[image error]First Phantom flight

On 27 May 1958 the first flight of the F4H-1 Phantom II launched from Lambert Field in St Louis Missouri. A few months later, I was born just a couple miles away. I grew up watching the Phantoms blast out of Lambert and joined the Navy to fly them. My winging class was the last offered Phantom II’s, alas, I wasn’t lucky enough to get the orders. But I did get the girl!

[image error]Laura pinning me in JUN84

McDonnell had used the name Phantom for its first jet fighter. The FH-1 was the first pure jet aircraft to fly from an aircraft carrier. A break through.

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The Phantom II (re-designated the F-4B) was an even bigger technological break through for the US Navy. In the transition to jets, Naval aircraft had lost their performance parity with land based aircraft. The F-8 Crusader lead the way, establishing a new speed record in 1956, but it was primarily a gun fighter with heat seeking AIM-9 missiles. It also had a horrible safety record at the ship.

[image error]F-8 Crusader

The F-4B Phantom II was armed with AIM-7 Sparrows which gave it a true BVR (Beyond Visual Range) capability. More significantly, the Phantom shattered 16 world records for speed, altitude and time to climb records. Many, from the Pacific Missile Test Base, Point Mugu, my last base and where I finally got to fly the mighty Phantom.

[image error]F-4S Phantom II with RIO LCDR Siwon “Ray” Lee

Over 5,000 F-4 Phantoms of many variants were built in St Louis for the Navy, Marine Corps and the USAF as well as Air Forces around the world. It was the quintessential fighter for four decades. I chased it for my entire career and finally caught it on my last tour. What a ride it was! I’ve tried to capture the experience in my articles and flying fighters in general in my book series (Aviator Series).

Chase your dreams…sometimes you catch them!

Leland

[image error]F-4N Phantom II 153030, my last jet, on GITMO, Cuba