Model Description
Air Commander 1/72nd scale AC1014 F-4G Wild Weasel V USAF 52nd TFW, 23rd TFS N0.69-0244, Incirlik AB, Turkey, Operation Desert Storm 1991. Buy online at Flying Tigers.
Wild Weasel V
The prototype F-4G first flew on December 6, 1975 and the aircraft entered service in 1978. The F-4G entered service to replace the F-105F/G “Wild Weasel” Thunderchief (which replaced the F-100F “Wild Weasel” Super Sabre). Most of the F-4Gs in service were conversions of old USAF McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II airframes (some of which had seen service in Vietnam). The conversion involved the removal of the gun for the installation of the AN/APR-38 radar warning and homing receiver which has 52 antennas in the airframe. The main weapons of the F-4G are specialized Anti-Radiation Missiles (ARMs) for the destruction of enemy radar sites. These missiles include the AGM-45 Shrike, AGM-78 Standard ARM, and the AGM-88 HARM. The F-4G can also carry AGM-65 Mavericks and for self-defense: a pair of AIM-9 Sidewinders and an AN/ALQ-119 jamming pod. The F-4G’s last hurrah was in the Gulf War of 1990-91, and the last of the type were retired in 1995 due to Pentagon budget cuts. This ended over 30 years of Phantom II service with the USAF. The F-4G is being replaced by F-16 Fighting Falcons equipped with HARMs and HARM targeting pods.
F-4Gs were deployed to three active wings. One was stationed at George AFB, Victorville, California, as part of the Rapid Deployment Force; one wing was assigned to USAFE (US Air Forces in Europe) at Spangdahlem AB, Germany; and the other to PACAF (Pacific Air Forces) at Clark AB, Philippines. F-4Gs from George AFB, Clark AB and Spangdahlem AB saw combat during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, successfully protecting strike packages from enemy air defenses. During this conflict the F-4G saw heavy use, with only a single loss: an aircraft from Spangdahlem AB crashed in Saudi Arabia while returning from a mission, after one of the AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles hang fired which left the aircraft’s instruments not displaying the correct altitude information and a significant frame tweak from the damage made the plane hard to control. After an investigation into the loss of the aircraft which occurred during several aborted landing attempts in a sandstorm, it was determined that a fuel cell was punctured by anti-aircraft fire. The pilot and EWO safely ejected after the engines shut down when the aircraft ran out of fuel attempting to land at a forward airstrip.
After Desert Storm, some of the George AFB aircraft were assigned to the 124th Wing of the Air National Guard at Boise, Idaho, 190th Fighter Squadron. Aircraft from Spangdahlem, Clark, and the remainder from George were assigned to the 561st Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Wing (Active Duty) at Nellis AFB, Las Vegas. The aircraft remained in service until 1996, with both squadrons participating in frequent deployments to Saudi Arabia and Turkey in support of Operation Provide Comfort, Operation Southern Watch, and Operation Vigilant Warrior enforcing the no-fly zones over Iraq. By this time the F-4G was the last operational variant of the Phantom II in the US forces. Many of the airframes were later used as target drones and Aircraft Battle Damage Repair training aids.
RRP £150.00
