Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA19037
McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II 153833, VMFA-232 "Red Devils" US Marines, Japan 1977
 
General Background
One of the most famous and easily recognized fighter aircraft of the post-WWII era was the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II. This aircraft was developed as a private venture by the aircraft company but was soon ordered by the USN as a carrier-based attack aircraft. Its first flight took place on May 27, 1958 and it entered active service in December 1960. It wasn’t long after the F-4B appeared that a fly-off was set up with USAF front-line fighters. It was no contest, the F-4 performed so well that the USAF ordered their own variant, the F-4C. As time went on, the F-4 evolved into well over a dozen variants.
 
The Aircraft 
In late 1967 VMF-232 “Red Devils” completed a tour of Vietnam. At home they received the new F-4 Phantom II and began painting their “Red Devil” insignia on the aircraft. On March 1, 1965 the “Red Devils” became VMF(AW)-232 and were sent to Iwakuni, Japan arriving on September 2, 1966. In 1973 the squadron was the last Marine squadron to leave Vietnam returning to Iwakuni. In late 1977 the “Red Devils” were posted to MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Later F-4J 153833 was upgraded to an F-4S, converted to a drone and shot down in 2004.