Cool shots, I can't help getting a little misty eyed seeing them. My dad spent 20 years or so out of a 26 year USAF career as Aircraft Maintenance working on them. There was nothing he didn't know on that bird, helped rewrite T.O.'s on them, was one of the few that was certified all systems Red X qualified on them.
After he came back from Vietnam (Tan Son Nhut AB, Saigon, he was there during Tet) he was assigned to Hill AFB as part of a RAM team, going back to Vietnam to repair severely damaged F-4's. The Fabulous Phantom aka Bent Wing, Broken Tail, Coal Burner, Ace Maker was his favorite bird.
My dad lost his battle with cancer in Sept 2011, so whenever I see a picture of one, or hear one in the pattern it reminds me of him, it's my connection to him! Before he passed, some of his modeling buddies worked a trip for him to the NMUSAF, he got to go in before the museum opened, they pulled the ropes back and let him walk around the F-4 there. IIRC he donated the F-4 Tech Orders he had to the museum. The crew at the museum were awesome, can't say enough, he wore a smile for weeks after the trip!
_________________ Mike in Florida TSgt USAF Retired Jan 86 - Sept 08 Aircrew Life Support "Your Life Is Our Business" (122X0, 1T1X1, 1P0X1) NRA Life Member
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