McDonnell RF-4B Phantom II
Location: NAWS China Lake (NOT at the Ridgecrest China Lake Museum)
Last revised December 28, 1999
In the initial Model 98 package that was submitted to the Navy, McDonnell had included a Model 98P, which was a photographic reconnaissance version of the basic design. The Navy initially expressed no interest in the Model 98P proposal, since they were perfectly happy with the F8U-1P reconnaissance version of the Crusader. However, the F8U-1P lacked the night reconnaissance capability that was being planned in early 1962 for the Air Force's RF-110A reconnaissance version of the land-based Phantom. This caused the Navy to take a second look at the Model 98P, and in February 1963 the Marine Corps agreed to acquire the first 9 of an eventual 46 RF-4Bs.
In initial proposals and in pre-contract negotiations, this aircraft had initially been referred to as F4H-1P. However, this was changed to RF-4B in September 1962 when the new unified designation scheme came into effect.
The RF-4B was quite similar to the much more numerous RF-4C of the USAF. Like the RF-4C, the RF-4B was unarmed. The fighter's radar-equipped nose was replaced with a special nose specifically designed for reconnaissance applications. This nose was 4 feet 8 7/8 inches longer than the nose of the armed F-4B. The AN/APQ-72 radar of the F-4B was replaced by the much smaller Texas Instruments AN/APQ-99 forward-looking J-band monopulse radar which was optimized for terrain avoidance and terrain-following modes, and could also be used for ground mapping. There were three separate camera bays in the nose, designated Stations 1, 2, and 3. Station 1 could carry a single forward oblique or vertical KS-87 camera, Station 2 could carry a single KA-87 low-altitude camera, and Station 3 normally carried a single KA-55A or KA-91 high-altitude panoramic camera. The much larger KS-91 or KS-127A camera could also be carried. Unlike the cameras of the Air Force's RF-4Cs, the RF-4B's cameras were fitted on rotating mounts so that the pilot could aim them at targets off the flight path.
The rear cockpit was configured for a reconnaissance systems operator, with no flight controls being provided. Two ALE-29A/B chaff/flare dispensers were installed, one on each side of the aircraft above the rear fuselage. For nighttime photography, a set of photoflash cartridges could be ejected upward from each side of the aircraft.
An AN/APQ-102 reconnaissance SLAR was fitted, with antenna faired into the lower fuselage sides, just ahead of the intakes. This SLAR was capable of tracking both fixed and moving targets. An AN/AAD-4 infrared reconnaissance system was fitted in the fuselage belly just behind the SLAR. AN APR-25/27 radar homing and warning system was used, an ASW-25B one-way datalink was installed. An ALQ-126 deceptive electronic countermeasures package was installed, which obviated the need to carry external jammer pods. An ARC-105 communication transceiver was fitted, which required that large fin-skin shunt antennae be faired into both sides of the vertical fin. A Litton ASN-48 inertial navigation system was carried.
The first 34 RF-4Bs (BuNos 151975/151982 and 152089/153113) retained the powerplants and the basic airframe of the F-4B. However, the last twelve (BuNos 153114, 153115, and 157342/157351) were built with the wide wheels and the "thick" wing of the F-4J. The last three of these (157349/157351) were completed with the smoothly-rounded undernose bulge similar to that seen on many USAF RF-4Cs. This adaptation improved the aerodynamics and increased the internal volume. However, on these three aircraft, the pilot no longer had control of the angle of a KS-87 camera on station 2, which was made fixed.
The film could be developed in flight and film cassettes could be ejected at low altitude so that ground commanders could get aerial intelligence as rapidly as possible.
The first RF-4B flew on March 12, 1965, and deliveries of 46 examples took place between May 1965 and December 1970. All of them went to the Marine Corps.
The RF-4B was first delivered to VMCJ-3 based at MCAS El Toro in May of 1965, and soon after to VMCJ-2 at MCAS Cherry Point and to VMCJ-1 at Iwakuni in Japan.
VMCJ-1 based at Iwakuni in Japan took its RF-4Bs to Da Nang in October of 1966. During the Southeast Asia conflict, three RF-4Bs were lost to ground fire and one was destroyed in an operational accident.
