Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-4>HA1966

General Background

The F-4 Phantom II first entered US Military service in 1960. It was designed as a fleet defense fighter for the US Navy but by 1963 it was adopted as the US Air Force primary fighter-bomber. Despite the size and weight of this Cold War icon the F-4 broke 15 world records and continued to hold five of them until 1975.

Produced from 1960 to 1981 there were 5,195 Phantom IIs manufactured. Eleven countries other than the USA had the Phantom II in their inventory.

The Aircraft

VMF-323 was commissioned August 1, 1943. In 1964 the squadron became Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 (VMFA-323) transitioning to the F-4B Phantom II. Supposedly VMFA-323 became the "Death Rattlers" when 3 squadron pilots killed a 6 foot rattlesnake and hung its skin in the squadron's ready room. VMFA-323 arrived at Da Nang, South Vietnam on December 1, 1965. On October 6, 1966 the "Death Rattlers" transferred to Chu Lai Air Base. In March 1969 the 323rd left South Vietnam having flown over 17,000 sorties.

Specifications :

Dimensions
Length:	17.7m
Height:	4.7m
Wingspan:	11.6m
Wingarea:	49.2 sq m
No. of Engines:	2
Powerplant :	General Electric J79-GE-10 (A/B 17,900Lb/8,119Kg)
Performance
Range:	2,222 km
Cruise Speed:	908 km/h
Max Speed:	2,299 km/h
Climb:	12,572 m/min
Ceiling:	16,672 m