Changes

One of the more prominent Phantom missions during the War of Attrition was on May 16, 1970.  Eight F-4s, led by [[Six Day War]] veteran Aharon “Yalo” Shavit, flew to the Egyptian port of [[Ras Banas]] and sank an Egyptian destroyer in retaliation for the sinking of an Israeli patrol boat a few days earlier.  It was the longest-range fighter-bomber mission taken by the IAF up to that time.  Phantoms were also extensively used against Egyptian [[Surface-to-air Missile|SAM]] sites that year in what became known as Electronic Summer, in Wild Weasel-type missions using tactics developed by American pilots in the [[Vietnam War]].

One of the more prominent Phantom missions during the War of Attrition was on May 16, 1970.  Eight F-4s, led by [[Six Day War]] veteran Aharon “Yalo” Shavit, flew to the Egyptian port of [[Ras Banas]] and sank an Egyptian destroyer in retaliation for the sinking of an Israeli patrol boat a few days earlier.  It was the longest-range fighter-bomber mission taken by the IAF up to that time.  Phantoms were also extensively used against Egyptian [[Surface-to-air Missile|SAM]] sites that year in what became known as Electronic Summer, in Wild Weasel-type missions using tactics developed by American pilots in the [[Vietnam War]].

The War of Attrition ended with a negotiated ceasefire in August.  Half a dozen Phantoms had been lost to SAMs and anti-aircraft fire, and IAF Phantoms had shot down six Egyptian aircraft (five MiG-21s and an [[Ilyushin Il-28|Ilyushin jet bomber]]).  The first loss of a Phantom in aerial combat happened on April 2, 1970, when a Syrian MiG-21 downed a Kurnass near Mt. Hermon.<ref>The pilot of the Fishbed was [[Bassam Hamshu]], who became an ace in the Yom Kippur War and ended his career with seven confirmed victories, including another Phantom.</ref>

The [[War of Attrition]] ended with a negotiated [[ceasefire]] in August.  Half a dozen Phantoms had been lost to SAMs and anti-aircraft fire, and IAF Phantoms had shot down six Egyptian aircraft (five MiG-21s and an [[Ilyushin Il-28|Ilyushin jet bomber]]).  The first loss of a Phantom in aerial combat happened on April 2, 1970, when a Syrian MiG-21 downed a Kurnass near Mt. Hermon.<ref>The pilot of the Fishbed was [[Bassam Hamshu]], who became an ace in the Yom Kippur War and ended his career with seven confirmed victories, including another Phantom.</ref>

===The Yom Kippur War===

===The Yom Kippur War===

===Post-Yom Kippur===

===Post-Yom Kippur===

After the war ended, tensions were still high, and Phantoms saw combat again in the following year over both the Sinai and the Golan Heights, including aerial contests that ended with four MiGs shot down.  When Israel bought its first [[F-15 Eagle]]s in 1976, the Kurnass was edged out of the air-to-air niche, and Kurnass crews only scored two and a half more aerial victories after the Eagle was introduced.  However, the Phantom’s role was expanded with the acquisition of RF-4Es for reconnaissance.  Israeli Phantoms were heavily involved in the fighting in Lebanon in mid-1982, successfully attacking several Syrian SAM sites and PLO facilities.  One Phantom was lost to MiGs,<ref>But not in a fair fight.  For some reason, the F-4 lost power in one of its engines, and as the crippled fighter tried to egress, the MiGs pounced.  The crew was recovered safely.</ref> but another Kurnass crew downed a MiG-21 the next day.

After the war ended, tensions were still high, and Phantoms saw combat again in the following year over both the Sinai and the Golan Heights, including aerial contests that ended with four MiGs shot down.  When Israel bought its first [[F-15 Eagle]]s in 1976, the Kurnass was edged out of the air-to-air niche, and Kurnass crews only scored two and a half more aerial victories after the Eagle was introduced.  However, the Phantom's role was expanded with the acquisition of RF-4Es for reconnaissance.  Israeli Phantoms were heavily involved in the fighting in Lebanon in mid-1982, successfully attacking several Syrian SAM sites and PLO facilities.  One Phantom was lost to MiGs,<ref>But not in a fair fight.  For some reason, the F-4 lost power in one of its engines, and as the crippled fighter tried to egress, the MiGs pounced.  The crew was recovered safely.</ref> but another Kurnass crew downed a MiG-21 the next day.

