A U.S. Navy McDonnell F-4B-8-MC <i>Phantom II</i> (BuNo 148421) from Fighter Squadron VF-96 "Fighting Falcons" escorts a Soviet Tupolev Tu-16 (NATO reporting code "Badger"). VF-96 was assigned to Carrier Air Group 9 (CVG-9) aboard the aircraft carrier USS <i>Ranger</i> (CVA-61) for a deployment to the Western Pacific from 9 November 1962 to 14 June 1963.<br>The F-4B 148421 crashed 360 km ESE of Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia (USA) on 7 June 1971 following a structural failure and loss of control while in service with VF-101. Both crew were recovered.
Cdr. W.R. Mulholland, U.S. Navy
1963-05
<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=27123&amp;QueryPage=%2Femuwebdoncoms%2Fpages%2Fdoncoms%2FAdvQuery.php">1996.253.7273.008</a>