Warbird Information Exchange

I'm wanting to determine the current whereabout of a particular F-4E Phantom that was transferred to the IDF/AF under the control of Operation Nickel Grass in 1973.

Ser No. is 67-0362

This aircraft has been known as "Paula 1" and was the aircraft that Col. Ritchie had 2 Mig kills in.

I'm curious to know if this bird still exists. Does the IDF/AF still operate any Phantoms?

It was refreshing awhile back to learn that not only did another iconic SEA Phantom 68-0339 a.k.a. "Chico the Gunfighter" still exists but was still in service with the RoKAF.

Would be nice if the same were true with 67-0362, but I would just be happy with the truth of the matter.

Thanks for any help.


Shay
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Semper Fortis

Ritchie once told me that the aircraft still existed. He was also still somewhat upset that the aircraft was given to the Israelis, given its historical importance !

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

I could be wrong but I thought I heard a long time ago that they were to return the a/c to the U.S. for display when they are done with it.

Mike

i'm jewish & love the f-4, does that qualify??

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

His F-4 is on display at the Air Force Academy.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

The D model 463 is at the USAF Academy. It's there because it scored 6 kills with multiple pilots and WSOs. Ritchie isn't real happy that it is there either. He believes that as the highest individual scoring jet, it is the one that should have gone to the NMUSAF.

The aircraft in question is an E model.

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

With all do respect to Mr. Ritchie, I think he is wrong. What cooler of an F-4 to have on display than Scat from Robin olds?

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

Shay,
The IDF withdrew their F-4s a few years back. Most of them are stored in the Negev desert at Ovda Air Base, the Israeli version of AMARC.
Unfortunately, not all the links between USAF and IDF serials are known (to me at least), so there is no way of telling if 67-0362 is a survivor.
Regards,
Andy Marden

Mustang Driver, the coolest thing would be to have both of them at NMUSAF. 463 is the highest scoring jet from Viet Nam, only a couple of the kills were Ritchies. It's a shame that the jet sits out in the weather instead of inside where it belongs.

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"You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind each blade of grass..."
Admiral Isoruku Yamamoto

Hey I agree man, but you can't house every F-4 ever built. The Museum has three already on display indoors. The Ritchie one would be sweet.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

And by the way these jets are hardly in bad shape.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Director

My Uncle was a test pilot for MacDonnell Douglas in the 60's and 70's. I have fond memories of his home movies he took from the cockpit of his
F-4 on ferry flights to Israel. All the birds were painted Vietnam Camo, i remember it distinctly. My sum total of knowledge on the subject. That didn't take long.