BHPian skanchan95 recently shared this with other enthusiasts: 1:72 McDonnell Douglas F-4B Phantom II, VF-143 “Pukin Dogs”, NK311, Bu.No 149411, US Navy, USS Constellation, Vietnam, 1967 (Hobbymaster) The Bravo(B) model was the first major model of the F-4 Phantom. It was a two-seat all-weather carrier-based fighter and attack aircraft for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. They were powered by two J79-GE-8A or -8B engines with 16,950 lbf (75.4 kN) of afterburner thrust each. A total of 649 F-4Bs were built by McDonnell Douglas for US Navy and US Marine Corps between 1961 and 1967. Between 1972 and 1974, 226 Navy and Marine Corps F-4Bs were put through an update program with structural strengthening, new wiring, new electrical power generators, and new avionics. This updated Phantom was designated as the F-4N. VF-74 “Be-devilers” were the first operational US Navy F-4B squadron deploying aboard the USS Forrestal in 1961. The first operational US Marine Corps squadron to receive the F-4B was VMFA-314 “Black Knights”. 24 US Navy & 22 US Marine Corps squadrons operated the Naval Phantom. The F-4B was the first jet to see extensive combat service with the US Navy and Marine Corps. The F-4B was adaptable to various missions, including air-to-air combat and ground attack, carrying a variety of ordnance on its nine external pylons. The F-4B was credited with 23 air-to-air kills during the Vietnam War and ironically, the first and last confirmed air-to-air kills in Vietnam War were by US Navy F-4Bs. The first one being on 03/04/1965, when a VF-96 “Fighting Falcons” F-4B flown by Lt (JG) Terence Murphy and his RIO Ens Ronald Fegan, callsign Showtime 602, shot down a PLAAF MiG-17 near Hainan, China using an AIM-7D Sparrow. The Phantom was then shot down either by another PLAAF MiG or, as enemy reports later indicated, an AIM-7 Sparrow from one of Murphy’s and Fegan’s wingmen. Both Murphy and Fegan were killed. The last kill by an F-4B (incidentally the last ever air-to-air kill in the Vietnam war too) was on 12/01/1973 by a VF-161 “Chargers” F-4B flown by Lt Victor Kovaleski & his RIO Lt James Wise, callsign Rock River 102, shot down a NVAF MiG-17 using an AIM-9G Sidewinder. VF-143 “Pukin’ Dogs” Fighter Squadron 143 (VF-143) are known as the “Pukin’ Dogs” (Callsign: Taproom). The squadron adopted its current insignia in 1953, a winged black griffon on a blue shield. The distinctive squadron name “Pukin’ Dogs” came about when the squadron commander’s wife saw the creature’s droopy head and gaping mouth design. She stated, in front of the squadron pilots, that it looked like a “puking dog.” The pilots loved that, and the name stuck. VF-143 went on to deploy for seven Vietnam cruises along with their sister squadron, VF-142 “Ghostriders”. On 26 October 1967, a VF-143 F-4B LT(JG) Robert P Hickey and his RIO LT(JG) Jeremy J Morris downed an NVAF MiG-21. They were flying as wingmen to VF-143 XO Dave Grosshuesch on a MiGCAP mission for a multi-carrier strike force to hit North Vietnamese Army barracks in Van Dien, North Vietnam. They were cleared to fire by AWACS without visual confirmation. Grosshuesch lost his radar just as he was about to launch an AIM-7. Hickey then attempted a Sparrow shot but it failed to guide. A Sidewinder was launched too but it failed to track. Pulling within visual range, the two pilots realised that the “bandits” were actually two other VF-143 Phantoms, completely unaware of their escape. Re-vectored to a new contact, Hickey & Morris began an unusually high altitude engagement. Supersonic at 35,000 feet, Hickey was in a tail chase with a North Vietnamese MiG-21 about 5-10 miles south of Hanoi. Hickey fired a Sparrow, which guided to the MiG-21, blowing its left wing completely off. The MiG-21 pilot ejected. It was said that Hickey & Morris were flying this F-4B Bu no. 149411 on the day