The F-4 “Phabulous Phantom” first flew in 1958 and was finally retired from US service
in 1996. At this time 8 other nations still flew the F-4 Phantom II. Over the years the
F-4 held numerous records for altitude, rate of climb, speed and others such as the
only aircraft to fly concurrently with the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds
Demonstration Teams. From 1958 to 1979 there were a total of 5,195 F-4s built in all
variants. Each aircraft had 54,197 feet of wiring and 643,000 fasteners holding it all
together.

The last version of the Phantom II produced for the USN and USMC was the F-4J.
Between 1966 and 1972 there were 522 F-4Js built. The USN received their first F-4Js
in 1966 and the USMC in 1967. The F-4J had the distinction of scoring the only USMC
air-to-air combat victory in Vietnam and it also was the last US operational aircraft in
South East Asia. In mid 1970 the F-4 Phantom II was being replaced by the new and
improved F-14 Tomcat.

By the late 1960s the US military was deeply involved in Vietnam and every aircraft
was considered necessary for the war. The USAF Thunderbirds Flight Demonstration
Team was using the F-4 Phantom and the USN cried foul. They argued that the F-4
Phantom II was originally built for the USN and they too should have this aircraft for
their Blue Angels. In 1968 seven modified Phantoms were allocated to the Blue Angels
but in 1974 after three fatalities the F-4 was traded for the fuel efficient A-4.


In 1950 the Blue Angels and their F9F-2s joined the Korean War as part of USS
Princeton’s Fighter Squadron VF-191 “Satan’s Kitten’s”. In 1951 the demonstration
team resumed flying using the faster F9F-5 Panther. In 1954 the team acquired the
Grumman F9F-8 Cougar, in 1957 the F11F-1 Tiger, the F-4J Phantom II in 1969 and in
1974 the Blue Angels began flying the A-4F Skyhawk. In their 40th anniversary year
the F/A-18 Hornet became the new aircraft. By 2006 the Blue Angels had thrilled over
427 million spectators world wide.