In 1962, McDonnell Douglas answered the call for an all-weather aircraft capable of performing reconnaissance operations in support of air and ground forces, but retaining the capapblity to deliver nuclear weapons. The result was the RF-4. The first two reconnaissance Phantoms were essentially modifications of the F-4B, but they emerged as the YRF-4C prototypes, and it was from St. Louis that the maiden flight took place on August 9, 1963. At that time it was just being used to test the aerodynamic effects of its changed nose. Afterward the usual array of equipment was added to the testbed. Production followed fairly quickly, although the Air Force ordered a meager 24 planes. However, it was later recognized that during the Cuban Missle Crisis and the beginnings of the Vietnam War that the RF-4 was in need of some modifications. Despite the newly discovered short-comings, the RF-4 began to enter service with the Tactical Air Command at Shaw AFB, 33rd Tactical Reconnaissance Training Squadron in late September of 1964. It became fully operational in 1965 with the 16th Tactical Reconnaisance Squadron. Not soon after the RF-4 Phantom II was deployed with 9 aircraft to Tan Son Nhut in South Vietnam, later this was followed by 11 more aircraft. By October 1967 the number of RF-4s deployed reached its peak at 100 aircraft (a total of 84 were destroyed). The Maine Corps also ordered the plane and had 46 planes delivered, ten of which are still in service today.

The RF-4 can recognize up to a total of 10 types of enemy radar, and when one of these are detected, it is followed until its precise loction can be determined. Texas Instruments has also developed a forward lookinng integral radar. If you have more innformation on the RF-4, please e-mail me.

Specifications:

Span: 38 ft. 5 in.

Length: 62 ft. 10 in.

Height: 16 ft. 6 in.

Armament: None. Later models equipped with 4 sidewinder missiles

Engines: Two General Electric J-79-GE-15s of 17,000 lbs. thrust each with afterburner

Crew: Two

Cost: $2,260,000

PERFORMANCE

Maximum speed: 1,384 mph

Cruising speed: 575 mph

Range: 1,632 miles without aerial refueling

Service Ceiling: 55,200 ft