All 46 RF-4Bs produced by the McDonnell Aircraft Company went to the Marine Corps with the last RF-4B delivered on December 24, 1970. The last twelve of these RF-4Bs were built on RF-4C frames with larger tires, wheel wells and reinforced wings. Differing from the fighter version of the F-4, the RF-4B had a longer nose that housed forward and side oblique cameras, and featured photoflash cartridges for night photography. Film could also be developed in flight and film cassettes could be ejected at low altitude so that ground commanders could get aerial intelligence as rapidly as possible. The large AN/APQ-72 radar was also replaced with the much smaller AN/APQ-99 forward-looking J-band monopulse radar which was optimized for terrain avoidance and terrain-following, and could be used for ground mapping.
Initially each active duty Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) had operational squadrons that supplied separate photo reconnaissance and electronic countermeasure aircraft. In 1975, the entire photo reconnaissance mission of the Marine Corps was assigned to VMCJ-3 of Third Marine Aircraft Wing (3rd MAW) and the squadron was soon redesignated as Marine Photo Reconnaissance Squadron Three (VMFP-3). The squadron then supplied detachments to the users, both Navy and Marine. The last RF-4B in Marine Corps service was retired in 1990, prior to Desert Storm.
The RF-4B Phantom II on display was initially accepted on 15 October 1965 and delivered to VMCJ-3 at MCAS El Toro, spending its entire service with that squadron and its successor, VMFP-3. ‘1981’s career included deployments to MCAS Cherry Point, MCAS Iwakuni and multiple detachments aboard USS Midway (CV-41). It was retired on April 25, 1990 with 5,364 airframe hours and presented to the Command Museum. It is painted in the colors of Marine Photo Reconnaissance Squadron Three, (VMFP-3), while based at MCAS El Toro. This aircraft is on loan from the National Museum of the Marine Corps
Donor Wall
14
Henry | $100
My Father in-law Joel Dean was an ejection seat technician on the RF-4B for VMFP-3. He served with the unit during two sails on the USS Midway. He always talk about the challenges of working on the RF-4 because of how densely packed the aircraft’s mechanical systems were. He was very proud to have served the USMC.
Charles Walters | $100
VMCJ-3/VMFP-3/USS Midway Det B - Semper Fi to my fellow squadron mates and especially the ground crews who made sure our aircraft was safe, ready, and capable of completing our missions.
Fred (Trifox) Fogel | $100
Gregory Raths | $100
Guy Durr | $100
Zap RF
martha walker | $50
Merlin Askew VMFP-3 Radar Technician 1979-1982 Semper Fi!
Charles LOUGH
ZAP RF
Jonathan Pauley | $50
On the Marine Corps birthday I celebrate VMFP-3, Zap RF
William Schield | $50
Joseph Bennett | $50
Joe Bennett P3 Electric shop 81-85
Louis Davis
Roy Girvan | $100
We, the Marines of VMFP-3 are proud to support the museum and look forward to helping in any way we can!
Semper Fi!
Donor Wall 14
Henry | $100
My Father in-law Joel Dean was an ejection seat technician on the RF-4B for VMFP-3. He served with the unit during two sails on the USS Midway. He always talk about the challenges of working on the RF-4 because of how densely packed the aircraft’s mechanical systems were. He was very proud to have served the USMC.
Charles Walters | $100
VMCJ-3/VMFP-3/USS Midway Det B - Semper Fi to my fellow squadron mates and especially the ground crews who made sure our aircraft was safe, ready, and capable of completing our missions.
Fred (Trifox) Fogel | $100
Gregory Raths | $100
Guy Durr | $100
Zap RF
martha walker | $50
Merlin Askew VMFP-3 Radar Technician 1979-1982 Semper Fi!
Charles LOUGH
ZAP RF
Jonathan Pauley | $50
On the Marine Corps birthday I celebrate VMFP-3, Zap RF
William Schield | $50
Joseph Bennett | $50
Joe Bennett P3 Electric shop 81-85
Louis Davis
Roy Girvan | $100
We, the Marines of VMFP-3 are proud to support the museum and look forward to helping in any way we can! Semper Fi!
John Sorenson
Bill McKelvey