QAM - The F-4E Phantom in RAAF Service

THE F-4E PHANTOM IN RAAF SERVICE

The ill-fated 69-7203 at Amberley on 6 April 1971. Note the F-111 silhouette on the gun fairing and the splitter plate. Picture: Ron Cuskelly

RAAF F-4E DELIVERIES

PROJECT "PEACE REEF"

#	DATE	SERIAL	PILOT	NAVIGATOR	SOURCE	NOTE
1	14SEP70	69-0304	MAJ H. Hume (USAF)	CAPT D. Hanley (USAF)	1/5/19	1
2	14SEP70	69-0306	WGCDR R.E. Frost (6SQN) (D)	MAJ Farris (USAF)	1/14	5
3	14SEP70	69-7201	MAJ R. Hibarger (USAF)	MAJ M. Dean (USAF)	1/5/19	1
4	14SEP70	69-7212	FLTLT K.B. Merrigan (1SQN) (D)	CAPT Mather (USAF)	1/15	1/11
5	14SEP70	69-7207	USAF	USAF	1/5/19	1

6	19SEP70	69-0305	USAF	USAF	7	3
7	19SEP70	69-7202	USAF	USAF	7
8	19SEP70	69-7205	FLTLT D.N. Rogers (6SQN)	MAJ Gammon (USAF)	5
9	19SEP70	69-7206	FLTLT B.D. Fooks, DFC (6SQN)	MAJ Christenson (USAF)	5
10	19SEP70	69-7203	SQNLDR K.G. Smith (6SQN)	USAF	5/19
11	19SEP70	69-7209	FLTLT J.L. Ellis (6SQN) (D)	USAF	2/5/19	6

12	26SEP70	69-0307	WGCDR M.J. Ridgway, AFC (1SQN) (D)	MAJ Sid White (USAF)	1/10	2, 3
13	26SEP70	69-7204	USAF	MAJ Mansfield (USAF)	5
14	26SEP70	69-7213	CAPT F. Russell (USAF)	FLTLT C.J. Stjernqvist (1SQN)	1/11	10
15	26SEP70	69-7215	FLTLT G.R. Barker (1SQN)	CAPT Conroy (USAF)	1/6
16	26SEP70	69-7216	MAJ Wright (USAF)	SQNLDR A.J. Green (1SQN)	1/12
17	26SEP70	69-7217	FLTLT P.D. Condon (1SQN)	CAPT Dysart (USAF)	1/10
18	26SEP70	69-7219	CAPT Reynolds (USAF)	FLTLT A.R. Lockett (1SQN) (D)	1/6

19	03OCT70	69-7208	SQN LDR S.C. Fisher (6SQN) (D)	SQN LDR Brian Hicks (6SQN)	17	8
20	03OCT70	69-7210	USAF	USAF	7
21	03OCT70	69-7211	USAF	USAF	7
22	03OCT70	69-7214	FLTLT M.R. Susans (1SQN)	FLTLT F.E. Burtt (6SQN)	1/13

23	04OCT70	69-7220	FLTLT B.J. Roberts (1SQN)	FLTLT T. Richardson (RAAF)	6	7
24	04OCT70	69-7234	CAPT Chris Patterakis (USAF)	FLTLT L.J. Halvorson (6SQN)	6	7

25	-	69-7218	This aircraft was damaged on the first leg of its delivery flight and never completed its delivery to Amberley. Australia took possession of its Phantoms at the McDonnell Douglas plant at St Louis so 69-7218 was technically on charge to the RAAF albeit very briefly. (See Note 2)

