F-4 flies for final time [Image 16 of 32]

ALAMOGORDO, NM, UNITED STATES

12.21.2016

Photo by Joseph Eddins    

Airman Magazine   

The last active-duty Air Force pilot to fly the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, Lt. Col. Ron "Elvis" King, commander of the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron at Holloman AFB, Lt. Col. Lance “Blade” Wilkins, commander of the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron commander at Tyndall Air Force and former QF-4 pilot Eric "Rock" Vold raise a glass during a toast offered by Civilian QF-4E Pilot/Controller Lt. Col. (Ret) Jim “WAM” Harkins following the final military flight of the storied aircraft at Holloman AFB, N.M., Dec. 21, 2016. The F-4 Phantom II entered the U.S. Air Force inventory in 1963 and was the primary multi-role aircraft in the USAF throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The F-4 flew bombing, combat air patrol, fighter escort, reconnaissance and the famous Wild Weasel anti-aircraft missile suppression missions. The final variant of the Phantom II was the QF-4 unmanned aerial targets flown by the 82nd at Holloman AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo by J.M. Eddins Jr.)

• Date Taken: 12.21.2016
• Date Posted: 02.21.2017 08:38
• Photo ID: 3177878
• VIRIN: 161221-F-LW859-024
• Resolution: 4601x2686
• Size: 8.51 MB
• Location: ALAMOGORDO, NM, US