of their MiG-21 kill over North Vietnam. However, there is some controversy over this MiG-21 claim because records show that F-4B Bu.No 149411 was in NARF North Island, California (Naval Air Rework Facility) for standard maintenance from January 1967 until March 1968. Instead, they were flying F-4B Bu No. 151444 that day.The fate of F-4B Bu No. 149411F-4B 149411 was lost on the night of December 20, 1968, having flown 1,602 flight hours. It was assigned to VMFA-314 “Black Knights” sometime in 1968. The F-4B was launched from Chu Lai airbase in South Vietnam on a night bombing mission with its Marine aircrew – Capt Robert D Kent and his RIO, 1st Lt. Richard G Morin. They launched as the lead in a two-F-4 flight tasked with a bombing run over the Ho Chi Minh Trail network approximately 20 miles inside of Laos. Captian Kent and his wingman arrived on station (about 11 miles southwest of Muang Xepon, Laos) at approximately 02:00. An airborne Forward Air Controller (FAC) was controlling the strike in an area that had been targeted numerous times in the past. The FAC marked the target with a burning flare and Capt Kent rolled in around 03:40 hours to drop his 500-pound bombs. The FAC observed what he thought was a huge secondary explosion and Bob’s wingman was instructed to drop his similar load on the site of what appeared to be the secondary explosion. Only in retrospect has it been concluded that what was presumed to be a secondary explosion at the time must have been the crash of the lead F-4B 149411 flown by Capt Kent. Search and rescue (SAR) efforts were initiated at first light, but the team heard no emergency radio beepers, saw no parachutes and found no trace of the aircraft or its crew. In 1974, VF-143 left their F-4s behind and upgraded to F-14As. Today, the Pukin’ Dogs fly the F/A-18E Super Hornet and were redesignated as VFA-143 when they began flying the F/A-18E.General CharacteristicsCrew: 2 (Pilot and Radar Intercept Officer)Length: 63 ft 0 in (19.2 m)Wingspan: 38 ft 4.5 in (11.7 m)Height: 16 ft 6 in (5.0 m)Wing area: 530.0 ft (49.2 m)Empty weight: 30,328 lb (13,757 kg)Loaded weight: 41,500 lb (18,825 kg)Max. takeoff weight: 61,795 lb (28,030 kg)Fuel capacity: 1,994 U.S. gal internal, 3,335 U.S. gal with three external tanks (370 U.S. gal) tanks on the outer wing hardpoints and either a 600 or 610 U.S. gal tank for the centerline station).Maximum landing weight: 36,831 lb (16,706 kg)PerformanceEngines: 2 General Electric J79-GE-8A axial compressor turbojetsMaximum speed: Mach 2.23 (1,472 mph) at 40,000 ftCruise speed: 506 kn (585 mph, 940 km/h)Combat radius: 367 nmi (422 mi, 680 km)Ferry range: 1,403 nmi (1,615 mi) with 3 external tanksService ceiling: 60,000 ft (18,300 m)Rate of climb: 41,300 ft/min (210 m/s)Takeoff roll: 4,490 ft (1,370 m) at 53,814 lb (24,410 kg)Landing roll: 3,680 ft (1,120 m) at 36,831 lb (16,706 kg)Armament:Hardpoints: 9 totalUp to 18,650 lb (8,480 kg) of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including general-purpose bombs, cluster bombs, TV- and laser-guided bombs, rocket pods, air-to-ground missiles, anti-ship missiles, gun pods, and nuclear weapons. Reconnaissance, targeting, electronic countermeasures and baggage pods, and external fuel tanks may also be carried.4 AIM-9 Sidewinders on wing pylons4 AIM-7 Sparrow in fuselage recesses18 Mk.82, GBU-125 Mk.84, GBU-1018 CBU-87, CBU-89, CBU-5812x MK-20 Rockeye “Battle E” refers to the U.S. Navy’s prestigious annual Battle Efficiency Award, given to units demonstrating superior sustained performance and readiness to execute their wartime mission. A “Battle E” award is a significant honor, recognizing overall warfighting readiness. The phrase “Best in the West” indicates that the winning unit is the best among its peers in the Western region of the United States. Check out BHPian comments for more insights and information.