DELIVERY FERRY NOTES
1	USAF crew arrived on 14SEP70 on a two month attachment: MAJ Hal Hume (Instructor Pilot) MAJ Bob Hibarger (Instructor Pilot) (Colonel Robert W. Hibarger passed away on 27APR14) MAJ M. Dean (Instructor Navigator) CAPT Dan Hanley (Instructor Navigator) Newsreel footage of the first arrival on 14SEP79 shows 2 RAAF crew and 8 USAF crew.
2	69-7218 was damaged in an aerial refuelling incident en route St Louis to George AFB on the first leg of its delivery flight. The crew then picked up 69-0307 (which was the spare) and flew it to Amberley. Tail no 69-7218 was never delivered to Australia and was replaced by the out of sequence 69-7234 which joined the fourth and final ferry but was subsequently delayed by one day. (Source: 5)
3	The following KC-135A tankers were noted at Amberley. 19SEP70: 57-1418 and 56-3600. 26SEP70: 60-0366 and 58-0006. (Source: 16)
4	(D) indicates deceased.
5	MAJ Greene (USAF) operated as NAV on the first 3 legs with WGCDR Frost in 69-0306 but he was replaced by MAJ Farris for the final leg to Amberley. Presumably MAJ Greene operated another F-4E on the final leg or he might have been a pax on a KC-135A. (Source: 14)
6	FLTLT J.L. Ellis in 69-7209 turned back to Guam on 14SEP with an engine overheat warning. He joined the second ferry in the same aircraft.
7	69-7234 and 69-7220 were delayed one day at Hickam due unserviceability.
8	Movie film held by Stuart Fisher's family shows that one of the KC-135A tankers on 03OCT70 was 62-23547.
9	It has been established that Bob Montgomery and Al Kirby returned from their training in the US as passengers on KC-135A tankers.
10	Contributed by AIRCDRE Clarrie Stjernqvist in May 2018: "On the leg from St Louis to George AFB, I was crewed with Maj Syd White and we had been designated deputy lead of the flight. After WGCDR Ridgway's aircraft (69-7218) was damaged by the tanker's boom over Kansas, he turned back to St Louis in company with a USAF bird colonel (in another F-4, possibly 69-7204) and we led the rest of the push to George AFB. For the next leg from George AFB, Syd White was switched to Ridgway's back seat (in 69-0307) and I was crewed up with Capt Fred Russell an ex-USAF B-52 navigator in 69-7213. The auto pilot on our aircraft was unserviceable for the rest of the ferry so I relieved Fred at times by hand flying the aircraft as it was very sensitive in pitch at the height and speed we were flying. As an aside, I was later crewed with SQNLDR Stu Fisher (initially the only qualified test pilot in 82WG) and beside flying operational sorties in 1SQN we were also nominated as the flight test crew for the Wing. I was undergoing the Advanced Navigation Course at RAAF East Sale when Stu crashed into the sea off Evans Head, killing himself and stand-in navigator Bob Waring."
11	The 82WG ORB (Source: 19) shows 69-7209 arriving on 14SEP70 and 19SEP70. This aircraft was part of the first ferry but it turned back to Guam with a defect and did not arrive at Amberley until 19SEP70. The 82WG ORB does not mention 69-7212 at all so clearly it is the one remaining unidentified aircraft to have arrived on 14SEP70.

RAAF F-4E CHRONOLOGY

DATE

EVENT

MAY70

The USAF began planning "Project Peace Reef" to train RAAF aircrew and maintenance personnel, deliver 24 F-4E Phantoms to Amberley and provide maintenance support and technical guidance in Australia. (Source: 18)

17JUN70

The USAF 4400 Tactical Training Squadron (Provisional) was established to provide an organisational structure and authority channels to support "Project Peace Reef" in Australia. Lt Col William H. Thomas was appointed Commander of the 4400 TTS (PROV). Administrative and logistic support for the 4400 TTS was provided by the 15 Tactical Fighter Wing. (Source: 18)

18JUN70

Tactical Air Command (TAC) Programming Plan Number 23-70 was issued by HQ TAC Langley AFB, Virginia. The following notes are extracted from that document. (Source: 18)

The USAF will divert the first 24 F-4E from Block 43.

RAAF pilots will train at MacDill AFB, Florida and Navigators will receive radar lead-in training at Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona. Only 10 RAAF Navigators will complete radar lead-in training in time to participate in flying training with their Aircraft Commanders prior to deployment. Total aircrew to be trained is 24.

Planning calls for the RAAF to assume liability and country possession of the first group of six F-4E at McDonnell Douglas Corp., St Louis. Missouri beginning 09SEP70.

TAC aircrew will be required in the rear seat for the first twelve aircraft plus two of the last twelve aircraft that cannot be filled by the RAAF. One TAC Instructor Pilot will be in the rear seat of one aircraft per flight of six.

TAC deployment aircrew augmentation will be tasked by the Second Aircraft Delivery Group. Two F-4E Instructor Pilots and two Instructor Weapons Systems Officers will remain at Amberley for 60 days. They will assist the RAAF in establishing an F-4 flying training program. These crew must participate in the first two deployment elements.

