September 13th, 1979.
Tandil, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Around 4 pm, 500 people gathered around the fences sorrounding the Tandil Air Base. The sound made it all clear: the J79s roared above the city. It was the arrival of the first units of McDonnell Douglas F-4E(AR) for the Argentinian Air Force.
These planes (C-603, C-604 and C-607) were painted each one in a different scheme, but one caught everyone's attention: C-603 was painted only in a gray scheme. The plane had to be delivered on time, so the camouflage painting was not applied. These were the first 3 of 24 units planned. The second batch arrived in december, that same year, and the rest arrived in 1980, being delivered every 2 months, 4 at a time.
The planes served during the Malvinas War, being painted yellow stripes in the wing and the vertical stabilizer, like the A-4s that were already in service.