ADF-SERIALS
Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History

RAAF A69 McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom

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  The RAAF leased 24 F-4E Phantoms from the USAF due to delays in delivery of the F-111.
The out of sequence RAAF designator A-69 was applied for administrative purposes but did not appear on the aircraft which retained their USAF serial numbers.
During their RAAF service the Phantoms were 'owned' and operated by 482 Maintenance Squadron, 1 and 6 Squadrons supplied aircrew only.
The aircraft were flown by both units for the time they served in the RAAF.
After their return to the USAF most were converted to F4-G Wild Weasel Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) aircraft.
They served successfully during the Gulf War.
Their careers were further extended with many converted to QF-4G unmanned target aircraft and thus most are no longer with us.
Those that were not shot down or crashed have been scrapped so there is not a single surviving example of an ex-RAAF Phantom
  
     
 
USAF.Serial Aircraft.Type Tail
Code		 c/n Aircraft History
69-0304 F-4E-43-MC 04 3847 Delivered 82 Wing 09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Returned to USAF 21/06/73.

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 57th FWW, 347th TFW, 6510th TFW, 35th TFW, 37th TFW, 35th FW USAF.
Served in Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm
To AMARC 05/06/92 as FP0856.
To MFSI, Mojave, CA. Converted to QF-4G (AF-203) 13/01/99.
To Tyndall AFB 02/03/2000.
Destroyed as target 15/08/2001

Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-0304
69-0305 F-4E-43-MC 05 3848 First Flight 24/06/70.
Delivered to 82 Wing 31/09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
RAAF 50th Anniversary Airshow.
Returned to USAF 20/10/72.

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 4th TFW, 52nd TFW, 414th TFW, 131st TFW, 35th TFW, 35th FW, 124th FG USAF.
Flew last F-4G Sortie of Operation Provide Comfort.
To AMARC as FP1044, 09/04/96.
To Tracor, Mojave, CA. Converted to QF-4G (AF-170) 09/09/97.
Crashed 03/08/2000 White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

  Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-0305

69-0306 F-4E-43-MC 06 3850 First Flight 29/06/70.
First Phantom to arrive at RAAF Amberley 14/09/70.
Delivered to 82 Wing 21/09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF. 
Authorised for return 18/10/72.
Returned to USAF 22/10/72

Modified to F-4G. |
Served with 32nd TFS, 347th TFW, 33rd TFW, 3rd TFW 124th FG USAF.
To AMARC as FP1008 tail code 'WW' 04/01/96.
To Tracor, Mojave, CA. Converted to QF-4G (AF-131) 19/04/96.
Destroyed as target 27/07/2002

Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-0306
69-0307 F-4E-43-MC 07 3851 First Flight 29/06/70.
Delivered to 82 Wing 28/09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Returned to USAF 06/06/73

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 57th TFW, 131st TFW, 163rd TFG, 124th FG USAF.
To AMARC as FP1010 tail code 'WW', 04/01/96.
To Tracor, Mojave, CA. Converted to QF-4G (AF-134) 16/05/96.
Destroyed as target 06/11/97.

Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-0307
69-7201 F-4E-43-MC 1 3854 Delivered to 82 Wing 21/09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Returned to USAF 21/06/73

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 57th FWW, 347th TFW, 35th TFW, 35th FW,
Flew 50 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm.
To AMARC as FP0828, 20/03/92.
To MFSI, Mojave, CA. Converted to QF-4G (AF-205) 10/03/99.
Destroyed as target 29/06/2004.

  Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7201

69-7202 F-4E-43-MC 2 3855 First Flight 02/07/70.
Delivered to 82 Wing 21/09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Participant of 50th Anniversary Airshow RAAF 04/71.
Returned to USAF 22/10/72

Modified to F-4G. Served with 21st CW, 31st TFW, 347TFW, 52nd TFW, 52nd FW USAF.
To AMARC as FP1026 25/03/96.
To Tracor, Mojave, CA. Converted to QF-4G (AF-146), 17/12/96.
Destroyed as target 23/07/98.

  Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7202

69-7203 F-4E-43-MC 3 3856 Delivered to 82 Wing 21/09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Crashed into sea near Evans Head bombing range 16/06/71 during a Hi-Lo navigation exercise.
Both crew killed. SQNLDR Stuart Fisher (pilot) FLTLT Robert Waring (Navigator)
Aircraft destroyed with installed engines 3515 and 3516.

Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7203
69-7204 F-4E-43-MC 4 3857 First Flight 07/07/70.
Delivered to 82 Wing 28/09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Returned to USAF 20/10/72

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 21st CW, 31st TFW, 347 TFW, 52nd TFW, 37th TFW, 35th TFW, 35th FW, 124th FG USAF.
To AMARC as FP1006, 02/01/96. To Tracor, Mojave, CA. Converted to QF-4G (AF-144) 07/01/96.
Destoyed as target 10/08/2006

  Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7204

69-7205 F-4E-43-MC 5 3858 Delivered to 82 Wing 21/09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Returned to USAF 21/06/73

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 57th FWW, 347th TFW with USAF.
Written off 29/03/80 while on post maintenance test flight, California.

Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7205
69-7206 F-4E-43-MC 6 3860 Delivered to 82 Wing 21/09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
On 28/01/72, the right tyre (which had been deflating since start) blew on take-off and the disintegrating tyre caused considerable damage to the lower wing surface. The repairs (including USAF involvement) took about six months
Issue to 482 Maintenance Sqn 31/07/72.
Reflown 09/72
Returned to USAF 06/06/73.

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 57th FWW, 347th TFW, 35th TFW, 37th TFW, Det 5 TAWC, 4485th FWW, Det 6 79th TEG with USAF.
Became instructional airframe at Nellis AFB, Nevada.
Reported as having been taken out to Nellis Range complex by 07/96,
Current status unknown but after 20 years out on the ranges there is probably little chance of it surviving.

Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7206
69-7207 F-4E-43-MC 7 3862 First Flight 10/07/70.
Delivered to 82 Wing 21/09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Returned to USAF 06/06/73

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 57th FWW, 347 TFW, 35th TFW, 37th TFW, 35th FW, 124th FG with USAF.
Flew 62 missions and fired 27 missiles during Operation Desert Storm.
Named "Laura L".
Last combat use of F-4G and Harm when destroyed a SAM site 24/07/93 in Iraq.
To AMARC as FP0971, 04/04/95.
To Tracor, Mojave, CA. Converted to QF-4G (AF-172) 19/09/97.
Destroyed as target 16/12/98

Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7207
69-7208 F-4E-43-MC 8 3864 First Flight 14/07/70.
Delivered to 82 Wing 06/10/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Participant in Richmond Airshow 1973.
Flew the last Phantom mission in the RAAF, Sqn Ldr David Rogers flew the sortie with FLTLT Lester Cavanagh on 20/06/73.
Returned to USAF 21/06/73

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 57th FWW, 347th TFW, 35th TFW, 37th TFW, 3rd TFW, 124th FG with USAF.
Crashed, 01/03/95 after Engine bleed air failure which produced smoke in cockpit and the crew ejected.
 

  Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7208 (including Phantom 67-0237 displayed as 69-7208)
RAAF Museum Point Cook has an ex-USAF Phantom 69-0237 marked as RAAF 69-7208

Highlight for Album: Phantom 67-0237 displayed as 69-7208
69-7209 F-4E-43-MC 9 3865 Delivered to 82 Wing 21/09/70.
Served 1 Sqn RAAF.
Participant RAAF 50th Anniversary Airshow 04/71.
Stabilator found cracked, after X-ray 1972.
Returned to USAF 22/10/72

At Ramstein AB, Germany (with 69-7234) from '73-'78.
Modified to F-4G between 1978-81.
Served with 347th TFW, 35th TFW, 37th TFW, 52nd TFW USAF.
To AMARC as FP0849, 08/05/92.
To MFSI, Mojave, CA. Converted to QF-4G (AF208) 17/05/99.
Located at Tyndall AFB Tail code TD 53WEG as June 2001.
Destroyed as target 01/02/2006.

Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7209
69-7210 F-4E-43-MC 10 3866 First Flight 17/07/70.
Delivered to 82 Wing 26/10/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Participated in Richmond Airshow 1973.
Returned to USAF 20/06/73

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 57th FWW, 347th TFW, 3rd TFW, 35th TFW, 37th TFW, 52nd TFW USAF.
Credited with 3 kills on Iraqi radar sites in the gulf war.
To AMARC as FP1035, 26/03/96.
To Tracor, Mojave, CA. Converted to QF-4G (AF-171) 15/09/97.
Destroyed as target 12/06/2001.

Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7210
69-7211 F-4E-43-MC 11 3868 First Flight 17/07/70.
Delivered to 82 Wing 26/10/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Returned to USAF 21/06/73

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 57th FWW, 347th TFW, 35th TFW, 37th TFW, 3rd TFW, 52nd TFW USAF.
Participated with Operation Southern Watch and Desert Storm.
To AMARC as FP1018, 14/02/96.
To Tracor, Mojave, CA. Converted to QF-4G (AF-145) 12/12/96.
Destroyed as target 07/11/2002.

  Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7211

69-7212 F-4E-43-MC 12 3869 First Flight 21/07/70.
Delivered to 82 Wing 21/09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Returned to USAF 20/10/72.

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 36th TFW, 347th TFW, 56th TFW, 4th TFW, 52nd TFW, 35th TFW USAF.
Credited with 5 kills on Iraqi Radar in Desert Storm, during 60 combat missions.
Last unit 561 FS, 57th Wing, Nellis AFB, NV,
To AMARC as FP1003, 07/12/95.
This was one of only two surviving ex-RAAF Phantoms not converted to a QF-4 target drone.
03/2016 still held at AMARG
Queensland Air Museum lodged an expression of interest in obtaining 69-7212 for preservation
Departed AMARG between 15/12/2017 and 16/01/2018
Reported as scrapped at HVF West Metals as of 02/2018

Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7212 
69-7213 F-4E-43-MC 13 3871 Delivered to 82 Wing 25/09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Laverton Airshow 18/04/1971.
Returned to USAF 20/10/72

Modified to F-4G.
Crashed 13/03/80, enroute to Bardenas Reales Weapons Range, Spain. Crew killed

Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7213
69-7214 F-4E-43-MC 14 3873 Delivered to 82 Wing 06/10/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Returned to USAF 25/10/72

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 35th FW USAF.
To AMARC as FP0862, 22/06/92.
To MFSI, Mojave, CA. Converted to QF-4G (AF-207) 06/05/99.
To Tyndall AFB after fuel foam replacement 02/03/2000.
Destroyed as target 07/05/2003

Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7214
69-7215 F-4E-43-MC 15 3874 Delivered to 82 Wing 28/09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Returned to USAF 12/06/73

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 57th FWW, 347th TFW,
Written off 06/12/76 Nellis AFB, Nevada during a Red Flag mission.

Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7215
69-7216 F-4E-43-MC 16 3876 Delivered to 82 Wing 28/09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Participant RAAF 50th Anniversary Airshow, Edinburgh SA 04/71.
Returned to USAF 21/06/73

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 57th FWW, 347th TFW, 35th TFW, 37th TFW, USAF.
Flew 50 missions in Operation Desert Storm.
Last unit 561 FS, 35th Wing, George AFB, CA,
To AMARC as FP0807, 21/01/92.
This was one of only two surviving ex-RAAF Phantoms not converted to a QF-4 target drone.
69-7216 was reportedly earmarked for preservation at Boise AB, Idaho although they already have an F-4G preserved there (69-7551).
03/2016 still held at AMARG
Queensland Air Museum lodged an expression of interest in obtaining 69-7216 for preservation
Sold for scrap (probably to HVF West Metals) departing AMARG between 21/03/2018 and 18/04/2018

Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7216
69-7217 F-4E-43-MC 17 3877 First Flight 24/07/70.
Delivered to 82 Wing 28/09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Returned to USAF 22/10/72

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 4th TFW, 52nd TFW, 347th TFW, 3rd TFW, 124th FG USAF. To AMARC as FP1027, 25/03/96.
To Tracor, Mojave, CA.
Converted to QF-4G (AF-141) 02/08/96.
Destroyed as target 17/11/99

Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7217
(69-7218) F-4E-43-MC N/A 3879 This aircraft was originally allotted to RAAF but not delivered and 69-7234 was substituted instead.
Originally, all Phantoms allotted to the RAAF were to be delivered off the line in production sequence.
69-7218 was on the first leg of the delivery flight from St Louis to George AFB, California.
While conducting the air-refueling system check during the flight, the tanker's boom stuck in the refuelling receptacle.
Despite all efforts it remained stuck and a brute force disconnect damaged the aircraft.
The aircraft returned to St Louis and was replaced by the spare, 69-7234,
This accounts for the gap in the sequential numbering of RAAF Phantoms.
To AMARC as AAFP0598 Dec 19, 1990. 
Converted to F-4G.  AF-141
To AMARC as AAFP1027 25/03/1996
To Tyndall AFB as QF-4G 15/03/1997,
Destroyed on 20/03/2002.
 
We are seeking a photograph of 69-0218 clearly showing RAAF marking
69-7219 F-4E-43-MC 19 3880 Delivered to 82 Wing 28/09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Returned to USAF 12/06/73

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 57th FWW, 347th TFW, 35th TFW, 37th TFW USAF.
Crashed 21/11/86, while training at George Air Force Base in Victorville, California.

Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7219
69-7220 F-4E-43-MC 20 3881 First Flight 29/07/70.
Delivered to 82 Wing 09/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF. 
This aircraft was overstressed in flight, the engines needed to be returned to the USA for overhaul.
Authorised for return 18/10/72.
Returned to USAF 11/72

Modified to F-4G.
Served with 67th TRW, 35th TFW, 33rd TFW, 3rd TFW, 124th FG.
To AMARC as FP1046, 20/04/96.
To Tracor, Mojave, CA. Converted to QF-4G (AF-150) 04/03/97.
Destroyed as a target 03/05/2005.

  Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7220

69-7234 F-4E-43-MC 34 3902 Delivered to 82 Wing 06/10/70.
Served with 1 and 6 Sqns RAAF.
Badly damaged 19/10/70 at Amberley QLD, after an in-flight equipment failure the aircraft was damaged during landing.
The nose wheel steering and brake anti skid were not working. The pilot received minor injuries and navigator was un-injured.
The rebuild took 18,750 man-hours.
A large crack was also found in its stabilator during the rebuild, which meant most of the other aircraft stabilators required an X-ray in 1972.
Flown 09/71.
To 82 Wing 15/10/71.
Returned to USAF 22/10/72

Served with 86th TFW, 526th TFS at Ramstein from 1973 until at least 1978 as an F-4E.
Modified to F-4G between 1978-81.
Served with 347th TFW, 35th TFW,37th TFW,52nd TFW USAF.
The only Wild Weasel in Desert Storm that retained old Euro-One camouflage
Credited with 4 kills on Iraqi Radar sites during Operation Desert Storm.
To AMARC as FP0761, 20/09/91.
To MFSI, Mojave, CA.
Converted to QF-4G (AF-212) 31/08/99. (and finally received its Hill Grey paint scheme)
Spotted 2001 at Holloman AFB from 82nd ATS. "TD" tail code
Destroyed as target 21/07/2005.

Highlight for Album: Phantom 69-7234
 
     
 

RAAF Museum F-4E Phantom

  
     
 
USAF.Serial Aircraft.Type Tail Code C/N Aircraft History
67-0237

(Representing
69-7208)

 F-4E-34-MC 08 2912 The Phantom at Point Cook painted as 69-7208 is really ex-USAF 67-0237,
(Previously incorrectly reported as 67-0327)
67-0237 served with the 3rd TFW and 21 CW with the USAF.
After some high level negotiations around 1989-1990 the USAF donated former USAF F-4E-34-MC 67-0237 (c/n 2912) to the RAAF.
 In 03/89, 67-0237 was flown to Oakland, California for shipment to Australia aboard HMAS Tobruk.
When the donated F-4E arrived at Brisbane, Qld docks she was transported by road to RAAF Amberley where staff of No.3 Aircraft Depot painted her to represent 69-7208 "8".
This was the aircraft that flew the last RAAF Phantom mission.
On completion of the repaint she was again loaded aboard HMAS Tobruk for transport to Geelong, Vic. docks.
On 05/11/89 the final part of the journey was made by road to the RAAF Museum at Point Cook.
The most obvious external difference from this block 34 airframe and the RAAF's original aircraft are the slated wing and tail leading edges unlike the RAAF's unslated block 43 aircraft. 
On permanent loan to the RAAF Museum and on display in the Strike Hangar at Point Cook.

