by McDonnell at Saint Louis, Missouri, USA.

    18 December 1970

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 157307.

    22 June 1971

    Transferred to VF-31, NAS Oceana, VA.

    Circa January 1972

    Base of operations changed.
    By April en route to the western Pacific for duty in the Vietnam Wa.

    By 21 June 1972

    Markings Applied: 106, AC

    21 June 1972

    On May 18, 1972, the squadron started combat operations on Yankee Station, off the coast of Vietnam. While on a flight on June 21, 1972, its last day on station, 157307 was launched that day on a MIGCAP (MiG Combat Air Patrol) with VF-31s Executive Officer, Cdr. S.C. Flynn, USN, as pilot, and Lt. W.H. John as the Radar Intercept Officer (RIO). This was not their regularly assigned airplane. They spotted 3 MiGs and in the ensuing engagement shot down one MiG-21 with a Sidewinder missile (AIM-9). This action marked a first for the Saratoga Air Wing and for an East Coast fighter squadron.

    12 September 1975

    Transferred to VF-33, NAS Oceana, VA.

    Base of operations changed.

    6 May 1977

    Transferred to VF-74, NAS Oceana, VA.

    17 September 1979

    Transferred to VF-103, NAS Oceana, VA.

    21 October 1981

    Transferred to VF-171, NAS Oceana, VA.

    April 1983

    Converted to a F-4S.
    At Naval Air Rework Facility at North Island, CA.

    27 December 1983

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Marine Corps with BuNo 157307.

    27 December 1983

    Transferred to VMFAT-101, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Yuma, AZ.

    11 May 1987

    Transferred to VMFA-232, MCAS Kaneohe Bay, HI.

    11 May 1987

    Markings Applied: 03, WT

    29 November 1988

    To Smithsonian.
    Transferred to the Smithsonian when it was flown to Dulles International Airport.

    By 17 September 2006

    To Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Reston, VA.
    View the Location Dossier

    17 September 2006


    Photographer: Bill Kistler

    16 September 2011


    Photographer: Robert Nichols

    16 September 2011


    Photographer: Robert Nichols

    15 May 2018


    Photographer: Larry Johnson
    Notes: at Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Print Sources
     U.S. Military Out of Service 2007 by Andy Marden
    Internet Sources
     Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum
    United States Military Services Serial Number Lists by Joe Baugher
    Individual Contributors
     Robert Nichols
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