70 years of the Phantom commemorate the 1958 first flight of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, a supersonic multirole fighter that set multiple world records and excelled in air superiority, ground attack, and reconnaissance during Vietnam and the Cold War. With over 5,195 built, it remains in service with air forces like Greece and Turkey today.
On July 25, 2025, the F-4 Phantom marks 70 years since the US Navy contracted McDonnell Aircraft Corporation to build two XF4H-1 prototypes. Ordered in 1955, just ten years after World War II, the Phantom entered service with multiple armed forces globally and remains in limited use today with nations like Iran and Turkey. Today we will examine key moments in the aircraft’s career, including its Australian service, as it enters its seventh decade.
The Phantom’s origins lie in the US Navy’s post-World War II push for a carrier-based interceptor. In late 1953, McDonnell proposed a “Super Demon” based on the F3H Demon to meet this need. By early 1954, mockups of the XF4H-1 featured a redesigned wing and fuselage. Wind tunnel tests and further refinements followed, and on July 25, 1955, the Navy ordered two prototypes.
The XF4H-1 first flew on May 27, 1958, with carrier trials in 1959 proving its naval capability. The USAF tested it as the F-110A Spectre, notably demonstrating its payload with a 1961 Fort Bragg drop of 24 Mk 82 bombs. Early names like “Satan” and “Mithras” were considered but dropped for “Phantom,” echoing the FH-1. On December 30, 1960, the F-4B entered Navy service with VF-121, and by 1962, the tri-service F-4 designation was standardized.
The Phantom’s design diverged from sleek contemporaries like the F-100 Super Sabre, prioritizing advanced radar and multirole versatility over 1950s aesthetics. This drew interest from the USMC and USAF early on.
VIETNAM WAR
The Phantom’s combat debut came on August 5, 1964, during Operation Pierce Arrow—retaliatory strikes after the Gulf of Tonkin incident, flown by Navy F-4Bs. From 1965, variants (F-4B, C, D, E) deployed across Navy, Marine, and Air Force units, replacing the F-105 Thunderchief as the primary strike aircraft.
Over the 11-year conflict, F-4s handled reconnaissance, SEADSEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses): A military operation designed to neutralize, destroy, or temporarily degrade enemy air defense systems to al... More (Suppression of Enemy Air DefensesSEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses): A military operation designed to neutralize, destroy, or temporarily degrade enemy air defense systems to al... More), precision strikes, close air support, runway attacks, and combat air patrols. They scored 107 of 137 US air-to-air victories, aided by systems like Combat Tree for IFF and LORAN for all-weather bombing. Against the MiG-21, F-4s faced a formidable rival, with early kill ratios near 2:1 improving later with tactics and the F-4E’s internal cannon.
OTHER SERVICES (UK)
Foreign operators adopted the Phantom in the 1960s. The UK procured 48 F-4Ks (FG.1) based on the F-4J, powered by Rolls-Royce Spey engines, and 116 F-4Ms (FGR.2) for RAF multirole use. In 1984, 15 refurbished ex-USN F-4Js, designated F.3, joined the fleet. Debates emerged over the Spey-powered FG.1/FGR.2 versus the J79-equipped F-4J, with the former offering better low-altitude performance.
AUSTRALIAN SERVICE
In October 1970, the RAAF leased 24 F-4Es under the Peace Reef program, filling a gap caused by F-111C delays. In 1963, Australia had evaluated the F-4C but chose the F-111 for its long-range strike capability. F-111 setbacks, including wing box failures, prompted the interim Phantom lease.
Operated by Nos. 1 and 6 Squadrons at RAAF Amberley, the F-4E earned praise from crews for its versatility. The US offered to sell them or expand the fleet, but Australia declined, citing higher operating costs with Stratotankers and the strategic priority of the F-111. The first F-111Cs arrived in June 1973, and the Phantoms were returned by year’s end.
YOM KIPPUR WAR
Israel received F-4Es between 1969 and 1971, and on October 6, 1973, the Yom Kippur War tested them. Facing Egyptian and Syrian offensives, IAF Phantoms slowed advances across the Sinai with air-to-ground strikes, using computer-assisted toss bombing against SAMSurface-to-Air Missile: A ground-based or ship-launched guided missile system designed to detect, track, and destroy enemy aircraft, helicopters, crui... More sites and night missions to hit armored columns. In air combat, F-4s downed multiple MiG-21s, including rare engagements with North Korean-flown MiGs. Their 1973 performance remains a highlight of IAF Phantom operations.
IRAN-IRAQ WAR
Iran’s F-4s, acquired under the Shah, saw heavy use in the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War. On September 30, 1980, Operation Scorch Sword sent F-4Es to strike Iraq’s Osirak reactor, causing minor damage; Israel’s F-16s finished it in 1981’s Operation Opera.
The H-3 raid on April 4, 1981, targeted Iraq’s western H-3 airbase, 1,000 km from Iran. Eight F-4Es, supported by F-14 escorts and two KC-707 tankers, flew low-level routes with midair refueling at 200–300 feet. F-14s engaged Iraqi fighters in the east as decoys, while F-4s struck, destroying 10–15 aircraft and disrupting an Iraqi offensive. This raid showcased Iranian planning and Phantom durability in deep-strike roles.
GULF WAR
In 1991, USAF F-4Gs joined Operation Desert Storm as Wild Weasels, flying SEADSEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses): A military operation designed to neutralize, destroy, or temporarily degrade enemy air defense systems to al... More missions against Iraqi air defences. On January 17, alongside F/A-18s, they neutralized SAMSurface-to-Air Missile: A ground-based or ship-launched guided missile system designed to detect, track, and destroy enemy aircraft, helicopters, crui... More radars around Baghdad—one of the world’s most defended airspaces—enabling coalition sorties. This marked the Phantom’s last major US combat role.
Post-Gulf War, retirements accelerated. Germany and Israel phased out F-4s in the early 2000s, Spain its RF-4Cs by 2002. Japan retired its F-4EJs in March 2021, and South Korea its F-4Es on June 7, 2024.
The Hellenic Air Force still operates the F-4 after planning to retire them in 2017, functioning in a variety of roles. These are referred to as AUP Phantoms, referring to the Avionics Upgrade Program these aircraft underwent in order to modernise them. They will likely remain in service with the Greeks until the 2030s
CONCLUSION
As of March 2025, Iran claims operational F-4s alongside F-14s, though maintenance challenges persist. Turkey retains F-4Es, last used in 2016 against PKK targets, likely in reserve status. Ordered in 1955, the Phantom’s Mach 2+ speed and multirole adaptability outpaced many modern jets. Proven in Vietnam, the Middle East, and beyond, it ranks among the most capable jet aircraft in military aviation history, 70 years after its inception.
