My late father was an air force pilot during Vietnam war and will be buried at Arlington in February.I'm allowed to have an inscription on his marker,not sure how to reference the plane he flew.He flew reconnaissance phantoms,are they refereed as RF4's? I would like the inscription to read "Recon fighter pilot" or "Recon F4 fighter pilot" or "Recon F4 phantom pilot".Any suggestions?

It's been a long time but as I recall the USAF version was the RF-4E. You might consider "RF-4E Fighter Pilot."

Hvr: Sorry for your loss. You must be proud of your father.
Mine served in the 97th Infantry in WWII. Proud of him, too.

Sorry for your loss.

how about

F4 Recon Pilot

A7drvr & TCLouis
Thank-you for the excellent recommendations as I don't want to get it wrong and offend someone.

Impossible to offend Navy/Marine or Air Force pilots!!!! Too thick-skinned and too thick-skulled!

Amen to that.

Sorry for your loss. I am sure he will live on in your memories.

It would really be cool to have the Collings Foundation F-4 do a fly over during the service. They are not that far away at home base!!

Their FAM flights are reasonably priced, perhaps they could work this fly over into a scheduled FAM flight....what a thrill for the rider/donor, and what a fitting tribute to your father!

There is no other jet fighter that has the fire and thunder of a low flying F-4!! What a GREAT Plane and GREAT men that flew them!!

Cheers,

I am also sorry for your loss.

Much respect.

Might I suggest you contact the good folks at the Pima Air and Space Museum with your query.

Pima Air and Space Museum

quote:

Originally posted by 470EDDY:


There is no other jet fighter that has the fire and thunder of a low flying F-4!! What a GREAT Plane and GREAT men that flew them!!

Cheers,

That's a fact.

I grew up in an Air Force town during the war.

Man, when they lit the fuse on those F4's at DM all of Tucson would QUAKE!

.

The "Reccee" (pronounced wreck-ee) F-4 was the RF-4C. I was a crewchief on F-4D aircraft. The "C" was lighter, with no RADAR system and a bit faster. Through my career I worked with many former "Reccee" pilots and maintainers. It was the last of its kind.

My father-in-law passed away at the end of January. He did three tours in Nam flying RF-101s and RF-4Cs. I wonder if they ever flew together? "Hoot" William (Bill) Gibson did 30 some odd years and was on active flight status until he was 50 years old. Holds the record for the longest combat sortie over North Vietnam. 7.5 hours I believe. Retired full Colonel. I am proud to have known him

And according to a friend of mine who flew the RF-4C in Viet Nam, and later flew TR-1s, though their official motto was "Alone, unarmed, and unafraid," the pilots would often add "Would you believe two out of three?" They were/are a breed apart.