Aircraft will be deployed in flights of six. Destination will be Amberley AFB from St Louis, Missouri to George AFB, California, Hickam AFB, Hawaii, Anderson AFB, Guam. Aircraft will be under the supervision and control of the Second Air Delivery Group, Langley AFB, Virginia.

A determination will be made on F-111 ground equipment delivered to the RAAF that is common to the F-4E to minimise draw-down impact on TAC F-4E squadrons.

TAC will provide a maintenance cadre and ATC (Air Training Command) will provide mobile training teams. The TAC maintenance cadre will consist of one officer and nineteen non-commissioned officers. The maintenance cadre will deploy on or about 1 August 1970 to provide a 30 day in country work force prior to arrival of the first aircraft. Employment should be planned to last six months.

28JUL70

Class Peace Reef 1 comprising 12 Aircraft Commanders commenced training with the 15th Tactical Fighter Wing at MacDill AFB, Florida. (Source: 18)

17AUG70

Class Peace Reef 2 comprising 10 Aircraft Commanders and 10 Navigators commenced training with the 15th Tactical Fighter Wing at MacDill AFB, Florida. (Source: 18)

28AUG70

The maintenance Assistance Team headed by Lt Col Thomas arrived at Amberley. (Source: 18)

31AUG70

The 4400 TTS began duty at Amberley. "The major problem encountered was supply." (Source: 18)

03SEP70

Lt Col Thomas reported from Amberley to the 15TFW at MacDill AFB (Source: 18)

Facility inspected on 31 August and found to be outstanding. Preparation for the F-111 program had provided aircraft and avionic support facilities far beyond normal expectations.

Hydraulic Ground Support Equipment was found to have biological contamination. Specimens were sent to Melbourne for incubation and analysis. Expect the units to be ready for the arrival of the aircraft.

The jet engine test cell is not operational. The adapters for the J-79 engine are here and expect to have it operational by 11 September.

Anticipate problems with differences between RAAF and USAF historical aircraft records. Attention will be given to this area to ensure that the aircraft records are in order when the aircraft are returned to the USAF.

Request a package on repair procedures for F-4E painted surfaces including specifications of primer and final coat.

Failure to supply sufficient details on contractual costs with the Australian Government has caused some consternation leading to difficulty in determining extent of jurisdiction and what lengths we should go to when problems arise. A copy of the contract would be extremely helpful.

06SEP70

Class Peace Reef 1 completed 384 required hours and 216 required sorties. (Source: 18)

10SEP70

The first ferry flight departed St Louis. (Source: 1)

14SEP70

The first ferry flight (5 aircraft) arrived at Amberley. (Source: 1)

14SEP70

Class Peace Reef 2 Aircraft Commanders completed 372 hours flown versus 320 required and 180 sorties, the required number, completed. The Navigators completed the required 120 hours and 60 sorties on the same day. This class got behind schedule because Class 1 was accelerated to meet its graduation date. (Source: 18)

17SEP70

Operations commenced at Amberley mainly familiarising USAF instructors with local conditions. (Source: 1)

18SEP70

The first consignment (5,000 pounds) of bulk items i.e. grease, oils, petroleum products and sealants arrived at Amberley. (Source: 18)

19SEP70

The second ferry flight (6 aircraft) arrived at Amberley. (Source: 1) The aircraft arrived on schedule at 1500 hours. (Source: 18)

26SEP70

The third ferry flight (7 aircraft) arrived at Amberley. (Source: 1/18)

03OCT70

The fourth ferry flight (4 aircraft) arrived at Amberley. (Source: 1)

04OCT70

The final 2 aircraft delayed from the fourth ferry flight arrived at Amberley. (Source: 1)

19OCT70

69-7234 was badly damaged at Amberley when it departed the runway after the arrestor cable broke.

17JUN71

69-7203 was lost with both crew off the coast from the Evans Head bombing range. (Source: 1)

01OCT71

69-7234 was successfully test flown after repairs at No. 3 Aircraft Depot, Amberley. (Source: 8)

04OCT72

The last F-4E operation by No. 6 Squadron was flown. Subsequent F-4E operations were flown by No. 1 Squadron with some 6SQN personnel. (Source: 2)

25OCT72

6 F-4E departed on return to the USAF. (Source: 9)

09NOV72

5 F-4E departed on return to the USAF. (Source: 9)

12DEC72

69-0307 suffered minor damage during what was effectively a wheels-up touch and go at Amberley. Damage was confined to the flaps and external wing tanks. (Source: 1)

28MAY73

82WG put up a formation of 8 F-4E over Amberley. (Source: 19)

01JUN73

The first 6 F-111C arrived at Amberley.

