Phntom Phleet #9

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

This episode of “The Phleet” covers my only other 1/48 scale Phantom. This model depicts the F-4D flown by Capt Steve Ritchie with Capt Chuck DeBellevue as his WSO for Ritchie’s 1st and 5th Mig kills. All 5 of his kills were the vaunted Mig-21 and he is the only Viet Nam “Ace” to achieve that. The crew and aircraft OY-463 were assigned to the 555 Tac Fighter Squadron of the 432 Tactical Reconnaissance Wing out of Udorn Thani Royal Thai Air Force Base. The model is by Monogram with Micro Scale decals and Model Master enamel paints applied with a Badger 150 air brush. The weapons load out is 4 AIM-7 Sparrows, 4 AIM-9 Sidewinders and 3 external fuel tanks. Real life probably had the left forward AIM-7 replaced by an ALQ-101 or 119 ECM pod. [alien]
I still have one more 1/72 Phantom, an F-4K that I neglected to take photos of the other day. [V]

Ritchie’s score card
10 May 1972 F-4D #67463 WSO Chuck DeBellevue Mig-21
31 May 1972 F-4D#--------- WSO Lawrence Pettit Mig-21
08 July 1972 F-4E #67362 WSO Chuck DeBellevue Mig-21
08 July 1972 F-4E #67362 WSO Chuck DeBellevue Mig-21
28 Aug 1972 F-4D #67463 WSO Chuck DeBellevue Mig-21

2

Nice job on all the builds.

Regards, Rick

3

Wow yardbird , how many do you have , keep them coming

4

Phabulous Phantoms Phorever! You wouldn’t have a VF-111 bird hiding in the shadows would you?

Glenn

5

An F-4B from VF-111 is on my “to do” list. I love the red & white sunburst on the vertical fin. The “Sundowners” have at least two kills, one in the F-8 on 19 Sep 68 by Lt Tony Nargi and one by F-4B #153019, flown by Lt Garry Weigand with WSO Lt jg Bill Freckelton on 6 May 72. I have the decals for that Phantom in 1/72. [alien]