It first entered service in 1960 with the Navy. Proving highly adaptable, it was also adopted by the United States Marine Corps and the United States 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 (8,400 kg) 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 initially 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,[4] including an absolute speed record and an absolute altitude record. The RAAF leased 24 F-4E Phantoms from the USAF due to delays in delivery of the F-111. The out of sequence RAAF designator A-69 was applied for administrative purposes but did not appear on the aircraft which retained their USAF serial numbers. During their RAAF service the Phantoms were 'owned' and operated by 482 Maintenance Squadron, 1 and 6 Squadrons supplied aircrew only. The aircraft were flown by both units for the time they served in the RAAF. After their return to the USAF most were converted to F4-G Wild Weasel Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD) aircraft. They served successfully during the Gulf War. For more details, click here and here.
