RED
03-23-2023, 02:03
BU No. 157307, McDonald Douglas Phantom was transferred to USN Fighter Squadron Thirty One (VF-31) in 1971 and is now at the NASM in Wash DC. It downed a MIG-21 in 1972 and was afterwards (1983) converted to a F-4S configuration and used by the USMC until 1988 when it was transferred to the museum.
I got to visit her last May at the 50th reunion of VF-31. (I checked my log book and I did not ever fly in it but came close in BU No. 157306.) Last May it was still in the USMC paint scheme it retired in. We took a vote and 100% of the reunion attendants voted to try to get it redone in VF-31 colors. Our ex Skipper (Admiral James H. Flatly) called the museum and they would gladly do it if we paid for it, $50,000. The admiral fronted the effort with a $10K contribution and the rest of us chipped in enough that the Museum has agreed to have it done by 2025.
Google F-4 BU No. 157307 for pics.
Google James H. Flatly for bio of a legend.
I got to visit her last May at the 50th reunion of VF-31. (I checked my log book and I did not ever fly in it but came close in BU No. 157306.) Last May it was still in the USMC paint scheme it retired in. We took a vote and 100% of the reunion attendants voted to try to get it redone in VF-31 colors. Our ex Skipper (Admiral James H. Flatly) called the museum and they would gladly do it if we paid for it, $50,000. The admiral fronted the effort with a $10K contribution and the rest of us chipped in enough that the Museum has agreed to have it done by 2025.
Google F-4 BU No. 157307 for pics.
Google James H. Flatly for bio of a legend.