Phantoms Phorever, Part 1: Australia & Egypt

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Phantoms Phorever, Part 1: Australia & Egypt
By Tom Cooper & Stefan Kuhn
Nov 16, 2003, 14:07

Australia

McDonnell Douglas attempted to gain Australian interest in F-4s already in 1963, offering a sub-variant of the F-4C, powered by a pair of French-built SNECMA Atar 9 turbojets (which powered the Dassault Mirage IIIAOs already in service with the RAAF). The RAAF decided to opt for the General Dynamics F-111C instead. As the development of this aircraft was continuously delayed, however, and after in May 1970 it was announced that the first deliveries of F-111Cs to RAAF could not be expected before 1974, the Australians had to find a fighter that would bridge the gap: an offer from the US Government for 24 new-built F-4Es was accepted and the project "Peace Reef" initiated.

The Australian government was initially reluctant to accept Phantoms, even if these soon became popular with air- and ground-crews, the Phantom finally becoming so popular with the RAAF that at one time there were considerations if the F-111C-orders shouldn't be cancelled at all. This idea was dropped, however, as the F-4E lacked the range needed by the RAAF, which would have to purchase several Boeing KC-135 tankers in order to meet its actual requirements.

The following F-4Es were eventually leased to the RAAF:
- 69-0304,
- 69-0305,
- 69-0306,
- 69-0307,
- 69-7201,
- 69-7202,
- 69-7203,
- 69-7204,
- 69-7205,
- 69-7206,
- 69-7207,
- 69-7208,
- 69-7209,
- 69-7210,
- 69-7211,
- 69-7212,
- 69-7213,
- 69-7214,
- 69-7215,
- 69-7216,
- 69-7217,
- 69-7219,
- 69-7220,
- 69-7234.

Only one was lost during two years, the 69-7203 crashing during gunfire trials. 69-7234 was badly damaged in an arrester landing at Amberley AB (the RAAF Phantom-fleet home-base), but later rebuilt with the US help.

As the deliveries of F-111Cs were closing, the RAAF started returning F-4Es to the USA from October 1972: the last Phantom left Australia in June of the following year. Most of ex-RAAF F-4Es were subsequently re-built into F-4Gs.

RAAF F-4E 69-7254 seen during the test-flight in the USA. (Tom Cooper collection)

Photographs of Australian Phantoms are very rare, as the type saw only a very short service with the RAAF. Originally, the Australians ordered F-111s, but when the project was postponned, the US supplied 24 early F-4Es to RAAF in September 1970. The Phantoms were operated by Nos. 1 and 6 Squadrons, No. 82 Bomber Wing, from Amberley, Queensland, and No 2 OCU. Nearly three years later 23 were returned to the USA: one crashed into the sea off the coast of New South Wales, on 16 June, 1971. (via Tom Cooper)

Egypt
The Egyptian Air Force (Al Quwwat al Jawwiya il Misriya) was certainly the most unexpected "client" for F-4s. After the 1979 Camp David accord many of the richer Arab nations cancelled their aid to the Egyptian air force. One of the hit programs was an order for 50 Northorp F-5E Tigers, which Saudi Arabia had ordered on behalf of the Egyptian Air Force.

To compensate for the loss the USA offered 35 ex-USAF F-4Es and the necessary weapons and spares package. Under The codename “Peace Pharao” deliveries began rapidly and the first 18 (early production) F-4Es arriving in Egypt in September 1979, all being taken from the 31st TFW, then based at Homestead AFB, Florida. In the Egyptian Air Force they were assigned to the 76th and 88th Squadrons, based at Cairo West/222nd TFB.

Form their first days in service the Egyptian F-4s suffered from a very poor service record, even if none are known to have crashed so far. Availability was constantly lowm, and was improved only after in 1983 a USAF Technical Assistance Field Team helped to improve serviceability to over 80%.

During the 1980s Egypt considered selling the F-4Es to Turkey and buying 16 more F-16 instead. This deal never materialized, however, neither did the idea to increase the fleet to 40 examples and upgrade them with a new radar. (comparable to the German F-4F ICE update). Consequently, the EAF F-4Es continue to soldier armed with AIM-7 Sparrows and AIM-9 Sidewinders, AGM-65 Mavericks and "iron" bombs.

Originally painted in the SEA-camouflage, Egyptian F-4Es have subsequently got a camouflage pattern known as "Egypt-1", and later further developed into "Hill Gray", which remains in use until today.

The F-4Es for Egypt have got the following serials (note that in at least two cases two different aircraft are known to have carried the same EAF-serial - albeit at a different point in time, indicating that the EAF F-4E-fleet was re-serialled at some point):
66-0337
66-0340
66-0341 - 7818
66-0343
66-0349
66-0353
66-0358
66-0360
66-0362
66-0364
66-0366
66-0375 - 7804
67-0211
67-0212
67-0213
67-0220
67-0231
67-0236
67-0238 - 7811
67-0239
67-0242
67-0264 - 7860
67-0278
67-0289
67-0305
67-0307 - 7816
67-0309
67-0313
67-0317 - 7806 (early)
67-0322
67-0328
67-0332
67-0341 (MiG Killer from Vietnam War)
67-0355 - 7811
67-0366 - 7813
67-0371
67-0373 - 7806
67-0388

Two EAF F-4Es seen shortly after delivery, in their original SEA camo. The EAF was given 34 exUSAF Phantoms in 1979 in a crash operation which saw the pilots being trained in the USA. However, as no ground crews were trained at all, the fleet initially suffered a very low serviceability rate: by 1982 barely five Egyptian Phantoms remained operational. (Tom Cooper collection)

The F-4E (6)70365 seen during the exercise "Bright Star '82" on Cairo West AB. During this exercise, the USAF deployed support personnel and spare parts which helped bring the EAF F-4E fleet back in working order. (Tom Cooper collection)

The F-4E "7806", showing a weathered "Egypt 1" camo pattern to advantage, which was first introduced on EAF Phantoms. Note also the AIM-9P Sidewinder under the starboard underwing pylon. (photo: Ash)

The F-4E "7812" seen in the original "Egypt 1" trial camouflage pattern at Cairo West. (Tom Cooper collection)

F-4E "7816", showing the "Egypt 1" camo pattern from the port side to advantage. (Tom Cooper collection)