Hobby Master 1/72 HA1981 McDonnell Douglas F-4G Wild Weasel 69-7582, 37 TFW, USAF, 1980s
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 was the main multipurpose aircraft for the US Military for 20 years. The F-4E variant was an improved version of the C/D with an elongated nose and compact radar. These two things made it possible to install a 20mm M61A1 6 barrel 640 round Vulcan gun pod in the nose. The F-4E was the most produced variant with 1387 aircraft being made over its 12 year production period. The “E” also equipped more air forces than any other variant of the Phantom II.
McDonnell Douglas F-4 69-7582 c/n 4053 was manufactured as an “E” variant and assigned to 563 TFS / 37th TFW at George AFB, California in the early to mid-1980s. The aircraft was later sent to the Ogden Air Logistics Center and modified to a “G” variant. F-4G 69-7582 spent time with the 23rd TFS / 52nd TFW in Spangdahlem West German as the Boss Bird before it was WFU (Withdrawn From Use) and sent to AMARC November 21, 1991. On July 13, 2000 the aircraft was sent for conversion to a QF-4G AF-222 drone. On March 10, 2006 it was destroyed. The three stars on the left splitter were not earned by this aircraft, the kills were actually squadron/individual credits.