| 72-0167 / AF353 (cn 4386) This set of McDonnell Douglas QF-4E Phantom II photos taken in October 2015 was likely my first and last close-up look of the QF-4. The QF-4 was officially retired following ceremonial flight at Holloman AFB, NM on 21 December 2016. Over 300 F-4 Phantom II's were regenerated from the Air Force "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, and used as full-scale aerial targets (FSATs) aka-“drones”-at Tyndall AFB, FL and Holloman AFB. The drones were operated by Detachment 1, 82nd Aerial Target Squadron at Holloman AFB, which is part of the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group, based at Tyndall Air Force Base, FL, and the only full-scale aerial target units in the DOD. Remaining QF-4s at Holloman AFB will be stripped and towed to the White Sands Missile Range for use as ground targets. The QF-16 is replacing the QF-4. This also means the end of an era of QF-4 Heritage Flights we all enjoyed. |
