On 8 July 1961 VF-74 began to transition to the F-4B Phantom II becoming the first deployable F-4 squadron, giving rise to their "First in Phantoms" motto. They deployed aboard in August 1962 replacing VF-104's F4Ds in CAG-8{fact}. For 20 years VF-74 would deploy 15 times with the Phantom, 13 to the Mediterranean and two to South East Asia. Their first Vietnam cruise aboard "Forrestal" was marked by tragedy on 29 July 1967, when an ordnance explosion on the flight deck caused a massive ensuing fire. VF-74 lost 42 enlisted personnel and three F-4s. Many squadron members were commended for their heroic actions whilst fighting the fires.