RAF Phantom FG.2 (No.38 Group) 2

McDonnell Douglas Phantom FG.2 for STRIKE FIGHTERS 1

This is a simple mod of the stock Phantom F-4B to give a 'what if' J79 powered Phantom FG.2 tactical fighter with markings for No.6, No.41 and No.54 squadrons of No.38 Group of RAF Strike Command as they might have appeared in the late 1960's but I've also included some two-colour B-type markings for you to play around with.

In theory, this should work in any 'first generation' game that has the standard F-4B LOD's. As SFG and WOV does not have the RAF Letter codes I've made some of my own in yellow and white and included them here to help avoid bare fins although there's plenty going on in fin land.

BACKSTORY

The successful first flight of the McDonnell XF4H-1 (Phantom II) on May 27th, 1958 certainly piqued the interest of both the RAF and the Royal Navy and by 1959 both were granted official 'observer status' on the project. The realisation that only two of the Royal Navy's five aircraft carriers could operate an aircraft of the XF4H-1's size (and that only after extensive modernisation) soon cooled the interest of the Senior Service but the RAF could see a promising aircraft of obvious potential across many roles and not just in their search for a Hunter replacement. By 1960 McDonnell were scheming various tactical fighter versions of the F4H-1 Phantom II with J79 engines including a minimum change version of the baseline USN F-4B to replace the Hunter and Javelin in RAF service and supplement the Lightning.

The RAF had already bore the brunt of the 1957 Defence White Paper and had then suffered the ignominy of losing the UK's nuclear deterent in the planned switch from V-Force to Polaris. Following this heavy perceived loss of status the Air Staff were so determined to get the TSR.2 that in March 1961 they volunteered to forsake the supersonic V/STOL P.1154 strike fighter and STOL AW.681 tactical transport and replace both with off the shelf purchases of American aircraft. Both projects were declared as "too technically challenging to succeed in the current fiscal situation" but the early cashing-in of both projects did ultimately save the TSR.2 which went on to survive the 1964 Budget Review and enter RAF service at the end of the 1960's.

Meanwhile, back in August 1961 the UK Government became the first export customer for McDonnell's XF4H-1 with an order for 350 aircraft consisting of 150 interceptor-fighters for RAF Fighter Command and 200 tactical fighters for RAF Germany and No.38 Group. Designated by McDonnell as the F-4K and by the RAF as Phantom F.1 and Phantom FGA.2 the first F-4K rolled off the St. Louis production line in February 1963 with a ceremonial first flight on April 1st, 1963 to coincide with the RAF's 45th birthday celebrations. These early RAF Phantoms retained the AAA-4 infrared search and tracking sensor fitted to a prominent bulge underneath the radome housing the powerful AN/APQ-72 radar and were powered by two General Electric J79-GE-8A engines each rated at 10,000lbs dry thrust and 17,000 lbs thrust with afterburner.

The Phantom FG.2 entered service with No.41 squadron at Coningsby in January 1966 and eventually equipped no less than ten RAF squadrons at home and abroad.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. From the AIRCRAFT folder drag and drop the PhantomFG2 folder into your Aircraft folder.

2. From the DECALS folder drag and drop the PhantomFG2 into your Decals folder.

CREDITS

Thanks to TK for a great little game/sim.

And thanks to everyone in the wider Third Wire community.

Regards

Spinners

Version 2 - 01/04/18

Version 1 - 26/02/09