Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-4>HA19043

General Background

The 501st TRS was the JASDF’s only Recon Squadron. It was formed in December 1961 and uses the cartoon character Woody Woodpecker as it emblem. In 1972 the JASDF decided to replace their RF86F with 14 RF-4Es and formed a detachment at Hyakuri AB to handle the new aircraft. The first F-4Es were numbered 6901- 6914 and began arriving throughout 1974 and 1975. For operation over the water 6901, 6905 and 6913 were given a special Ocean Blue scheme while converted F-4EJ and F-4EL Kai were painted in green/gray Forest scheme.

The Aircraft

F-4B 151398 had served with 5 other squadrons since its 1963 maiden flight and in May 1972 F-4B 151398 belonged to VF-51 "Screaming Eagles" on board the USS Coral Sea. The aircraft was assigned to Lt. Winston “Mad Dog” Copeland and Lt(jg) Dale Arends but on May 10,1972 the aircraft was crewed by Lt. Ken “Ragin Cajun” Cannon and Bud Morris. That day they destroyed a MiG-17 with an AIM-9. Returning from SEA the aircraft was upgraded to an “N” variant and transferred to the VF-161 based in Japan and scrapped in 1993.

Specifications :

F4H-1 later became the F-4B
Number of “B” variant built for USN and USMC:	649
Engines:	2 x General Electric J79-GE-8A/-8B/-8C turbojets, 10,900 lb.s.t. dry, 17,000 lb.s.t. with afterburner
Dimensions
Length:	58 ft 3.75 in
Height:	58 ft 3.75 in
Wingspan:	38 ft 5 in
Wing area:	530 sq. ft
Weight
Empty:	28,000 pounds
Gross:	44,600 pounds
Combat:	38,500 pounds
Max T/O weight:	54,600 pounds
Performance
Maximum speed:	@ Sea level - 845 mph
	@ 48,000 ft - 1,485 mph
Service ceiling:	62,000 ft
Combat ceiling:	56,850 ft.
Initial Climb Rate:	28,000 fpm
Combat range:	Normal - 400 miles
	Maximum range – 2,300 miles with maximum fuel load Weights
Armament:	4 x AIM-7D or -7E Sparrow semi-active radar homing missiles in under-fuselage recesses Inner under-wing pylons could each accommodate an additional Sparrow or a pair of AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared homing missiles In ground attack mode, could carry up to 16,000 pounds of ordnance on centerline pylon underneath the fuselage and on four under-wing hard-points