Beginning in 1975, surviving Marine Corps RF-4Bs were upgraded as part of Project *SURE* (Sensor Update and Refurbishment Effort). There was some local strengthening of the airframe and the wiring was entirely replaced. These planes were fitted with the AN/ASN-92 carrier aircraft inertial navigation system (CAINS) which replaced the ASN-48. They were also fitted with the AN/ASW-25B datalink, the AN/APD-10B SLAR (replacing the APQ-102A), and the AN/AAD-5 infrared reconnaissance set (replacing the AN/AAD-4). Various externally-mounted electronic countermeasures pods were replaced by the internally-mounted ALQ-126 or -126B electronic countermeasures suite with characteristic cable ducts mounted on the sides of the intakes. The J79-GE-8 engines were later replaced by J79-GE-10 engines.
In 1975, two years after combat in Southeast Asia had ended, the surviving RF-4Bs were regrouped into a new squadron, VMFP-3, based at MCAS El Toro. VMFP-3 stood down in August of 1990, bringing Marine Corps operations of the RF-4B to an end.
Serial numbers of the RF-4B:
151975/151977 McDonnell RF-4B-20-MC Phantom (USMC)151978/151979 McDonnell RF-4B-21-MC Phantom (USMC)151980/151981 McDonnell RF-4B-22-MC Phantom (USMC)151982/151983 McDonnell RF-4B-23-MC Phantom (USMC)153089/153094 McDonnell RF-4B-24-MC Phantom (USMC)153095/153100 McDonnell RF-4B-25-MC Phantom (USMC)153101/153107 McDonnell RF-4B-26-MC Phantom (USMC)153108/153115 McDonnell RF-4B-27-MC Phantom (USMC)157342/157346 McDonnell RF-4B-41-MC Phantom (USMC)157347/157351 McDonnell RF-4B-43-MC Phantom (USMC)Sources:
1. The World's Fighting Planes, William Green, Doubleday, 1964.
2. McDonnell F-4 Phantom: Spirit in the Skies. Airtime Publishing, 1992.
3. The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.
4. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.
History of BUNO 157348 :
In service from: Nov 1970 to Aug 1990
Total Hours: 3,946
ANPRO - St. Louis, MO
12 Nov 1970 - VMCJ-2 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
18 Dec 1972 - H&MS-14 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
2 May 1974 - VMCJ-2 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
1 Nov 1975 - NATC RDT&E - NAS Patuxent River, MD
18 Jun 1976 - AFNPRO - St. Louis, MO
16 Sep 1977 - NATC RDT&E - NAS Patuxent River, MD
20 Dec 1977 - NARF - NAS North Island, CA
20 Sep 1979 - VMFP-3 - MCAS El Toro, CA
27 Oct 1981 - VMFP-3 - NAS North Island, CA
15 Dec 1981 - VMFP-3 - NAS Pensacola, FL
16 Dec 1981 - VMFP-3 - NAS North Island, CA
18 Dec 1981 - VMFP-3 - MCAS El Toro, CA
17 Jul 1982 - VMFP-3 Det 2 - Aboard USS Midway
23 Aug 1982 - VMFP-3 Det 2 - NAS Cubi Point, PI
22 Sep 1982 - VMFP-3 Det 2 - Aboard USS Midway
13 Dec 1982 - VMFP-3 Det 2 - MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
18 Feb 1983 - VMFP-3 Det 2 - Aboard USS Midway
8 May 1983 - VMFP-3 - MCAS El Toro, CA
25 Jun 1984 - VMFP-3 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
14 Feb 1985 - VMFP-3 - MCAS El Toro, CA
16 Nov 1985 - VMFP-3 Det 3 - MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
21 Jan 1986 - VMFP-3 Det 3 - NAS Cubi Point, PI
21 Jan 1986 - VMFP-3 Det 3 - MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
21 May 1986 - VMFP-3 Det 1 - MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
9 Jun 1986 - VMFP-3 Det 1 - Korea
9 Jun 1986 - VMFP-3 Det 1 - MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
18 Nov 1986 - VMFP-3 - MCAS El Toro, CA
12 Jan 1987 - VMFP-3 - MCAS Cherry Point, NC
16 Jul 1987 - VMFP-3 - MCAS El Toro, CA
27 Nov 1987 - VMFP-3 - MCAS Iwakuni, Japan
6 Aug 1990 - OMANWC - NAF China Lake, CA
6 Aug 1990 - NAWCWD China Lake FS Custody - NAF China Lake, CA
15 Nov 1996 - Last record (Status M10)
