Best Paint Jobs! - US Navy F-4 Phantoms - Vietnam War Era - United States Navy Aviation
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- čas přidán 12. 09. 2024
- I decided to make a top 10 list of my personal favorite paint schemes used by US Navy Phantom Squadrons. This was a hard decision process. I didn't anticipate having such a difficult time deciding on the order! The guys who painted these jets deserve a lot of credit in creating some of the most noticeable and iconic paint jobs in military aviation.
These squadrons all saw action in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict.
#aviation #navy #aviationlovers #phantom #unitedstatesnavy #aircraft #vietnam #gulfofthailand #southchinasea F-8 Crusader
VF-84 Jolly Rogers
VF-111 Sundowners
VF-33 Tarsiers
VF-92 Silver Kings
VF-21 Freelancers
VF-114 Aardvarks
VF-142 Ghostriders
VF-102 Diamondbacks
VF-161 Chargers
VF-96 Fighting Falcons
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#aviation #aviationlovers #phantom #F-4 Phantom #navy #usa #unitedstatesnavy
#constellation #vietnam #warzone #war #aircraft #jets #soundbarrier #chargers #aces #sundowners #jollyrogers #jollyroger #falcons #aardvarks #silverkings #tarsiers #starfighter
#starfighters
VF-111 Sundowners and VF-51 Screaming Eagles are my top two....who doesn't love that sunburst and the Supersonic Can Opener? 😉😆😂😍🥰😎
As a BT on Midway 18 years old loved watching the F4 take off at night from the O8 sun deck when I was not to tired from 1Baker BR 6 on then 6 off. Mcveagh Burbank ILL.
Burbank huh?? What was better, watching the Phantoms launch at night, or watching the jets coming over white castle at 63rd and Cicero?? (Joking)
Must have been absolutely amazing to be in that environment at 18 years old.
@@stadium79 yes it was.
I was with VF-111 in the corrosion control shop. Loved painting these birds. A real source of pride. ( I was on f-14s in 88)
I bet it was/is! I would love to get a chance to ask you a few questions about it! If you wouldn't mind you can drop me a quick line at Stadium79YT@gmail.com
Thanks!
Thanks for watching! I would love to hear from any Navy vets who belonged to any of these squadrons! (and everyone else!) Phantoms Phorever!
I served in VF 161 on the Midway from 1984 to 1986 plane captain(this is my wife’s address not mine!)
VF-142, Connie, WestPac, '68, ADJ-2. I took a screenshot @ 0:33 ! Heck yeah ! Thanks !
I was always a bit envious of our 'sister squadron', VF-143, known affectionately as the "Pukin' Dogs", which was actually a growling griffin. Pretty badass.
Berthing compartment was under the third wire. Never forget.
@PetiteKeyboardist Chargers! that's awesome! In March of 1986, the final carrier launch of a Navy fleet Phantom took place off Midway during flight operations in the East China Sea!
@petermarshall3393 Hey Pete! glad you got that screenshot! Were you on Ranger or Constellation?
F-4 Phantom is still the largest distributor of Mig parts in the world. Got just over 1,000 hours in the N, J and S. I will always miss those days.
Charles "Orville" Wright
I can imagine how much you must miss it. Flying that jet had to be amazing. Great callsign by the way! I suppose you could have just as easily been "Wilbur"!
@stadium79 Thanks. Yes, or it could have been Duddly Do Wright. But I chose Orville since he was the first to fly and lived the longest. Nuff said.
Can't argue with any squadron you selected. Special kudos to my sister squadron VF161 but my love is the Vigilantes of VF151. Our tails were black and yellow, we w/c230 Ordies even painted our LAU7s to match. Hell, I even painted my flight deck gloves to match! Must have been "ate up" 😮 Phantom Phixers Forever
Thanks Art! There is a quick picture of 151 somewhere in the intro if I remember correctly! Unit/squadron pride is a good thing! I bet those gloves were badass.
Were you on the Midway?
I was, 81-84!
Was a proud member of VF-111 the Sundowners, as well as a member of the fabled "Crud Crew" responsible for painting the fabled F-4. I was with the squadron when we evacuated Vietnam, as well as when transferred to the east coast to make our Med Cruise aboard the Roosevelt. I was a proud member up until they transitioned to the Tomcat (it was fun trying different paint schemes before the actual transition). I will and always will be a very proud Sundowner. Thank-you to all who made my enlistment worthwhile.
Sorry for the late reply! So you were actually one of the painters??
Yes...I was. Helped paint every single one in '76 (stayed in the shop till '78). The members of the shop (including myself) were each given an 8x10 photo of six of our fabled sharked tooth Phantoms flying over Yuma, AZ as kind of a reward for completely painting all six of them in a week. We didn't know the shop officer had a bet with the C.O. that we could get it done. But we did!@@stadium79
Wow great story. I would love to be able to ask you some more questions about it if you don’t mind? If so please email me at stadium79YT@gmail.com
Really appreciate it and looking forward to learning more! (Hopefully!)
