McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II – 301 Squadron, JASDF “Go for it!! 301 SQ”, Final Year 2020

Hobby Master 1/72 scale HA19022: McDonnell Douglas F-4EJ Kai Phantom II serial 37-8315 of 301 Squadron, JASDF “Final Year 2020”.

Length 10.5 inches Wingspan 6.25 inches

In March 2019 the 302nd Hikotai was disbanded with their F-4EJs going to the last Phantom squadron, the 301st Hikotai. One of the F-4Ejs was 37-8315 that was produced as c/n 4206/M015. The fate of the 302nd would also happen to the 301st in 2020 when the last F-4s would fly for Japan and would be replaced by the F-35. To mark the 301st disbanding F-4EJ 37-8315 was given a special paint scheme titled “Go for it!! 301 SQ”. The 301st mascot is a type of frog found locally at Hyakuri AB.

Starting in 1973 the Japan Air Self-Defense Force received 154 F-4EJ Phantoms that were based on the USAF F-4E. 138 of these aircraft were manufactured under license by Mitsubishi who produced the last F-4 Phantom II several changes were made to the F-4E to make it an F-4EJ. Basically it had any offensive weapons removed but eventually these restrictions were lifted and the aircraft were updated with missiles and the latest electronic equipment.