  Highlight for Album: Phantom 67-0237 displayed as 69-7208
 
     
 

RAAF F-4E Phantom Serial Summary

  
     
  Summary of RAAF Serials, USAF Serials, C/N, RAAF tail numbers, AMARC storage codes  QF-4G conversion numbers.  
     
 
RAAF Stores Serial * USAF Serial C/N Type RAAF Tail Code AMARC Number QF-4G Conv Number

N/A **

67-0237

2912

F-4E-34-MC

 8 N/A N/A

A69-0304

69-0304

3847

F-4E-43-MC

 04 AAFP0856
AAFP1063		 AF-203

A69-0305

69-0305

3848

F-4E-43-MC

 05 AAFP1044 AF-170

A69-0306

69-0306

3850

F-4E-43-MC

 06 AAFP1008 AF-131

A69-0307

69-0307

3851

F-4E-43-MC

 07 AAFP1010 AF-134

A69-7201

69-7201

3854

F-4E-43-MC

 1 AAFP0828 AF-205

A69-7202

69-7202

3855

F-4E-43-MC

 2 AAFP1026 AF-146

A69-7203

69-7203

3856

F-4E-43-MC

 3 N/A N/A

A69-7204

69-7204

3857

F-4E-43-MC

 4 AAFP1006 AF-144

A69-7205

69-7205

3858

F-4E-43-MC

 5 N/A N/A

A69-7206

69-7206

3806

F-4E-43-MC

 6 N/A N/A

A69-7207

69-7207

3862

F-4E-43-MC

 7 AAFP0971 AF-172

A69-7208

69-7208

3864

F-4E-43-MC

 8 N/A N/A

A69-7209

69-7209

3865

F-4E-43-MC

 9 AAFP0849 AF-208

A69-7210

69-7210

3866

F-4E-43-MC

 10 AAFP1035 AF-171

A69-7211

69-7211

3868

F-4E-43-MC

 11 AAFP1018 AF-145

A69-7212

69-7212

3869

F-4E-43-MC

 12 AAFP1003 N/A

A69-7213

69-7213

3871

F-4E-43-MC

 13 N/A N/A

A69-7214

69-7214

3873

F-4E-43-MC

 14 AAFP0862
AAFP1067		 AF-207

A69-7215

69-7215

3874

F-4E-43-MC

 15 N/A N/A

A69-7216

69-7216

3876

F-4E-43-MC

 16

AAFP0807

N/A

A69-7217

69-7217

3877

F-4E-43-MC

 17

AAFP1027

AF-141

N/A ***

69-7218  

3879

F-4E-43-MC

 N/A

AAFP0598

AF-218

A69-7219

69-7219

3880

F-4E-43-MC

 19

N/A

N/A

A69-7220

69-7220

3881

F-4E-43-MC

 20

AAFP1046

AF-150

A69-7234

69-7234

3902

F-4E-43-MC

 34

AAFP0761

AF-212
 
     
  *           Not applied to aircraft but noted on RAAF Aircraft History Cards.
**         Aircraft on loan to the RAAF Museum, Point Cook from the USAF and painted to represent 69-7208.
***       Aircraft not delivered to RAAF and 69-7234 was substituted. The RAAF Aircraft History Card for A69-7234 appears with the original serial 97218 struck out.		  
     

The Authors of this page are Darren Crick, Martin Edwards & Brendan Cowan

Source: Australian Aviation Magazine, Airforce Monthly Magazine, The AMARC Experience, RAAF Museum - Point Cook VIC, RAAF Status Cards. http://www.angelfire.com/extreme/raafphantoms, http://www.amarcexperience.com/ui/,

Emails: Gordon Birkett, Jim Masocco, James D Sieff, AVM Dave Rogers Rtd, Teena Cardillo, Michel Klaver, Joe Fox, Andy Marden, Ron Cuskelly, Brendan Cowan, Kurt Finger, Rob Logie

Updated 23rd January 2019
     

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