06JUN73

6 F-4E departed on return to the USAF. (Source: 9)

18-20JUN73

The last F-4E operations by the RAAF were flown during this period. (Source: 1)

20JUN73

The last RAAF F-4E flight was operated by 69-7208 crewed by SQNLDR D.N. Rogers and FLTLT L.J. Cavanagh. (Sources: 1 & 5)

21JUN73

4 F-4E departed on return to the USAF. (Source: 9)

22JUN73

The last 2 F-4E departed on return to the USAF. (Source: 9)

RAAF F-4E COLOURS AND MARKINGS

Given that the Phantoms were only a stop-gap measure pending the delayed delivery of the F-111s, they were operated in the basic USAF SE Asia camouflage with the only change being the substitution of RAAF roundels. The aircraft retained their USAF serial numbers for the duration of their RAAF service although the prefix A69 was adopted for stores purposes. This was clearly derived from the USAF serials as all 24 aircraft had been constructed under a 1969 Fiscal Year budget allocation but the A69 prefix was never applied to the aircraft. Some early RAAF documents recorded aircraft serials as e.g. A69-306 but this soon gave way to using the USAF serials. The USAF serials were painted on both sides of the fin in black in the traditional manner of dropping the leading 6 and the hyphen, thus 69-0306 became 90306 and so on. After arrival in Australia, it soon emerged that the aircraft were difficult to tell apart so larger white identification numbers derived from the serial were applied to the fin. These numbers are listed in the table below.

Markings changed little in the short time the aircraft were in Australia. They never received any Squadron markings although some aircraft were noted with a silhouette of an F-111 painted in black on the gun fairing and the intake splitter plate. The only other discernible difference was the addition of strip lights for night formation flying.

PHANTOM TAIL NUMBERS
69-0304	04
69-0305	05
69-0306	06
69-0307	07

69-7201	1
69-7202	2
69-7203	3
69-7204	4
69-7205	5
69-7206	6
69-7207	7
69-7208	8
69-7209	9
69-7210	10
69-7211	11
69-7212	12
69-7213	13
69-7214	14
69-7215	15
69-7216	16
69-7217	17
69-7219	19
69-7220	20
69-7234	34

RAAF F-4E RETURN FERRY FLIGHTS

#	DATE	SERIAL	REMARKS
1	25OCT72	69-0305	Accompanied by 4 KC-135 tankers: 0-72592, 0-71491, 0-00325 & 0-80044
2	25OCT72	69-7204
3	25OCT72	69-7212
4	25OCT72	69-7213
5	25OCT72	69-7214
6	25OCT72	69-7220

7	09NOV72	69-0306	Accompanied by 4 KC-135 tankers.
8	09NOV72	69-7202
9	09NOV72	69-7209
10	09NOV72	69-7217
11	09NOV72	69-7234

12	06JUN73	69-0307	Accompanied by 5 KC-135 tankers.
13	06JUN73	69-7206
14	06JUN73	69-7207
15	06JUN73	69-7210
16	06JUN73	69-7215
17	06JUN73	69-7219

18	21JUN73	69-0304	Accompanied by 2 KC-135 tankers.
19	21JUN73	69-7201
20	21JUN73	69-7205
21	21JUN73	69-7208

22	22JUN73	69-7211	Accompanied by 2 KC-135 tankers. One of the tankers went u/s on 21JUN73.
23	22JUN73	69-7216

RETURN FERRY NOTES
1	All return ferry flights were crewed by USAF personnel. Records of crew names are not available but in early 2021 an obituary revealed that one of the pilots was Lt Col Jim Fauske (18 October 1942 - 01 February 2021). During the period 1974-76 Jim Fauske served on exchange duty with 77SQN RAAF as a Mirage display pilot.
2	All sourced from: Gordon Reid Essendon Newsletter 66/32. (Source: 9)
3	Only 23 aircraft were returned as 69-7203 was totally destroyed.
4	The 82WG ORB (Source: 19) records the departure of 6 aircraft on 25OCT72 and 5 aircraft on 09NOV72. The subsequent departures in JUN73 are not recorded.

