History

First flown in May 1958, the Phantom II originally was developed for U.S. Navy fleet defense and entered service in 1961. The USAF evaluated it for close air support, interdiction, and counter-air operations and, in 1962, approved a USAF version. The USAF's Phantom II program was first designated F-110A Spectre but this name was later dropped and the USAF's Phantom II was designated F-4C. The USAF F-4C made its first flight on May 27, 1963, and production deliveries began in November 1963. During the Vietnam War in 1967 production was 72 Phantom IIs a month.

The aircraft has flown a lot of combat mission in South-East Asia during the Vietnam War and has claimed 277 air-to-air combat victories. F-4 Phantom IIs in Israeli service are claimed to have shot down 116 aircraft during a number of conflicts. The F-4G and RF-4C were also used in the wild weasel and photo reconnaissance role respectively during the Gulf War.

The Air National Guard was the last US operator of the F-4 until retirement in 1995/1996.