Thanks!
Kudos
Cool video man !! You should post F-14 also 😀
I appreciate you watching and commenting! F-14 was another awesome jet. I actually took some inspiration for this video from a gentleman by the name of Ward Carrol who was a Tomcat back-seater. He did a similar (much better) video that featured the the Tomcat. He has a great channel if you love aviation like I do. Here is his channel www.youtube.com/@WardCarroll Take care!
Great Content! thx
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching and saying hello! More aviation content to come!
Aboard the "Big E" with VF-92 in '66-'67. Loved watching air ops from the 0-11 level. The Phantom was a great plane.
Thanks for saying hello! I would love to hear any stories about your time on the Enterprise and about VF-92 if you would be willing to share. If so please email at Stadium79YT@gmail.com
There are many of us out here who really appreciate hearing details of your service!
Did the WestPac Cruise in 1965. Our squadron was VF-41 which flew he Phantoms at that time.
Hey sorry for the late response! I appreciate you saying hello! What was your job if you don't mind me asking?
I will add to my previous. I appreciate your video of the F4 Phantom. This bird was a beast. A kick ass fighter. I remember being within 30 feet during launches and recoveries. For my first cruise my berthing compartment was just belie the angle deck. Stand out there during night ops and see the phantom come off the angle in full afterburner. No many have witnessed such a sight. Great aircraft. Go Navy!!!
VF 111 Baby the nose on that F 4 is sick love it okus it looked sweet on the F 14 too ❤ fly Navy 💙
❤ this video
Thanks so much! Greatly appreciate your comment and watching!
1:38 - that’s Duke Cunningham’s F4 on May 10, 1072 when he became the 1st all missile ace.
Good eye! I would have never known that. I appreciate you pointing it out!
Worked on the flight Deck of the USS forrestal V 1 division
I thought for sure you would pick VX-4 as the best paint scheme ever on a Phantom. But that's a weapons test squadron.
As a member of VF-154 during the Vietnam war, with two Westpac cruises 67-68 and 68-69, you evidently did not see the commanders’s aircraft color scheme. It makes the top 3 easily. By the way VF-21 was our sister squadron. We were at NAS Miramar, Fighter town USA.
Sounds like you were on the Ranger? Must have been an amazing experience. Here is a video I did awhile back that was taken on the Ranger in that exact time frame! czcams.com/video/beNdWwfDT18/video.html
I would love to see a picture of your commanders Phantom if you have one, and/or hear more about your experience!
If you would like to share some of your memories please contact me at Stadium79YT@gmail.com
Thanks! Doug
@@stadium79
Thank you for putting up the video. 1967-68 was my first cruise. I will try and locate the squadron commanders aircraft color scheme. If I do I will pass it along. 1967 was 56 years ago. I was 22 years old. I must say it was a great time in my life. Serving America in a wartime situation is what the military is all about. 12 hour shifts minimum, 7 days a week. Going on liberty in Hong Kong, Japan and the PI, was an adventure. Being in the battle group going to the Sea of Japan after the USS Pueblo was taken off the high seas by the North Koreans was tense at first and then a huge letdown when the president did nothing to get the crew and ship released. Fully expecting a battle to take NK apart. Leaving 82 crew in the hands of the NK communist dictator was flat wrong. We were all really pissed and detested the president for his cowardice.
Hey Jim. I would love to see any photos you have of your cruises! If you have any on the computer and you don't mind sharing please email at Stadium79yt@gmail.com
It must have a been an awesome experience!
It wasn't just one aircraft...it was the entire squadron. The overall "best paint jobs" with an "s" on the end.
Too bad VF-1 was commissioned as the first F-14 squadron. If they flew F-4s then they would be #1 imo. Best logo ever.
I vote VF 41…….👍
Black Aces! So cool. Thanks for saying hello Jeff!
11:36 what about VF 114 the Fighting Aardvarks
They are number 9! 😅
I was a mech with 114 on last cruise and rimpac in 1975. Best outfit I’ve ever been in…Running in burner was a hoot…
How about the puking dogs?
There’s a certain squadron missing here…
151! Great tail and I dig the white nose version! Did you fly?
@@stadium79 nope, I hope when I join the Navy soon I get to fly or maintain the Vigi's, I'm a big fan just because I think they look the coolest :)
What a pity the forces moved to the rediculous ,,lowviz,,, luckily colour os coming back
Seems like they are letting them get creative with the tails again huh?
Navy had some of the coolest paint jobs. Today they look horrible.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 From Italy 🇮🇹
Thanks for saying hello!