The Last Phantom @ Ramstein 25-06-1986

[hvaneupen]

On June 25th 1986 a media day was organised to say farewell to the last F4E Phantoms of the 86TFW. We could also welcome some of the first F16's and the ANG F4D Phantoms who stepped in for QRA duties during the transition of 86TFW (deployment called Creek Klaxon). A very nice and memorable day!























F4D 650648, 179FIS Minnesota ANG:




Scramble by F4D 640968 and 640972, 178FIS North Dakota ANG:








Normal mission for F4D 650747, 194 FIS California ANG:


F4D 650595, 179FIS Minnesota ANG:

[MR TERRY GREEN]

Excellent post,lovely to see those F-4s again.

[Mustang531]

Absolutely wonderful to see these, thanks for sharing them with us. Always welcome to see a load of F-4s.

[binbrook87]

Phantastic!

[paddyboy]

Hi Harold

All I can say is……..

I certainly won’t be the only person on FC who can never see too many shots of ‘Ol’ Dubly Ugly’

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

[Petepilot]

Lovely F4s....never have too many F4s. Great pics Arnold, as always (more please ).

[SW Sky Blue]

Phabulous

[ewddie]

Great shots from times remembered, many thanks for sharing them.

[Stratocruiser]

OH WOW
What a truly fabulous post. I was actually there on an army visit on the 20th May before they all departed and remember that wonderful sight of the F-4's all lined up ready to go with the KC-135 tankers positioned nearby. It was an additional surprise to see all the ANG tooms there supporting the squadrons until the final compliment of F-16C and D's arrived.
In those days we did not have the luxury of internet and FC contributions and had to rely on the excellent LAAS and WLAG publications.
Thank you soooo much for your superb post prompting a very fond memory.
Best regards, Terry

[ciaranchef]

Just wonderful to see so many Phantoms , great set

[Keflavik69]

Dear Petepilot, it wasn’t me that posted this wonderful set of pictures. Harold fully deserves the credits for sharing this great set of pictures from an interesting time at Ramstein. Thanks a lot Harold for bringing back the memories of Ramstein as a fighter base.
Groeten, Arnold

[Monstr322]

Awsome and intresting set !

[mark pepper]

Great photos, wonderful to look back to when most everything was fully marked up

[capercaillie]

Lovely stuff but those ANG birds - wow!

[F3]

Great shots as usual Harold. Particularly liking those ANG Tooms.

[MADWOP]

Great shots of 'A proper aeroplane'.

[Sparky 119]

Cracking post of an iconic aircraft

[Bilvo]

OH WOW
...until the final compliment of F-16A's arrived.

I think the 86th TFW transitioned to the F-16C and didn't receive any A models but I could be wrong? Certainly those photographed here are both C models (84-1286 delivered to RS Feb 86 and 84-1316 in May 86 (later with the 50th at Hahn by December 86)), the 50th TFW at Hahn was the first wing to receive A's in Europe in 1981 followed by the 401st at Torrejon. Both of which swapped out their A's for C's in the mid/late 80's.

[sjoerd]

Just wow Harold!! What a set and what a well phramed subject. Just curious, whereabouts was that QRA installement? Is it still there these days?

[hvaneupen]

Just wow Harold!! What a set and what a well phramed subject. Just curious, whereabouts was that QRA installement? Is it still there these days?

The QRA was af the north/westside of the runway. Nowadays the big cargoramp is extended to the former QRA but I believe it is still there (out of order) and visible from outside.