# McDonnell Douglas Phantom in UK service - data

A total of 185 F-4 Phantoms were produced for and operated by the United Kingdom between 1968 and 1992. Between 1966 and 1969, 170 Phantoms were specially built for the UK, replacing the de Havilland Sea Vixen in the fleet air defence role for the Royal Navy, and the Hawker Hunter in the close air support and tactical reconnaissance roles in the Royal Air Force. Subsequently, when replaced by the SEPECAT Jaguar for close air support and reconnaissance, the Phantom replaced the English Electric Lightning as the UK's primary air defence interceptor. The Phantom was operated by the Royal Navy until 1978, when HMS Ark Royal, the only British ship capable of operating the aircraft, was decommissioned. Following this, the Royal Navy's Phantoms were turned over to the Royal Air Force. In 1984, a batch of 15 former United States Navy and United States Marine Corps Phantoms were obtained by the Royal Air Force to form an additional squadron. The Phantom began to be replaced by the air defence variant of the Panavia Tornado from 1987, and was finally withdrawn from service in 1992.

## Basic specifications

Comparison of variants :
| Variant | Variant | Powerplant | Speed (at 40,000 ft) | Ceiling | Range | Weight | Weight | Wingspan | Length | Height | Production total |
| Variant | Variant | Powerplant | Speed (at 40,000 ft) | Ceiling | Range | Empty | Maximum | Wingspan | Length | Height | Production total |
| FG.1 | | 2 x Rolls-Royce Spey 201/203 low-bypass turbofan | 1,386 mph (2,231 km/h) | 57,200 ft (17,400 m) | 1,750 mi (2,820 km) | 31,000 lb (14,000 kg) | 58,000 lb (26,000 kg) | 38 ft 5 in (11.71 m) | 57 ft 7 in (17.55 m) | 16 ft 1 in (4.90 m) | 52 |
| FGR.2 | | 2 x Rolls-Royce Spey 202/204 low-bypass turbofan | 1,386 mph (2,231 km/h) | 57,200 ft (17,400 m) | 1,750 mi (2,820 km) | 31,000 lb (14,000 kg) | 58,000 lb (26,000 kg) | 38 ft 5 in (11.71 m) | 57 ft 7 in (17.55 m) | 16 ft 1 in (4.90 m) | 118 |
| F.3 | | 2 x General Electric J79-10B axial flow turbojet | 1,428 mph (2,298 km/h) | 64,700 ft (19,700 m) | 1,750 mi (2,820 km) | 29,900 lb (13,600 kg) | 58,000 lb (26,000 kg) | 38 ft 5 in (11.71 m) | 58 ft 3 in (17.75 m) | 15 ft 8 in (4.78 m) | 15 |

## Comparison of Phantom FG.1 with Sea Vixen and Lightning

Comparison of Sea Vixen FAW.2, Lightning F.6 and Phantom FG.1 :
| Aircraft | Aircraft | Powerplant | Thrust (each engine) | Speed (at 40,000 ft) | Ceiling | Range | Range | Armament (air defence) | Avionics |
| Aircraft | Aircraft | Powerplant | Thrust (each engine) | Speed (at 40,000 ft) | Ceiling | Combat | Maximum | Armament (air defence) | Avionics |
| Sea Vixen | | 2 x Rolls-Royce Avon Mk.208 turbojets | 11,000 lbf (49 kN) | 700 mph (1,100 km/h) | 48,000 ft (15,000 m) | 600 mi (970 km) | 2,000 mi (3,200 km) | 4 x Firestreak or Red Top air to air missile (AAM) | GEC AI.18 X-band radar |
| Lightning | | 2 x Rolls-Royce Avon Mk.301 turbojets | 12,690 lbf (56.4 kN) dry thrust 16,360 lbf (72.8 kN) with afterburner | 1,500 mph (2,400 km/h) | 60,000 ft (18,000 m) | 800 mi (1,300 km) | 1,250 mi (2,010 km) | 2 x Firestreak or Red Top AAM 2 x 30mm ADEN cannon | Ferranti AI.23 X-band monopulse radar |
| Phantom | | 2 x Rolls-Royce Spey Mk.203 turbofans | 12,140 lbf (54.0 kN) 20,515 lbf (91.26 kN) with afterburner | 1,386 mph (2,231 km/h) | 57,200 ft (17,400 m) | 1,000 mi (1,600 km) | 1,750 mi (2,820 km) | 4 x AIM-7 Sparrow or Skyflash AAM 4 x AIM-9 Sidewinder AAM | Ferranti AN/AWG-11 X-band multi-mode radar |

