Thanks Kevin, I was there then working on the front row. We were transitioning from the F-4C to the F-4D which is why there are so many paint variations. F-4 C 640712 is an air superiority gray livery in a gloss finish, the OD camo jets are probably from Homestead (they were crap, full of corrosion and leaks). In the second photo, 749 probably just came out of a 600 hour depot inspection with the low radar gray paint.
The barn with the numbers on it was our 5 minute alert facility. Spent time in there with F-102s, F-101s and F-4s. The numbers on top are scramble notifications for slots 1-9. Slot 1 and 2 were under the barn, 3-9 were on the front row.
Going back to 54-0712, it is currently on a pedestal at Camp Mabry in Austin which is headquarters for the Texas Army and Air National Guard. The first attempt to transport it to Camp Mabry was via a CH-47 based at Ellington. When the Chinook pulled up the F-4 never stabilized. During several attempts it would continuously spin due to the wash from the twin rotors. A week later they brought in a Sky Crane (CH 54 Tarhe) which had no problem. I always wondered what people were thinking when they saw that CH-54 carrying that F-4 above them.
Thanks Kevin, I was there then working on the front row. We were transitioning from the F-4C to the F-4D which is why there are so many paint variations. F-4 C 64012 is an air superiority gray livery in a gloss finish, the OD camo jets are probably from Homestead (they were crap, full of corrosion and leaks). In the second photo, 749 probably just came out of a 600 hour depot inspection with the low radar gray paint.
The barn with the numbers on it was our 5 minute alert facility. Spent time in there with F-102s, F-101s and F-4s. The numbers on top are scramble notifications for slots 1-9. Slot 1 and 2 were under the barn, 3-9 were on the front row.
Going back to 54-0712, it is currently on a pedestal at Camp Mabry in Austin which is headquarters for the Texas Army and Air National Guard. The first attempt to transport it to Camp Mabry was via a CH-47 based at Ellington. When the Chinook pulled up the F-4 never stabilized. During several attempts it would continuously spin due to the wash from the twin rotors. A week later they brought in a Sky Crane (CH 54 Tarhe) which had no problem. I always wondered what people were thinking when they saw that CH-54 carrying that F-4 above them.
Aug 08, 2025 at 07:56 PM
Previous versions of Ray Swindle's message #16866943 « Mustang Air to Air: The Sequel »
