<p>A U.S. Navy McDonnell F-4G <i>Phantom II</i> (BuNo 150645) of Fighter Squadron VF-116 at Naval Air Station Miramar, California (USA), in 1963. The <i>Phantom</i> is one of the short-lived USN-F-4Gs, 12 were converted from F-4Bs with AN/ASW-12 two-way datalink communication system and approach power compensator which, coupled with the shipboard AN/SPN-10 radar and AN/USC-1 datalink allowed hands-off carrier landings.<br></p>
Interesting are the markings of "VF-116". No records could be found for this squadron. All aircraft were assigned to VF-213 "Black Lions" in 1964 and were deployed with Carrier Air Wing 11 (CVW-11) aboard the aircraft carrier USS <i>Kitty Hawk</i> (CVA-63) to Vietnam from 19 October 1965 to 13 June 1966. VF-213 aircraft had the same markings, besides the lion on the tail fin being in a circle. 150645 became NH-111 of VF-213 and was shot down by flak over North Vietnam on 28 April 1966. Both crew ejected were and picked up by a U.S. Navy helicopter.
U.S. Navy
1963-09-22
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://collections.naval.aviation.museum/emuwebdoncoms/pages/doncoms/AdvQuery.php">U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation</a> photo No. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://collections.naval.aviation.museum/emuwebdoncoms/pages/doncoms/Display.php?irn=41771&amp;QueryPage=%2Femuwebdoncoms%2Fpages%2Fdoncoms%2FAdvQuery.php">1996.253.7283.002</a>