## List of surviving complete aircraft and aircraft sections

While the majority of UK Phantoms were ultimately scrapped, a number of complete examples survived after the type's final withdrawal in 1992, either preserved in museums, or for further use as static articles by other units. Additionally, a number of examples that were ultimately scrapped had sections preserved for display in museums. These surviving complete examples and preserved sections are listed.
| Aircraft serial | Variant | First UK operator | Final UK operator | Fate | Notes |
| XT596 | YF-4K | Rolls-Royce | British Aerospace | Preserved (Yeovilton) | Oldest preserved UK Phantom |
| XT597 | F-4K | Ministry of Defence (Procurement Executive) | Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment | Preserved (Kemble) | Final UK Phantom to fly Under restoration by BPAG |
| XT863 | F-4K | 700P Naval Air Squadron | No. 43 Squadron | Scrapped | Nose section stored (Cowes) |
| XT864 | F-4K | 700P Naval Air Squadron | No. 111 Squadron | Preserved (Lisburn) | |
| XT891 | F-4M | No. 228 OCU | No. 74 Squadron | Preserved (Coningsby) | Gate guardian |
| XT895 | F-4M | No. 228 OCU | No. 74 Squadron | Scrapped | Nose section preserved |
| XT899 | F-4M | No. 228 OCU | No. 19 Squadron | Preserved (Kbely) | |
| XT903 | F-4M | No. 228 OCU | No. 56 Squadron | Scrapped | Nose section preserved (Cosford) |
| XT905 | F-4M | No. 54 Squadron | No. 74 Squadron | Preserved (Kemble) | Under restoration by BPAG |
| XT914 | F-4M | No. 228 OCU | No. 74 Squadron | Preserved (Wattisham) | |
| XV399 | F-4M | No. 228 OCU | No. 56 Squadron | Scrapped | Nose section preserved (Vik) |
| XV401 | F-4M | No. 228 OCU | No. 74 Squadron | Preserved (Bentwaters) | |
| XV402 | F-4M | No. 31 Squadron | No. 56 Squadron | Scrapped | Nose section preserved |
| XV406 | F-4M | Ministry of Defence | No. 228 OCU | Preserved (Carlisle) | |
| XV408 | F-4M | No. 6 Squadron | No. 92 Squadron | Preserved (Tangmere) | |
| XV409 | F-4M | No. 228 OCU | No. 1435 Flight | Scrapped | Nose section preserved (Stanley) |
| XV415 | F-4M | No. 54 Squadron | No. 56 Squadron | Preserved (Boulmer) | Gate guardian |
| XV419 | F-4M | No. 54 Squadron | No. 19 Squadron | Scrapped | Nose section preserved (Ruthin) |
| XV424 | F-4M | No. 6 Squadron | No. 56 Squadron | Preserved (Hendon) | |
| XV426 | F-4M | No. 31 Squadron | No. 56 Squadron | Scrapped | Nose section preserved (Norwich) |
| XV460 | F-4M | No. 14 Squadron | No. 74 Squadron | Scrapped | Nose section preserved (Bentwaters) |
| XV470 | F-4M | No. 2 Squadron | No. 56 Squadron | Stored (Akrotiri) | |
| XV474 | F-4M | No. 17 Squadron | No. 74 Squadron | Preserved (Duxford) | First Phantom in air superiority grey |
| XV489 | F-4M | No. 2 Squadron | No. 92 Squadron | Scrapped | Nose section preserved |
| XV490 | F-4M | No. 54 Squadron | No. 74 Squadron | Scrapped | Nose section preserved (Newark) |
| XV497 | F-4M | No. 41 Squadron | No. 74 Squadron | Preserved (Flixton) | Final RAF Phantom to fly |
| XV499 | F-4M | No. 228 OCU | No. 74 Squadron | Scrapped | Nose section stored (St Athan) |
| XV581 | F-4K | No. 43 Squadron | No. 43 Squadron | Scrapped | Nose section preserved (Aberdeen) |
| XV582 | F-4K | No. 43 Squadron | No. 228 OCU | Preserved (St Athan) | |
| XV586 | F-4K | 892 Naval Air Squadron | No. 43 Squadron | Preserved (Yeovilton) | |
| XV591 | F-4K | 892 Naval Air Squadron | No. 111 Squadron | Scrapped | Nose section preserved (Cosford) |
| ZE350 | F-4J(UK) | No. 74 Squadron | No. 74 Squadron | Scrapped | Nose section preserved (Adelaide) Preserved in US Navy livery |
| ZE352 | F-4J(UK) | No. 74 Squadron | No. 74 Squadron | Scrapped | Nose section preserved (Preston) |
| ZE359 | F-4J(UK) | No. 74 Squadron | No. 74 Squadron | Preserved (Duxford) | Preserved in US Navy livery |
| ZE360 | F-4J(UK) | No. 74 Squadron | No. 74 Squadron | Preserved (Kemble) | Formerly used for firefighting training Under restoration by BPAG |

