THE F-4 PHANTOM JOINS THE FLEET 1962 MCDONNELL FILM USS FORRESTAL F4H-1 PHANTOM II 81084

This McDonnell produced film “The Phantom Joins the Fleet” was made in 1962 when their F4H-1 (later F-4B) Phantom II had just achieved deployment. The film features Fighter Squadron SEVEN FOUR (VF-74) aka Bedevilers flying from the nearly-new aircraft carrier USS Forrestal (CVA-59) along with the rest of Carrier Air Wing EIGHT (CVW-8).
Some of the other aircraft seen in the film include the Vought F8U-2N Crusaders of VF-103 Sluggers, the Douglas A4D-2N Skyhawks of VA-83 Rampagers and A4D-2 Skyhawks of VA-81 Crusaders, the Douglas AD-6 Skyraiders of VA-85 Black Falcons, the A3D-2 Skywarriors of VAH-5 Savage Sons, the Vought F8U-1P Photo Crusaders of VFP-62 Fighting Photos (Detachment), the Grumman WF-2 Tracers of VAW-12 Bats (Detachment), and the Piasecki HUP-2 Retriever helicopters of HC-2 Fleet Angels (Detachment).
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example: "01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference."
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit www.PeriscopeFilm.com

[@theoldar]

Whenever my dad saw an F-4 in Air Force markings, he would say it was "in sheep's clothing". He was a 25 year brown shoe navy man.

[@trumanstumo1718]

At Pax River Navel Test Center in 1960-63 we tested a F4 H PHANTOM. It had a picture of Casper the Frindly ghost painted on it. I at the time was a Plane Captain on the Chance vought F8U. In those years we were required to pull flight time so i took full advantage of the back seat of the F4. The Test pilots always took us on the ride of our lives!! At 81 now i have never experienced anything like it.Even have a gold mach two pin from McDonald Douglas.

[@johnjackson8401]

When the F-4 came out, it was 20 years ahead of its time. The Germans and Israelis loved the plane and enhanced the avionics flying it well into the first decade of this millennium.👍👍

[@TheLeadSled]

F-4 Phantom II an American Icon. One of the longest serving planes in US history, 1962-1996. It served the US Air Force, US Marines & US Navy at the same time, it had the speed, power and arsenal to take on multiple rolls.

[@enricomandragona163]

Im proud to have done the last 3 deployments with a full compliment of Phantoms last being the S model VF-74 and 103 & VMF 115

[@Blovi-qd4lh]

First tour was F-4J onboard US Independence. VF-33. Have over 2500 hours in the Phantom and of the tactical jets I flew…F-14, A-4, F-16…Phantom my very favorite. F-4 D,N,J,S….

[@tallwalls76]

My Navy was lean and mean…broads and walruses on the flight deck today.

[@darthstanley166]

The record setting had to be the best part! Sage burner and sky burner are worth looking into as well! Long live the F4!

[@user-nc3pt7zc3c]

I recall seeing those Majestic Aircraft flying off the Carriers in the Gulf of Tonkin while escorting those Carriers on the Destroyers I served on.

[@johntoes7542]

I served with VF-74 onboard both the Forestall and the Nimitz from 1974-1978 (both Air wing 8 and 17)

[@gordonm9541]

Starting about

[@tailspin37]

Great video. I served on board the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) from 1956 to 1959. She was the first Super Carrier. I was in the first crew, known as a Plank Owner.

[@andradejurk]

1962...Two years before i was born... amazing. Is always nice to see this super fighter that made history. Regards from Brazil.

[@diamond_tango]

Beautiful ship, and a beautiful plane to launch off it. Shame about the fire.

[@Cakey831]

Those have to be the coolest flight suits of all time…

[@roryschweinfurter4111]

There is nothing like watching the ballet that is aircraft carrier flight operations the choreography is beyond mind boggling

[@bret9741]

I was a little boy during this time. By the time I joined the Navy, all F-4’a were replaced by F-14’s and only the Marines had some F-4’s left (Air Force still had Wild Weasels and air National Guard units operating a few F-4’s and RF-4’s. But in general, the era of the F-4 in the US ended rather quickly. In 1988 we had some Marine F-4’s do carrier qual on our ship, then fly home to trade them in for New FA/18’s.

[@blueseanomad7435]

Now I know where all the B-Roll for F-4 documentaries comes from.

[@mikeray1544]

Nice to see ops footage of Forrestal w/o mention of Mc.cain......

[@emmanueltrejo4226]

13:30