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McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II: Illustrated History Books & Guides

Explore the best illustrated books on the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II. Discover the history, models and evolution of McDonnell Douglas jet fighters.

F-4 Phantom

When the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom first emerged towards the end of the 1950s, it represented a generational step from the first postwar jets and later 'Century Series' aircraft, to the modern high-tech fighters such as the F-16.
The Phantom was the most significant aircraft to serve with the US Navy and Marine Corps, and the US Air Force. It was also the most numerous and significant aircraft type to participate in the Vietnam War. Apart from being an iconic US aircraft it was also a hugely successful international design and was purchased by the UK, Australia, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Iran, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Spain and Turkey.

This detailed volume provides an in-depth, comprehensive study of the development of the F-4 Phantom, tracing its full service deployment from the USAF and RAF to the air forces of a host of countries around the globe.
The author also covers in detail the long and complicated story of the British Phantom. Purchased for both the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, it became a much-respected carrier-borne fighter-bomber. It provided the RAF with a nuclear strike aircraft and a ground attack/reconnaissance platform, and later became the RAF's standard interceptor.

Product details

Author:Tim McLelland
Details:336 pages, 11.4 x 8.25 x 0.98 in (29 x 21 x 2.5 cm), hardback
Illustrations:extensively illustrated
Language:English
Publisher:Ian Allan Publishing (GB, 2013)
ISBN:9781906537333
Book cover: F-4 Phantom | Ian Allan

F-4 Phantom

Language: English

F-4 Phantom II - Pilot's Flight Operating Manual (Pilot's Flight Operation Instructions)

One of the great aircraft of the Cold War era, the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II was the most heavily produced supersonic, all-weather fighter bomber. Capable of a top speed of Mach 2.23, it set sixteen world records including an absolute speed record of 1,606 mph and an altitude record of 98,557 feet.

The F-4 flew Vietnam, in the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the Gulf War and amassed a record of 393 aerial victories. F-4s also flew as part of the USAF Thunderbirds and the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration teams.

Originally printed by McDonnell and the U.S. Navy in the 1960s, this flight operating handbook taught pilots everything they needed to know before entering the cockpit. Classified "restricted", the manual was recently declassified and is here reprinted in book form.

Product details

Author:United States Navy, McDonnell Aircraft
Details:602 pages, 10 x 8.1 x 1.18 in (25.5 x 20.5 x 3 cm), paperback
Illustrations:many photos and drawings
Language:English
Publisher:Periscope Film (USA, 2010)
Series:Pilot's Flight Operation Instructions
ISBN:9781935700418
Book cover: F-4 Phantom II - Pilot's Flight Operating Manual | Pilot's Flight Operation Instructions | Periscope

F-4 Phantom II - Pilot's Flight Operating Manual

Language: English

F-4 Phantom II vs MiG-21 - USAF and VPAF in the Vietnam War (Osprey)

This book draws us into the dangerous world braved by American and North Vietnamese airmen in the skies over Vietnam. Influential leaders and tacticians are profiled to provide a comparative evaluation of their contrasting skills.

This book also reveals the technical specifications of each jet with an analysis of the weaponry, avionics and survival devices of the F-4 Phantom II as flown by the USAF and the MiG-21. The fighters' strengths and weaknesses are also compared, including turn radius, performance at altitude, range and structural integrity. First-person extracts reflect on the dangers of these aerial duels, as USAF pilots and their counterparts struggled to overcome each plane's shortcomings.

Contents: Introduction - Chronology - Design and Development - The Strategic Situation - The Combatants - Combat - Statistics and Analysis - Aftermath
Conclusion.

Product details

Author:Peter E. Davies
Details:80 pages, 9.8 x 7.3 x 0.2 in (25 x 18.5 x 0.5 cm), paperback
Illustrations:photos and drawings (in b&w and color)
Language:English
Publisher:Osprey Publishing (GB, 2008)
Series:Duel (12)
ISBN:9781846033162
Book cover: F-4 Phantom II vs MiG-21 - USAF and VPAF in the Vietnam War | Duel (12) | Osprey

F-4 Phantom II vs MiG-21 - USAF and VPAF in the Vietnam War

Language: English

McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II - Air Superiority Legend

Since its first flight in May 1958, the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II proved to be a tough, rugged and excellent all-weather, air superiority fighter/bomber.
From flying fleet defence missions during the Cuban Missile Crisis and performing as an air superiority fighter/bomber during the Vietnam War, to taking out Iraqi surface-to-air missile sites in the Wild Weasel role during Operation Desert Storm, the Phantom II did it all. Other nations have also benefited tremendously from the acquisition of export versions of this remarkable aircraft.

Here Mark A. Chambers recounts an illuminating history of this truly unique aircraft's design and development and relives its glorious record in the Vietnam War, various Arab-Israeli conflicts, the Cold War and Operation Desert Storm.

Product details

Author:Mark A. Chambers
Details:144 pages, 8.9 x 9.7 in (22.5 x 24.5 cm), paperback
Illustrations:100 b&w and 100 color photos, 72 drawings
Language:English
Publisher:The History Press Ltd (GB, 2018)
ISBN:9780750982795
Book cover: McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II - Air Superiority Legend | The History Press

McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II - Air Superiority Legend

Language: English

McDonnell-Douglas F-4C / RF-4C Phantom II

This book is a concise, illustrated history of the legendary McDonnell Douglas F-4C and RF-4C Phantom II. Covered are its technical developments, markings, and use by Spanish forces.