## Phantom bases

* United Kingdom
** RNAS Yeovilton
*** 700P Naval Air Squadron April 1968 to February 1969
*** 767 Naval Air Squadron January 1969 to August 1972
*** 892 Naval Air Squadron March 1969 to September 1972
** RAF Leuchars
*** 892 Naval Air Squadron October 1972 to April 1978
*** No. 43 Squadron September 1969 to July 1989
*** No. 64 (R) Squadron April 1987 to January 1991
*** No. 111 Squadron July 1974 to January 1990
*** Phantom Training Flight August 1972 to May 1978
** RAF Coningsby
*** No. 29 Squadron December 1974 to March 1987
*** No. 41 Squadron April 1972 to April 1977
*** No. 54 Squadron August 1969 to April 1974
*** No. 6 Squadron May 1969 to October 1974
*** No. 64 (R) Squadron July 1970 to April 1987
** RAF Wattisham
*** No. 23 Squadron November 1975 to March 1983
*** No. 56 Squadron March 1976 to June 1992
*** No. 74 Squadron July 1984 to September 1992
*** Phantom Training Flight January 1991 to January 1992
* Germany
** RAF Laarbruch
*** No. 2 Squadron December 1970 to February 1976
** RAF Brüggen
*** No. 14 Squadron June 1970 to January 1976
*** No. 17 Squadron July 1970 to July 1975
*** No. 31 Squadron July 1971 to June 1976
** RAF Wildenrath
*** No. 19 Squadron December 1976 to January 1992
*** No. 92 Squadron March 1977 to July 1991
* Falkland Islands
** RAF Stanley
*** No 23 Squadron March 1983 to May 1985
*** No 29 Squadron (Detachment) October 1982 to March 1983
** RAF Mount Pleasant
*** No 23 Squadron May 1985 to November 1988
*** No. 1435 Flight November 1988 to June 1992

