Bellwood in Chesterfield County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
F-4 Phantom II
circa November 2025
1. F-4 Phantom II Marker
The F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber originally developed for the Navy by McDonnell Douglas Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960. Proving highly adaptable, it was also adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Air Force, and by the mid-1960s had become a major part of their air arms.
The Phantom is a large fighter with a top speed of over Mach 2.2. It can carry more than 18,000 pounds of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and various bombs. The F-4, like other interceptors of its time, was designed without an internal cannon. Later models incorporated an M61 Vulcan rotary cannon. Beginning in 1959, it set 15 world records for in-flight performance, including an absolute speed record of 1,606.342 mph and an absolute altitude record of 98,558 feet.
The F-4 was used extensively during the Vietnam War. It served as the principal air superiority fighter for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps and became important in the ground attack and aerial reconnaissance roles
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It was also the only aircraft used by both U.S. flight demonstration teams: the Air Force Thunderbirds (F-4E) and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels (F-4J). The F-4 was also operated by the armed forces of 11 other nations. Israeli Phantoms saw extensive combat in several Arab-Israeli conflicts, while Iran used its large fleet of Phantoms, acquired before the fall of the Shah, in the Iran-Iraq War. Phantom production ran from 1958 to 1981, with a total of 5,195 built, making it the most produced American supersonic military aircraft. As of 2018, 60 years after its first flight, the F-4 remains in service with Iran, Japan, South Korea, Greece and Turkey. The aircraft has most recently been in service against the Islamic State group in the Middle
circa November 2025
2. F-4 Phantom II Marker & Display Aircraft
General Characteristics
Contractor: McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Company
First Flight: May 27, 1958
Propulsion: Two General Electric turbojet engines with afterburners
Length: 58 feet, 3 inches
Height: 16 feet, 6 inches
Wingspan: 38 feet, 5 inches
Weight: 55,597 pounds
Airspeed: 1,673 mph (Mach 2.2 at altitude)
Ceiling: 59,600 feet
Range: 1,750 miles
Crew: Two
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, 1st Iraq & Desert Storm • War, Cold • War, Vietnam. A significant historical date for this entry is May 27, 1958.
Location. 37° 25.575′ N, 77° 26.878′ W. Marker is in Bellwood, Virginia, in Chesterfield County. It is on G Road just south of Elk Grove Drive, on the right when traveling south. Marker is on post at Defense Supply Center Richmond and is not accessible to civilians without sponsored access or authorized escort. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 G Rd, Richmond VA 23237, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont, in Central Virginia, and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, 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: A-10 Thunderbolt II (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); OH-58D Kiowa (about 500 feet away); World War II Memorial (approx. Ό mile away); Standard U.S. Navy Stockless Anchor (approx. 0.4 miles away); Twin 40 mm Bofors Anti-Aircraft Gun (approx. 0.4 miles away); 105mm Howitzer Motor Carriage, M7B2 (approx. 0.4 miles away); M41 Walker Bulldog (approx. half a mile away); Virginia National Guard State Headquarters Building and Site (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bellwood.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 26, 2025. This page has been viewed 66 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 26, 2025. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
