#fg.2

Richard Cooke was a great photographer!

Phantom Phriday, This is the infamous XV422, which, on 25/5/82 accidently shot down 14 Sqn Jaguar GR.1 XX963:AL with a Sidewinder missile. This was taken in Oct 1991 at Wildenrath. Image from my collection, original photographer was Cor de Munck.

credit Jim Simpson

@CcibChris via X

It was Jag Killer J for Juliet - I have the exact same image taken at Wildenrath - if you look closely the fuselage is covered in red paw prints - and yes it had a Jag kill marked on the left intake for a while

From 1969 to 1992, the RAF Phantoms were the backbone of UK air defence.

Started in strike & recce roles in

Germany, then became the primary interceptor guarding Britain’s skies through the Cold War—including Falklands air defence in ‘82.

Why post a seemingly "ordinary" shot of an RAF Phantom landing? Look closer. There is nothing ordinary about this recovery at Port Stanley (1982). Notice the drag chute deploying while the wheels are still airborne! On a strip as dangerously short as Stanley (only 4,000 ft, roughly half of what a Spey Phantom usually demands) you didn't wait for the flare. You bled every possible knot of airspeed while the airframe was still flying. It was the only way to ensure you didn't end up in the drink. 1/2

Special landing tactics and training weren't enough. The RAF literally bolted down AM2 aluminum matting (bought from the USMC btw) to extend the strip just enough to catch a heavy F-4. Combined with tailhook extensions and arrested landings, it was a brutal, mechanical effort to turn a 20-ton land-based fighter into a carrier aircraft. Pure grit! 2/2

F-4K of the Royal Air Force with an aggressive look and armed with infrared air-to-air missiles AIM-9L and semi-embedded in the fuselage 4 radar-guided semi-active Sparrow missiles

Me in front of 892NAS F4K at RAF Leuchars 1974. All aircraft in numeric order.

getting ahead of Phantom Friday - I look back and pinch myself - my own private Hawk - 16 Phantoms flown by a lot of my mates and a trusty 35 mm Nikon - I had the best of times

As each day passes the F-4 Phantom becomes a distant memory - my first flight was in 1981 and my last 1992 ( photo shoot ) - images copyright firestreakbooks.com - on reflection the phantom was def a great aircraft- unrefined and pure warhorse - my best fun Deci ACMI mid 80s

@BlickyIan via X