## Accidents and incidents

Over the course of the Phantom's service with the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, a total of 47 aircraft were lost to crashes, while another 8 were damaged and not repaired.
| Date | Variant | Aircraft serial | Operator | Location | Country | Fatalities | Description |
| 9 July 1969 | FGR.2 | XV395 | No. 6 Squadron | Horncastle, Lincolnshire | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash due to loss of hydraulic pressure leading to locking of controls |
| 3 May 1970 | FG.1 | XV566 | A&AEE | Lyme Bay, Dorset | United Kingdom | 2 | Crashed into Lyme Bay; no trace of aircraft found |
| 19 May 1971 | FG.1 | XT862 | 767 Naval Air Squadron | Off Newquay, Cornwall | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash due to engine flameout |
| 29 June 1971 | FG.1 | XV565 | 892 Naval Air Squadron | Off Mayport, Florida | United States | 0 | Crash while undertaking low level air combat manoeuvring |
| 12 October 1971 | FGR.2 | XV479 | No. 54 Squadron | Holstebro, Holstebro Municipality | Denmark | 0+2 | Crash due to engine failure |
| 15 October 1971 | FGR.2 | XT904 | No. 228 OCU | Off Cromer, Norfolk | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash following loss of aerodynamic control in spin |
| 10 January 1972 | FG.1 | XT876 | 767 Naval Air Squadron | Trevose Head, Cornwall | United Kingdom | 1 | Crash following loss of aerodynamic control in spin |
| 14 February 1972 | FGR.2 | XT913 | No. 228 OCU | Off Happisburgh, Norfolk | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash due to hydraulic failure |
| 20 November 1972 | FGR.2 | XV477 | No. 6 Squadron | Scarrowmanwick Fell, Cumbria | United Kingdom | 2 | Crash into Fell as a result of attempt to climb to altitude due to poor visibility at lower level |
| 1 June 1973 | FGR.2 | XV397 | No. 17 Squadron | Kempen, North Rhine-Westphalia | West Germany | 1 | Crash following steep dive as a result of instrument failure |
| 25 June 1973 | FGR.2 | XV440 | No. 31 Squadron | Off Vlieland, Friesland | Netherlands | 2 | Crash believed to be due to pilot error |
| 17 July 1973 | FG.1 | XT871 | 892 Naval Air Squadron | Firth of Forth | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash due to engine failure |
| 22 August 1973 | FGR.2 | XV427 | No. 17 Squadron | Arfeld, North-Rhine Westphalia | West Germany | 2 | Crashed into high-ground during low level sortie |
| 15 October 1973 | FG.1 | XT869 | 892 Naval Air Squadron | Tentsmuir Forest, Fife | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash due to engine failure |
| 9 August 1974 | FGR.2 | XV493 | No. 41 Squadron | Fordham Fen, Norfolk | United Kingdom | 2+1 | Crash following mid-air collision |
| 11 October 1974 | FGR.2 | XV431 | No. 31 Squadron | RAF Brüggen | West Germany | 0 | Crash due to wing tips being left unlocked and folding on take-off |
| 21 November 1974 | FGR.2 | XV441 | No. 14 Squadron | Maasbree, Limburg | Netherlands | 0 | Crash due to engine fire on take-off |
| 3 March 1975 | FGR.2 | XV416 | No. 111 Squadron | Coningsby, Lincolnshire | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash due to engine failure |
| 18 September 1975 | FG.1 | XV580 | No. 43 Squadron | Kirriemuir, Tayside | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash due to loss of control during practice sortie for air display |
| 24 November 1975 | FGR.2 | XV405 | No. 228 OCU | Skegness, Lincolnshire | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash due to loss of control |
| 17 December 1975 | FGR.2 | XV463 | No. 41 Squadron | Mawbray, Cumbria | United Kingdom | 2 | Crash due to loss of control |
| 23 July 1976 | FGR.2 | XV417 | No. 29 Squadron | Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash during air combat manoeuvring when wing tip folded due to loose securing bolt |
| 18 May 1977 | FG.1 | XV588 | 892 Naval Air Squadron | RAF Leuchars | United Kingdom | 0 | Aircraft burnt out due to engine fire during aborted take-off |
| 12 May 1978 | FG.1 | XT868 | 892 Naval Air Squadron | RAF Leuchars | United Kingdom | 1 | Crash due to engine flameout |
| 24 July 1978 | FGR.2 | XV483 | No. 92 Squadron | Drenke, North-Rhine Westphalia | West Germany | 2 | Crash during practice intercept |
| 4 August 1978 | FGR.2 | XV403 | No. 111 Squadron | Off Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire | United Kingdom | 2 | Crash during practice intercept |
| 23 November 1978 | FG.1 | XT598 | No. 111 Squadron | St Andrews Bay, Fife | United Kingdom | 2 | Crash during landing approach |
