Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA19051
F-4B Phantom II 149411, VF-143 "Pukin Dogs", USS Constellation, 1967
 
General Background
One of the most famous and easily recognized fighter aircraft of the post-WWII era was the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II. This aircraft was developed as a private venture by the aircraft company but was soon ordered by the USN as a carrier-based attack aircraft. Its first flight took place on May 27, 1958 and it entered active service in December 1960. It wasn’t long after the F-4B appeared that a fly-off was set up with USAF front-line fighters. It was no contest, the F-4 performed so well that the USAF ordered their own variant, the F-4C. As time went on, the F-4 evolved into well over a dozen variants.
 
The Aircraft
Originally accepted as an F4H-1 Bu. No 149411 February 1, 1962 the aircraft type designation later became F-4B. This aircraft was assigned to VF-121 and a half dozen other units over the years. On October 26, 1967 this aircraft is credited with destroying a MiG-21 over North Vietnam. There is some controversy over this MiG-21 claim because records show that Bu.No 149411 was in NARF North Island for standard maintenance from January 1967 until March 1968. This aircraft was lost on December 20, 1968 having flown 1,602 flight hours.