Product details

Author:Avila Gonzalo, Roberto Yanez
Details:48 pages, 8.5 x 11 in (21.5 x 28 cm), paperback
Illustrations:74 b&w and color photos
Language:English
Publisher:Schiffer Publishing Ltd (USA, 2015)
ISBN:9780764343711
Book cover: McDonnell-Douglas F-4C / RF-4C Phantom II | Schiffer

McDonnell-Douglas F-4C / RF-4C Phantom II

Language: English

The Phantom F-4 - Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives (Images of War)

The Phantom was developed for the US Navy as a long-range all-weather fighter and first flew in May 1958. It became operational in 1961. The US Air Force then realised that the Navy had an aircraft that was far better than any tactical aircraft in their inventory and ordered 543 F-4C variants.
There then followed a spate of orders from around the world. In Britain, it was ordered for the Navy and Air Force, but was modified to take the Rolls-Royce Spey turbofan. One of the Royal Navy's Phantoms stole the record for the fastest Atlantic crossing, a record that stood until taken by the remarkable Blackbird.

During the long course of its service history, the Phantom has been employed in a variety of different combat scenarios and theatres of war. It was one of America's most utilised aircraft during the long Vietnam War and has been flown in anger in the Middle East by a number of different air forces.
The F-4 is still operational with several units, but is now coming to the end of its long and successful period as a front-line combat warplane.

This is the perfect introduction for the general reader, enthusiast or modeller wishing to find a succinct yet detailed introduction to the design and history of this aircraft. Why was it conceived? What was it like to fly in combat? Who were the people who designed it and who became famous for flying it? What were its virtues and vices? These questions are answered and a wealth of technical data, additional information and suggestions for further reading are provided.

Product details

Author:Martin W. Bowman
Details:117 pages, 9.7 x 7.5 x 0.71 in (24.5 x 19 x 1.8 cm), paperback
Illustrations:120 b&w and color photos
Language:English
Publisher:Pen & Sword Books Ltd (GB, 2020)
Series:Images of War
ISBN:9781526705761
Book cover: The Phantom F-4 - Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives | Images of War | Pen & Sword

The Phantom F-4 - Rare Photographs from Wartime Archives

Language: English

USAF McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II (Osprey)

In many respects the most successful, versatile and widely-used combat aircraft of the post-war era the F-4 Phantom II was quickly adopted by the USAF after its spectacular US Navy introduction.
Its introduction to USAF squadrons happened just in time for the Vietnam conflict where USAF F-4Cs took over MiG-fighting duties from the F-100 Super Sabre. Although the F-4 was never intended as a dog-fighter to tangle with light, nimble, gun-armed MiGs it was responsible for destroying 109 MiGs in aerial combat.
At the end of their careers many of the survivors from the 3,380 'land-based' Phantoms were converted into target drones for training purposes. New aircraft were also built for West Germany, Iran and Israel. The USAF's experience with the Phantom showed clearly that the air-to-air fighter was still a necessity and its decision to fund its successor, the McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Eagle (as well as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-22A Raptor) was heavily influenced by the lessons of US and other Phantom pilots in combat.

Contents: Introduction - Design and Development - Technical Specifications and Variants - Operational History - Conclusion - Bibliography and Further Reading.

Product details

Author:Peter E. Davies
Details:64 pages, 9.8 x 7.3 x 0.2 in (25 x 18.5 x 0.5 cm), paperback
Illustrations:photos and drawings (in b&w and color)
Language:English
Publisher:Osprey Publishing (GB, 2013)
Series:Air Vanguard (7)
ISBN:9781780966083
Book cover: USAF McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II | Air Vanguard (7) | Osprey

USAF McDonnell-Douglas F-4 Phantom II

Language: English

F-4 Phantom

Many aviation enthusiasts consider the unmistakable F-4 Phantom to be one of the last real "jet fighters"! No sleek lines, no fiber composites or other high-tech features, just pure, functional fighter design from the height of the Cold War.
These were the ingredients for one of the most successful combat aircraft of the last decades.

Pages of the book F-4 Phantom (1)

Pages of the book "F-4 Phantom"

The brutal-looking machine was in use by dozens of armed forces, including the German Luftwaffe, which only retired its last machines in 2013. A picture and technology book with all the details about this fighter aircraft legend!

Product details

Author:Bernd Vetter, Frank Vetter
Details:240 pages, 10.6 x 9.25 x 0.75 in (27 x 23.5 x 1.9 cm), hardback
Illustrations:200 b&w and color photos
Language:German
Publisher:Motorbuch Verlag (D, 2021)
Series:Flugzeugtypen
ISBN:9783613043930
Book cover: F-4 Phantom | Flugzeugtypen | Motorbuch

F-4 Phantom

Language: German

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Book cover: Gray Ghosts : U.S.Navy and Marine Corps F-4 Phantoms

Gray Ghosts : U.S.Navy and Marine Corps F-4 Phantoms

Peter E. Davies | English | hardback | 192 p. | 2004

Book cover: US Navy F-4 Phantom II Units of the Vietnam War 1969-73 : 125 | Combat Aircraft (125)

US Navy F-4 Phantom II Units of the Vietnam War 1969-73 : 125

Peter E. Davies | English | paperback | 96 p. | 2018

Book cover: USN F-4 Phantom II vs VPAF Mig-17 - Vietnam 1965-72 | Duel (23)

USN F-4 Phantom II vs VPAF Mig-17 - Vietnam 1965-72

Peter E. Davies | English | paperback | 80 p. | 2009

Book cover: USN McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II | Air Vanguard (22)

USN McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II

Peter E. Davies | English | paperback | 64 p. | 2016