| 28 February 1979 | FG.1 | XV578 | No. 111 Squadron | Off Montrose, Angus | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash due to engine failure |
| 5 March 1980 | FGR.2 | XV436 | No. 29 Squadron | RAF Coningsby | United Kingdom | 0 | Aircraft ran off runway having missed arrestor cable following hydraulic failure |
| 3 June 1980 | FG.1 | XV589 | No. 111 Squadron | RAF Alconbury | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash due to loss of aerodynamic stability from nose radome unlocking and folding back |
| 11 July 1980 | FGR.2 | XV418 | No. 92 Squadron | Lohne, Lower Saxony | West Germany | 2 | Crash due to loss of control during manoeuvring |
| 12 November 1980 | FGR.2 | XV413 | No. 29 Squadron | Off Cromer, Norfolk | United Kingdom | 2 | Crashed into the North Sea during night flying |
| 9 December 1980 | FGR.2 | XV414 | No. 23 Squadron | Off Great Yarmouth, Norfolk | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash due to fire caused by ignition of fuel leak |
| 9 July 1981 | FG.1 | XT866 | No. 43 Squadron | RAF Leuchars | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash on landing due to loss of control as a result of slipstream |
| 14 April 1982 | FGR.2 | XT912 | No. 228 OCU | Billinghay, Lincolnshire | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash due to mid-air collision with second aircraft in formation |
| 7 July 1982 | FGR.2 | XV491 | No. 29 Squadron | Off Cromer, Norfolk | United Kingdom | 2 | Crash in fog due to faulty altimeter |
| 17 October 1983 | FGR.2 | XV484 | No. 23 Squadron | Mount Usbourne, Falkland Islands | Falkland Islands | 2 | Crashed into mountain following descent through cloud |
| 31 July 1985 | FG.1 | XT857 | No. 111 Squadron | RAF Leuchars | United Kingdom | 0 | Aircraft overran runway on landing |
| 7 January 1986 | FGR.2 | XV434 | No. 29 Squadron | Walden Head, North Yorkshire | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash due to loss of control |
| 3 July 1986 | FGR.2 | XV471 | No. 19 Squadron | Rath-Anhoven, North-Rhine Westphalia | West Germany | 0 | Crash due to fire destroying stabilator control unit, leading to total loss of control |
| 26 August 1987 | F.3 | ZE358 | No. 74 Squadron | Pant-y-Gwair, Dyfed | United Kingdom | 2 | Crash while undertaking low level air combat manoeuvring |
| 7 September 1987 | FG.1 | XT861 | No. 43 Squadron | Off Firth of Tay, Perthshire | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash as a result of mid-air collision |
| 20 April 1988 | FG.1 | XT860 | No. 43 Squadron | Leuchars, Fife | United Kingdom | 2 | Crash as a result of poor visibility due to sea fog |
| 2 August 1988 | FGR.2 | XV501 | No. 56 Squadron | Mayenne, Pays de la Loire | France | 0 | Crash due to loss of control during practice intercept |
| 23 September 1988 | FGR.2 | XV428 | No. 228 OCU | RAF Abingdon | United Kingdom | 2 | Crash during aerobatic manoeuvre |
| 18 October 1988 | FGR.2 | XV437 | No. 92 Squadron | Holzminden, Lower Saxony | West Germany | 0 | Crash due to engine failure |
| 9 January 1989 | FGR.2 | XT908 | No. 228 OCU | Off Dundee, Tayside | United Kingdom | 1 | Crash due to loss of control following pilot loss of consciousness |
| 24 April 1989 | FGR.2 | XT893 | No. 56 Squadron | Flamborough Head, North Yorkshire | United Kingdom | 0 | Crash following loss of aerodynamic control in spin |
| 1 April 1990 | FGR.2 | XV478 | No. 19 Squadron | RAF Wildenrath | West Germany | 0 | Aircraft caught fire while on the ground |
| 30 April 1990 | FGR.2 | XV402 | No. 56 Squadron | RAF Valley | United Kingdom | 0 | Aircraft caught fire during landing due to tyre burst |
| 9 October 1990 | FGR.2 | XV394 | No. 92 Squadron | RAF Wildenrath | Germany | 0 | Aircraft sustained minor damage on landing - not repaired due to imminent retirement of type |
| 8 January 1991 | FGR.2 | XV462 | No. 19 Squadron | Off Limassol, Limassol District | Cyprus | 0 | Crash due to uncontrollable roll |
| 12 August 1991 | FGR.2 | XV438 | No. 56 Squadron | RAF Wattisham | United Kingdom | 0 | Aircraft damaged due to mid-air collision - not repaired due to imminent retirement of type |
| 30 October 1991 | FGR.2 | XV421 | No. 1435 Flight | Off McBrides Head, Falkland Islands | Falkland Islands | 2 | Crash believed due to crew disorientation in cloud |
| 15 July 1992 | FGR.2 | XV473 | No. 56 Squadron | RAF Waddington | United Kingdom | 0 | Aircraft damaged by faulty fuel pump - not repaired due to imminent retirement of type |

