McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom

Kevin wrote:

Wasn't the kit re-packaged for the Jaguar's recce pod?

Nope!

ianbache;156270 wrote:

XV 435 outside the fire section at Llanbedr, which was cut after October 2004 when the airfield closed,I think the cockpit was saved but not 100%.

Regards Ian

I believe the whole frame was scrapped, I am not aware of the cockpit surviving.

superplum;156281 wrote:

Nope!

I claim the support of
www.spyflight.co.uk/jag%20pod.htm
which says the Phantom's linescan went into the Jag pod. Might it be be reasonable to assume the regular cameras were recycled, too?

Kevin wrote:

I claim the support of
www.spyflight.co.uk/jag%20pod.htm
which says the Phantom's linescan went into the Jag pod. Might it be be reasonable to assume the regular cameras were recycled, too?

Ask a simple question and open a can of worms!!

I have reservations about the accuracy of the Spyflight website.

The phantom pod had a Texas Instruments IRLS and Mk 7 F95 cameras, whereas the Jaguar one had an EMI IRLS and Mk 10 F95 cameras. As far as I am aware the Jaguars were delivered to 2 and 41 Sqn complete with pods, so there would have been need to cannibalise the Phantom pods.

I read recently that 19 sqn aircrew and many of the ground crew came from 2 Sqn. I recall, that in theory, at least 19 Sqn, had recce as its secondary role. Alternatively, the most likely reason for the pods presence at Wildenrath that all the Phantom kit was moved there to make room for the Jaguars at Laarbruch, until a decision was made on the disposal of kit surplus to requirements.

I was a Photographic Interpreter and was at Wildenrath from 1974 to 1977 as the junior half of the Army Element (captain and sergeant, Intelligence Corps) of the Reconnaissance Intelligence Centre (RIC). I, therefore, had little contact with the Phantom pod although I handled the imagery it produced on many occasions. The Spyflight website states that pod was unreliable and 2 Sqn used it for only one year. Both statements are incorrect. 2 Sqn reformed on Phantoms in December 1970 converting to the Jaguar in mid-1976 and would have been unable to have fulfilled its primary role without the pod. 2 sqn regular particpated in Royal Flush and could not have scored won without pods or with ones that were unreliable.

Graham

GJD Services based at Bruntingthorpe have now officially announced that they are purchasing Phantom XV582 'Black Mike' -

twitter.com/GJDServices

Latest info here also -

www.xv582blackmike.co.uk/

Steve

I remember black mike very well, a very impressive paint job. I also remember 16 years ago C in C Strike command trying to get it flying again, but the throttle boxes had been cut.

Some recent (2015) cockpit shots of XV581:

Front cockpit


Rear cockpit


More to follow when I can locate them...!

A few from USS Midway

The RAF F4 at Bentwaters Museum [current]

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BW 23 Sqn Phantom DSC_2164a by John Cooper , on Flickr

............and one outside the restoration hangar at Bentwaters

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BW 74 Sqn Phantom DSC_2088 by John Cooper , on Flickr