By the mid-1980s, the Phantom was starting to get a little long in the tooth compared to the F-15, [[F-16]], and the newer MiGs in service at the time with many Arab air forces.  The Kurnass 2000 project was initiated to give the Phantom a new lease on life, and 130 planes were re-equipped with new avionics and modifications to the hydraulic and fuel systems.  Kurnass 2000s have seen action in Lebanon.

By the mid-1980s, the Phantom was starting to get a little long in the tooth compared to the F-15, [[F-16]], and the newer MiGs in service at the time with many Arab air forces.  The Kurnass 2000 project was initiated to give the Phantom a new lease on life, and 130 planes were re-equipped with new avionics and modifications to the hydraulic and fuel systems.  Kurnass 2000s have seen action in Lebanon.

By the time of the [[Gulf War]], the Phantom had been mostly superseded in American service by the [[F-14 Tomcat|F-14]], F-15, and F-16.  The USAF still used RF-4s for tactical reconnaissance, and sent a total of eighteen of them to the Coalition forces in [[Saudi Arabia]].

By the time of the [[Gulf War]], the Phantom had been mostly superseded in American service by the [[F-14 Tomcat|F-14]], F-15, and F-16.  The USAF still used RF-4s for tactical reconnaissance, and sent a total of eighteen of them to the Coalition forces in [[Saudi Arabia]].

Playing a more prominent role were the Air Force’s F-4Gs, specialized for SAM-suppression.  Phantoms from the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing flew with the airstrikes, destroying missile sites and radars with their [[AGM-45 Shrike|Shrike]] and HARM missiles when they threatened the strike aircraft.  250 Iraqi radars were destroyed in total, mostly by Phantoms.  In spite of the risky nature of their mission, only one F-4G was lost in combat in the war, to anti-aircraft fire.  The highest scoring F-4G crew were pilot Captain Vince Quinn and WSO Major Ken Spaar, who destroyed twelve SAM sites during their tour.

Playing a more prominent role were the Air Force's F-4Gs, specialized for SAM-suppression.  Phantoms from the 35th Tactical Fighter Wing flew with the airstrikes, destroying missile sites and radars with their [[AGM-45 Shrike|Shrike]] and HARM missiles when they threatened the strike aircraft.  250 Iraqi radars were destroyed in total, mostly by Phantoms.  In spite of the risky nature of their mission, only one F-4G was lost in combat in the war, to anti-aircraft fire.  The highest scoring F-4G crew were pilot Captain Vince Quinn and WSO Major Ken Spaar, who destroyed twelve SAM sites during their tour.

==Other Users==

==Other Users==

*[http://www.wingweb.co.uk/aircraft/McDonnell_Phantom_F-4_part3.html The Phantom in Vietnam]

*[http://www.wingweb.co.uk/aircraft/McDonnell_Phantom_F-4_part3.html The Phantom in Vietnam]

*''Rolling Thunder:  Jet Combat from World War II to the Gulf War'', by Ivan Rendall, Dell Publishing, 1997

*''Rolling Thunder:  Jet Combat from World War II to the Gulf War'', by Ivan Rendall, Dell Publishing, 1997

*''Fast Movers: Jet Pilots and the Vietnam Experience'', by John Darrell Sherwood, St. Martin’s Press, 1999

*''Fast Movers: Jet Pilots and the Vietnam Experience'', by John Darrell Sherwood, St. Martin's Press, 1999

*''Mig-21 Units of the Vietnam War'', by Istvan Toperczer, Osprey Publishing, 2001

*''Mig-21 Units of the Vietnam War'', by Istvan Toperczer, Osprey Publishing, 2001

[[Category:Military Aircraft]]

[[Category:Military Aircraft]]

[[Category:United States Air Force]]

[[Category:United States Air Force]]

[[Category:United States Navy aircraft]]

[[Category:United States Navy Aircraft]]

[[Category:Vietnam War]]

[[Category:Vietnam War]]