McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II – F-114 Aardvarks, MiG 21 kill, US Navy, Vietnam 1972

Hobby Master 1/72 scale HA19034: McDonnell Douglas F-4J Phantom II NH201 of F-114 Aardvarks, US Navy, USS Kitty Hawk, Vietnam, 1972. Production run of 700 models

Length 9.75 inches Wingspan 6.25 inches

US Navy Bombing/Fighter Squadron 19 (VBF-19) was established on January 20th, 1945 flying the F6F Hellcat. The squadron transitioned to the F4U Corsair before and was redsesignated more than once before ultimately becoming Fighter Squadron 114 (VF-114) “Executioners” in February 1950. The squadron saw action during the Korean War and traded it’s Corsairs for the F9F Panther upon return to the US. After flying the F2H Banhsee and F3H Demon, VF-114 upgraded to the F-4 Phantom II in 1961 and adopted the new name of “Aardvarks”. The Aardvarks flew the Phantom for 14 years before switching to the F-14 Tomcat in December 1975. Finally, after participating in Operation Desert Storm, VF-114 was disestablished in 1993 along with several other active F-14 squadrons.

On May 6, 1972 VF-114 F-4Js flew cover for an evening strike and upon arriving at the target area 4 MiG-21s were sighted by NH-206 and NH-201. Each of the F-4Js managed to destroy a MiG-21 and safely return to the USS Kitty Hawk.

Designed as a fleet defense fighter for the US Navy, the F-4 Phantom was first flown on May 27, 1958. This twin-engine, long-range all-weather fighter/bomber proved highly adaptable and served in the Marine Corps and the US Air Force as well as in the Navy. During the Vietnam War, it was the principal air superiority fighter for the Navy and the Air Force and was also used for reconnaissance and ground attack. The Phantom continued to serve well into the 1970s and 1980s and even flew missions during the first Gulf War. Finally phased out by the F-14, F-16 and F/A-18, the Phantom was retired in 1996.