Hi all,
I’m doing a little research on 4th TFW F-4Es, and I seem to remember seeing a couple of gentlemen on this forum who were SJ Phantom Phyxers.
I’m looking for serial number/pilot/crew chief combinations for a few F-4Es from each of the four squadrons. I’d love to hear from anyone who might have owned an SJ F-4 and can remember their crews, or who may have taken photos of both sides of a particular F-4E where you can read the crew names.
Thanks!
Ben
Try calling the SJ 4th Fighter Wing Wing Historian - 919-722-1110 then ask for the historian’s office.
Thanks! I’ve got his contact info and I think he may be coming to our local contest this spring.
Ben
I was an avionics tech with the 334th from 80-86. I think you are going to have a hard time finding the specific info you are looking for. Up-close photography was not as easy to get away with as it is now. My friend and I have a large collection of photos of the F-4’s from back then but most are taken from a distance. Maybe if you find a specific crew chief they may have some photos of their jet. Pilots and WSO’s plus dedicated and assistant crew chiefs were constantly changing. I will look to see if I have any that may have been from an airshow that are close-ups but even then I was taking pictures of the jet, not details. Do you have a specific tail number you are looking for?
Thanks for the reply! I tried sending you an e-mail through the forum but had some trouble with it. If you don’t get it or it turns out gibberish (more than my usual typing, I mean) can you give me a shout at bebrown1(at)bellsouth(dot)net?
Thanks!
Ben
Hey Ben, I work down here at Tyndall AFB where the QF-4 is stationed. I know we have alot of old shady j’s F-4’s on some of our lines and we will probably getting some more in. I’ll do some looking around for you and see what I can find out and may be get some of the names on the jets that are here. Some of the airplnes still have the names on them and some of them don’t either way though I’ll see if I can help you out.
That would be fantastic! I’m not sure where these jets are currently located (including the bottom of the Gulf), but if you happen to see them and the pilot/WSO/crew chief names are still visible…
73-1165
73-1167
74-1626
Of course any others, especially 335th TFS jets, would be very much appreciated!
Thanks!
Ben (bebrown1(at)bellsouth(dot)net
Ben 74-1626 rings a bell the other two numbers don’t but i’ll monday while I’m at work and see what I can do for you, a lot of them that come are now faded and pretty beat the stickers are worn and hard to make out what squadrons they were with. We also have a few that we have paint and send out to air shows for heritage flights, and I think that 1626 might be one of those.
Ben
Here is some info I found on those tail numbers:
73-1165 (c/n 4670) to AMARC as FP0602 Jan 10, 1991.
73-1167 (c/n 4679) to AMARC as FP0519 Jun 27, 1990.
74-1626 (c/n 4856) to AMARC as FP0512 May 24, 1990. Converted to QF-4E AF309
Thanks! I guess that means 1165 and 1167 are still at Mojave, since they haven’t been converted yet?
Ben
Hey Ben I apologize that it took me so long to get back to you, my computer seriously got stuck on stupid for the past couple of days. If 1626 if AF309 then that airplane is out at Holloman AFB and has since been repainted as one of our heritage birds for airshows. I found 73-1165 at our hangar yesterday and wrote down the info you wanted from and have sent it to you in a private message. That airplane is AF281 and is now being demanned for a drone.
Got 'em! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! [#toast]
I’ve tracked down 626’s crew chief from when it was at Seymour, so I can hopefully confirm the pilot names with him.
I really appreciate your help!
Ben
Here are some inflight shots of Tyndall AFB Heratige flight F-4E’s.
Thanks! I see that Two Bob’s is releasing some decals for those jets and Two Mikes Resin is about to release a QF-4 conversion set to go with them.
Cheers!
Ben
Your Welcome Ben. I was happy to help.