YRF-4C Phantom II
s/n 62-12201
First entering service in 1960, the McDonnell F-4 Phantom I was designed as a U.S. Navy fleet defense fighter, and was soon adopted by the U.S. Air Force as a fighter-bomber. RF-4 Phantoms also proved capable high performance reconnaissance aircraft. The F-4 was the first multi-service aircraft, flying concurrently with the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. It also flew concurrently with the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds demonstration teams. F-4 Phantoms served extensively in the Vietnam War, and RF-4s served as recently as Operation Desert Storm.
Average Cost: $2 million each
Normal Range: 840 mi.
Max Range: 1,750 mi.
Crew: 2
Engines: 2- General Electric J79-GE-15 turbojets 10,300 lbs. of thrust 17,000 lbs. w/ afterburner
Wing Span: 38 ft. 5 in.
Fuel: 5,329 gal. max. 1,994 gal. internal 3,335 gal. externals
Length: 63 ft.
Height: 16 ft. 6 in.
Wing Area: 530 sq. ft.
Weapons: RF-4 originally unarmed; capable of carrying nuclear weapons and later armed with missiles for self defence.
Weight Empty: 28,276 lbs.
Max. T/O Weight:58,000 lbs
Max Speed: 1,459 mph. (Mach2.21). @ 48,000 ft.
Normal Cruise: 587 mph.
this page online
The History of YRF-4C, s/n 62-12201
Manufactured by McDonnell Aircraft, St. Louis, MO as YRF-10A Spectre. Redesignated RF-4C
1963, 30 September - Gained by the USAF and retained by manufacturer. 1st flight.
1966, January - To General Electric, Lockbourne AFB, OH for J79 engine development.
1967, December - To General Electric, Edwards AFB, CA.
1972, June - To McDonnell Aircraft, St. Louis (deployment to Eglin AFB, FL.
1978, June - To Chanute Technical Training Center (Air Training Command), Chanute AFB, IL as GRF-4C,
1985, May - Dropped from inventory by transfer to museum status.
Current Paint Scheme
YRF-4C, s/n 62-12201, displayed here is painted and marked in a green generic camouflage scheme seen on USAF F-4s during the Vietnam War.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Military.
Location. 29° 35.287′ N, 90° 43.229′ W. Marker is in Houma, Louisiana, in Terrebonne Parish. It is on Barrow Street (State Highway 182) near Margaret Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1154 Barrow Street, Houma LA 70360, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Louisiana’s Acadiana Cajun Country and specifically in Bayou Country. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Deep South, and on the Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, Acadia, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Fifth Districts High School (approx. Ό mile away); Saint Francis de Sales Church
Another marker is no longer nearby. St. Matthew's Episcopal Church (was approx. 0.6 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
More about this marker. Located at the Regional Military Museum
Also see . . . Regional Military Museum. (Submitted on March 26, 2018, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 22, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2018, by Cajun Scrambler of Assumption, Louisiana. This page has been viewed 865 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 26, 2018.
