As usual 'boat loads' of politics and economics steered the procurement of the Phantom into U.K. service.
Initially a 'courtesy' visit of McDonnell Douglas's new Phantom F-4B U.S. Navy demonstrator into Yeovilton after visiting the Paris Air Show in 1961 played quite a strategic role in RN thinking. In the course of time we ordered the Phantom for RAF and Royal Navy operations.. but it had to have our RR Spey engines, and numerous other mods which effectively made an 'off the shelf' frame into a bespoke and expensive procurement.
The RN requirement of 140 aircraft was greatly reduced with eventually 48 of the Navy model F-4K or FG.1 being received, with 20 of those being diverted to RAF use by 43 Squadron. First deliveries to the RN were made in April 1968. Early sea trials on board the USS Saratoga had created big problems of burnt and buckled deck plates due to the longer extension of the nose wheel leg and higher power of the RR Spey engines ! therefore to be compatible with our carrier(s) necessitated mods to the deck... more cost. In the end only HMS Ark Royal got clearance for the mods, hence diversion of aircraft to RAF use.
Operations by 892 Squadron (RN) continued through to late November 1978 when their final aircraft were flown to RAF St.Athan for transfer over to the RAF Maintenance Unit, the squadron disbandment taking place at RAF Leuchars on 15th December 1978. Ex. RN FG.1 aircraft were passed to 111 Squadron at Leuchars who then passed their FGR.2 (F-4M) RAF Phantoms out to the rest of the fleet.
These shots are of the ex. Royal Navy FG.1 models, allocated to 111 Squadron, being placed into temporary store in the 'Battle of Britain' hangar at Coningsby on 12th May 1979, plus a couple of naval model FG.1's operated by 43 Squadron.
XV573 : D
XV592
Alconbury Air Day 28th June 1975 XV576 : D and XV583 : G of 43 Squadron
Mildenhall Air Fete 4th July 1976 XV579 : R 43 Sqdn.
Some camo' RAF FGR.2 Phantoms to follow next time...