THE RAAF MUSEUM F-4E

In March 1989, F-4E-34-MC 67-0237 was flown to Oakland, California for shipment to Australia on HMAS Tobruk on long term loan to the RAAF Museum at Point Cook. Tobruk docked in Brisbane and the aircraft was trucked to RAAF Amberley where it was painted to represent 69-7208 which operated the last flight by an RAAF Phantom on 20 June 1973. Subsequently the aeroplane was loaded on HMAS Tobruk for shipping to Geelong. The aircraft was then trucked to Point Cook where it arrived on 5 November 1989. (Source: 3)

Thanks to all who contributed, particularly the following former aircrew.

Dave Rogers
Lance Halvorson
Peter Condon
Clarrie Stjernqvist
Al Green
Marty Susans

Thanks also to John Bennett, Canberra/F-111C Nav and noted historian.

SOURCES
1	NAA, Series A9186, RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] Number 1 Squadron June 61 - Jan 88 (Pages 207-209) http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1339850
2	NAA, Series A9186, RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] Number 6 Squadron Dec 61 - May 88 (Pages 209-211) http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1339939
3	ADF Serials website: http://www.adf-serials.com.au/3a69.htm
4	Phantom, Hornet & Skyhawk in Australian Service by Stewart Wilson
5	Dave Rogers confirms that he flew 69-7204 from St Louis to Hickham but had a centreline tank feed problem and took 69-7205 from a USAF pilot and continued to Guam and Amberley. The USAF pilot ferried 69-7204 one week later.
6	Lance Halvorson. FLTLT Trevor Richardson (69-7220) was an RAAF pilot on exchange at Nellis AFB. He was effectively "hitching a ride home". MAJ Hibarger USAF is confirmed as one of the ferry pilots. Bob Montgomery 6SQN was one of the ferry pilots. Aircraft and date thus far unknown.
7	Mark Richardson http://www.angelfire.com/extreme/raafphantoms/RAAFF4E.htm
8	Journal Aviation Historical Society of Australia, Vol. XII No. 5, Nov-Dec 1971, page 82.
9	Gordon Reid Essendon Newsletter 66/32
10	Peter Condon. Delivered 69-7217. 21SEP07 St Louis to George AFB (3.25) 23SEP70 George AFB to Hickam AFB (5.25) 24SEP70 Hickam AFB to Anderson AFB (7.10) 26SEP70 Anderson AFB to Amberley (5.35)
11	Clarrie Stjernqvist.
12	Al Green. "MAJ Wright (USAF) a nice bloke who was a dead ringer for Sammy Davis Jr."
13	Marty Susans. "Frank Burtt and I arrived at Amberley in 214 on 03 Oct '70. The previous three legs I flew with Major Heffernan, USAF."
14	Log book of the late WG CDR R.E. Frost checked by Dave Rogers.
15	Log book of the late Kev Merrigan via Dave Rogers.
16	Nick Sayer (QAM)
17	Log book of the late SQN LDR Stu Fisher held by his family.
18	United States Air Force Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB, Microfilm Reel #M0474.
19	NAA, Series A9186, RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] Number 82 Wing Dec 60 - Feb 74. https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1360000

Compiled by Ron Cuskelly

Issue	Date	Remarks
7	07FEB21	Thanks to Dave Rogers, it is now known that one of the USAF pilots who ferried the Phantoms back to the USA was Lt Col Jim Fauske. Refer to Return Ferry Notes above.
6	14SEP20	Thanks to Dave Rogers, the missing serial numbers from the first two ferries have been identified. Some of the USAF crew on the first ferry have also been identified. To date it has not been possible to identify the remaining USAF crew.
5	14MAY18	Added comments by AIRCDRE Clarrie Stjernqvist. See Note 10.
4	24FEB18	Added a reference to the representative F-4E displayed at the RAAF Museum at Point Cook.
3	31DEC16	Added 69-7218 to the list even though it was never delivered to Australia. This aircraft was damaged on the first leg of its delivery flight from St Louis and was subsequently replaced by 69-7234. Australia took possession of the Phantoms at St Louis so 69-7218 was technically on charge to the RAAF albeit briefly.
2	02AUG16	Amended to show Bob Montgomery and Al Kirby returning from the USA on KC-135A tankers.
1	08JUL16	Original issue.