Fast Movers of the 199th Fighter Squadron
F-4C Phantom II
KeokiDAHL.com
The F-4C Phantom II replaced the long serving F-102A Delta Dart in 1976. This is the
plane that would be responsible for Hawaii's defense for the next eleven years. The F-
15A/Bs would, in turn, replace the F-4s beginning March 1987. The last Phantom flight
(HiANG) was in January 1988.
It is believed that the majority, if not all, of the F-4C airframes were participants of
the Vietnam War between 1965 and 1973. Seven of these Phantoms have been placed
on display at various museums and air bases around the world. Two are proudly on
display as "gate guards" at Hickam AFB. One is located at the main gate. The other is at
the entrance to the 199th FS Operations area.
Another two F-4C airframes reside at Hickam AFB. They are parked in a vacant gravel
lot behind the 199th Alert Facility on the south end of the base. These are believed to
have been the two Battle Damage Repair (BDR) airframes utilized by the squadron
maintenance crews, possibly 63-7625 and 64-0793.
Sadly, a great number of the former Hawaii Air Guard F-4C Phantoms were scrapped or
turned into BDR aircraft, including the 10th 100th and 300th McDonnell Douglas
manufactured F-4C Phantom IIs for the USAF after their use by the 199th.
During the eleven years of operations with the Phantom, the squadron lost only one F-4
to a flight related mishap. See the story here. Several had been retired or withdrawn
even before the conversion to F-15s.
This F-4C is one of four "Fast Jet" static displays standing guard at the
entrance to the 199th operations area, and one of the two F-4Cs serving as
gate guards at Hickam AFB. The other can be seen near the main gate.
F-4C (64-0583) of the Michigan Air Guard. The "14"
above the tailpipe is an Air Defense Command
(SDC) ID number designating that this Phantom
spent a good amount of time on alert duty during
the Cold War.