Known as the "MiG Killer," the F-4 Phantom was an unlikely hero given its unique design. Unlike traditionally smaller and sleeker single-seat fighters, the Phantom broke all the rules. It was huge, had bent wings, and a two-man crew, and was one of the first aircraft to carry missile armament. Blasting off the decks of carriers armed to the teeth, the F-4 Phantom was considered the elite fighter-bomber of the Vietnam War, and produced the Navy's only aces of the conflict. Equipped with far-reaching radar, the Phantom was designed to spot bogies from a great distance, and take them out with radar-guided air-to-air missiles like the Sparrow and Sidewinder.

Pictured here is a stunning 1:72 scale diecast replica of a US Air Force F-4C Phantom II that was attached to the 389th Tactical Fighter Squadron "Gunfighters", 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, then deployed to Da Nang AB, Vietnam, during 1967. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 6-1/4-inches
Length: 10-1/2-inches

Release Date: November 2010

Historical Account: "Retired Veteran" -The F-4 Phantom II, with its harsh symmetry, swept-back wings, and drooping tail was called 'brutishly ugly' by some pilots. But whatever the Phantom lacked in looks, it more than made up for with exceptional performance.

When unveiled, the fighter was considered huge and immensely powerful. In 1958, the F-4 was selected by the U.S. Navy as a fleet defense interceptor. Soon, its remarkable capabilities led to use by the Air Force and Marine Corps as well. As the preeminent American combat aircraft of the 1960s, it fulfilled the roles of interceptor, air superiority fighter, and reconnaissance aircraft.

The Museum of Flight's F-4C was built in 1965 and served in Vietnam. This plane shot down three North Vietnamese MiG-21 aircraft. After its active Air Force duty, this Phantom served the Oregon Air National Guard for nine years,