## Phantom units

| Unit | Formed | Variant | Role | Previous operations (withdrawn) | Disbanded | Replaced by |
| 700P Naval Air Squadron | 1968 | FG.1 | Operational Evaluation | Wessex HAS.3 (1967) | 1969 | Sea King HAS.1 |
| 767 Naval Air Squadron | 1969 | FG.1 | Operational Conversion | Attacker FB.2 (1955) | 1972 | N/A |
| 892 Naval Air Squadron | 1969 | FG.1 | Fleet Air Defence | Sea Vixen FAW.2 (1969) | 1978 | no replacement |
| No. 2 Squadron | 1970 | FGR.2 | Tactical Reconnaissance | Hunter FR.10 (1970) | 1976 | Jaguar GR.1 |
| No. 6 Squadron | 1969 | FGR.2 | Close Air Support/Tactical Strike | Canberra B.16 (1969) | 1974 | Jaguar GR.1 |
| No. 14 Squadron | 1970 | FGR.2 | Close Air Support/Tactical Strike | Canberra B(I).8 (1970) | 1975 | Jaguar GR.1 |
| No. 17 Squadron | 1970 | FGR.2 | Close Air Support/Tactical Strike | Canberra PR.7 (1970) | 1975 | Jaguar GR.1 |
| No. 19 Squadron | 1977 | FGR.2 | Air Defence | Lightning F.2A (1977) | 1992 | Hawk T.1 |
| No. 23 Squadron | 1975 | FGR.2 | Air Defence | Lightning F.3/F.6 (1975) | 1988 | Tornado F.3 |
| No. 29 Squadron | 1975 | FGR.2 | Air Defence | Lightning F.3/F.6 (1975) | 1987 | Tornado F.3 |
| No. 31 Squadron | 1971 | FGR.2 | Close Air Support/Tactical Strike | Canberra PR.7 (1971) | 1976 | Jaguar GR.1 |
| No. 41 Squadron | 1972 | FGR.2 | Tactical Reconnaissance | Bloodhound Mk.2 SAM (1970) | 1977 | Jaguar GR.1 |
| No. 43 Squadron | 1969 | FG.1 | Air Defence | Hunter FGA.9 (1967) | 1989 | Tornado F.3 |
| No. 54 Squadron | 1969 | FGR.2 | Close Air Support/Tactical Strike | Hunter FGA.9 (1969) | 1974 | Jaguar GR.1 |
| No. 56 Squadron | 1976 | FGR.2 | Air Defence | Lightning F.6 (1976) | 1992 | Tornado F.3 |
| No. 64 Squadron | 1968 | FGR.2 | Operational Conversion | Javelin FAW.7/FAW.9 (1967) | 1991 | N/A |
| No. 74 Squadron | 1984 | F.3 | Air Defence | Lightning F.6 (1971) | 1991 | Hawk T.1A |
| No. 92 Squadron | 1977 | FGR.2 | Air Defence | Lightning F.2A (1977) | 1992 | Hawk T.1A |
| No. 111 Squadron | 1974 | FGR.2 | Air Defence | Lightning F.3/F.6 (1974) | 1990 | Tornado F.3 |
| No. 1435 Flight | 1988 | FGR.2 | Air Defence | N/A | 1992 | Tornado F.3 |
| Phantom Training Flight | 1972 | FG.1 | Operational Conversion | N/A | 1978 | N/A |
| Phantom Training Flight | 1991 | FGR.2 | Refresher Training | N/A | 1992 | N/A |