All photos I’ve seen of F-4 & F-105’s over SEA have the dual color drop tanks ie green on top and gray underside. My question is during that period were there situations when a A/C would take of on an ops with a BMF, all green or gray drop tanks or a mix as the case may be. To anybodys knowlege were all the tanks shipped to SEA dual color or would they arrive in any condition and painted in situe any info you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Bear
When the F-4 entered the war in SEA they were painted in gull gray over white. The tanks were gloss white. After the aircraft started getting painted in the SEA camo, the tanks were also painted in FS 34079. It was not uncommon to see fully camouflaged aircraft with white drop tanks in the early stages of the war. In later stages the tanks were FS 34079 on top and FS 36633 on bottom. Early drop tanks were delivered painted in gloss white and some remained in the inventory for many years as WRM tanks. In 1967, my RF-4C in Nam flew many missions with white drop tanks, even though the aircraft had the SEA paint. In 1968/69 my F-4D only carried SEA painted wing tanks. The centerline tank remained gloss white for many years only going to green when the SEA wrap around became the standard.
Some units flew the F-4 with the bottom painted flat black and the bottom of the tanks were also painted black.
The F-105 entered the war painted silver, not bare metal as many sources say. The wing drop tanks were painted silver with a flat black area on top to prevent glare. After the aircraft was painted in the SEA scheme, the tanks were painted in FS 34079 on top and FS 36622 on the bottom. As with the F-4, it wasn’t uncommon to see the F-105 with SEA camo fly with silver tanks early in the war.
Thanks for your feedback Berny it’s greatly appreciated. Thats what I thought, there might have been some mix and match going on. I’m presently building an F-105 in 1/72 and was looking for a somewhat different look than the regular two tone drop tanks. Your info also helps as I have an F-4 C/D & F-4E waiting in the wings. Thanks again for your help.
Cheers
Bear
There are other options too. Tanks get damaged and sections are replaced. Build a tank where the center and aft section is green and gray. For the nose section, leave it white or have it where the paint pattern doesn’t match. The same can be used for aircraft flight control surfaces where they have been replaced and the paint pattern and color doesn’t match. Who said everything has to be a uniform color?
Berny Those are some great options. I’m to busy trying to getting the paint scheme right and not thinking operationaly or longer than my nose[:D]. Now that I think of it I do recal when working transient serviceing the odd CF-5 or T-33 that would come in with a rudder or aileron that the color did not match or camo did not line up right and that poor voodoo fuselage used for the aircraft battle damage repair course ouch. Thats some great battle damage repairs you’ve given your phantom, I’m definitly going to try some of those ideas out on my Thud and Phantoms. Thanks again for all your help and suggestions.
Cheers
Bear
That is the way she looked when I launched her out on her final mission on 16 December 1967. She was shot down on that date by AAA over Hiaphong with both crew members being listed as KIA. She had an AAA round go off near her on 12 December, damaging the fin cap, rudder, drag chute door, horz and vert stabs. She flew a FCF on 15 December after all repairs were completed, and released. We loaded three white drop tanks on her and she was a spare the rest of that day. The white radome was from damage done to her several months prior.
Berny Thats very interesting, I love when there is a story behind a build. How many Phantoms were assigned to you during your career. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Cheers
Bear
The first was RF-4C 64-818. Then F-4D 66-7690 and 66-8711. F-4E 69-260. Then I became responsible for all aircraft in the squadron in the supervisor role.
I’ve also seen several photos of F-105G’s with all 34079 drop tanks.