Unlike in the United States, where there are very few Phantoms still operational, the Phantom is still very much alive in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The McDonnell Douglas RF-4 Phantom II is still flying and taking pictures in Greece, Turkey, Spain, Japan, Korea and Israel. The exceptions are Germany, which ceased operating the RF-4E model (But they still fly the 'Rhino' in the guise of F-4F) in August 1994, and possibly Iran (Information about the state of their Phantom force is pretty sparse).

The RF-4E was/is the main export version being operated by these nations, apart from Spain and South Korea who operate ex USAF RF-4C's.

The RF-4C is designated CR.12 in Spanish AF service. Sitting here in the sunshine is RF-4C CR.12-45, USAF serial 64-1069 an ex Kentucky ANG 'Rhino' delivered in 1989.

© unknown - Peter Greengrass Collection unknown

Aufklärungsgeschwader 51 (Akg51) Reconnaissance Wing 51			Bremgarten, Germany
Squadron	Not Used
Type/Remarks	RF-4E	Akg-51 'Immelmann' was assigned to 1 Luftwaffendivision and operated Phantoms from January 1971 April 1993 when it converted to Tornado's and moved to Schleswig/Jagel. It had previously operated RF-84F's and RF-104G's.
Aufklärungsgeschwader 52 (Akg52) Reconnaissance Wing 52			Leck, Germany
Squadron	Not Used
Type/Remarks	RF-4E	The last Luftwaffe unit to operate the RF variant, Akg-52 ceased operations August 1994. Phantoms started to arrive at Leck from 17 September 1971. The unit received a influx of 'Rhinos' from Akg-51 when they converted to Tornado's. The majority of the Lufwaffe's RF-4's have been supplied to Turkey and Greece.

Akg51	Specially marked RF-4E 35-34, this was to to commemorate the units retirement of the Phantom. The Luftwaffes premier Reconnaissance Wing now fly's the Reconnaissance-Configured model of the Tornado IDS. © Unknown/Peter Greengrass Collection	Akg52	This vintage shot, August 1972, shows RF-4E 35-52 in the original Luftwaffe green/grey splinter scheme. This gave way to the two-tone green and black scheme which was applied retrospectively in the 1990's. Akg52 reported to 3 Luftwaffedivision and disbanded in in 1994. © APN//Peter Greengrass Collection

	Luftwaffe
	German Air Force

	Ejercito del Aire
	Spanish Air Force

Ala 12 12th Wing			Madrid/Torrejon AB, Spain
Squadron	123 Escuadron 123rd Squadron
Type/Remarks	RF-4C (CR.12)	Ala 12 received it's first RF-4C's in 1978 in the form of 4 ex USAF (363rd TRW) Phantoms. These were operated by a Flight, until a second batch of 8 'Rhinos' arrived courtesy of the 123rd TRW, Kentucky ANG in 1989, When the conveniently named 123 Escuadron formed. 6 more RF-4C's have since been received.

Ala 12	RF-4C CR.12-55, 12-54 arriving at RAF Fairford for IAT96. Ala 12 operate their Phantoms in either standard USAF 'Egypt One' as worn by 12-54 or the pale grey Hornet scheme, an example of which can be seen in our heading photo. © Peter Greengrass

	Elliniki Aeroporia
	Hellenic Air Force

110 Pterix	348 Mira RF-4E 7529 (69-7529, ex GAF 35+82) arriving at RAF Fairford July 1998 on a normal summers day in England! The 110th Ptx have a total of 27 Recon Phantoms, 5 of which are the original new builds received in 1978. © Peter Greengrass

	Turk Hava Kuvvetleri
	Turkish Air Force

1ci Ana Jet Us 1st Jet Air Base			Eskisehir, Turkey
Squadron	113 Filo 113th Squadron		173 Filo 173rd Squadron
Type/Remarks	RF-4E	113 Filo received it's first RF-4E's under 'Peace Diamond III' in 1977, these were 8 new build FY1977 a/c. Turkey also took delivery of 46 (13 of which were broke down for spares) from the German AF in 1994/95. The Phantoms replaced the RF-5A's then in service.

1 Aju	RF-4E 69-7459 (ex GAF 35+12). Turkish AF Phantoms carry the last four digits of the serial prefixed by the Jet Air Base (commonly described as a Wing) number. The original new build RF-4's wear the SEA scheme of two-tone green, brown and grey undersides whilst the ex-Luftwaffe Phantoms wear the late European One type scheme. ©Unknown/Peter Greengrass Collection

	Hankook Kong Goon
	Republic of Korea Air Force

10th Tactical Fighter Wing 39th Tactical Reconnaissance Group							Suwon AB, Republic of Korea
Squadron	131st TRS
Type/Remarks	RF-4C	The Republic of Korea Air Force(RoKAF) received their first RF-4C's from the USAF in 1990 (12 are believed to have come from the 460 TRG when they inactivated at Taugu AB) It is believed they have received more since then.

10 TFW	CAN YOU HELP? At this time we are unable to provide a scan of this unit/Type. If you are able to help, either by providing a scan or maybe a slide (to be returned of course) Please get in touch.

	Nihon Koku Jietai
	Japan Air Self-Defense Force

Teisatsu Kokutai Reconnaissance Wing			Hyakuri, Japan
Squadron	501st Hikotai 501st Squadron
Type/Remarks	RF-4EJ	14 RF-4E's were delivered between November 1974 and June 1975. Since then Japan has known to have converted 10 F-4EJ to RF-4's. The 501st were based at Matsushima until October 1975

Teisatsu Kokutai	RF-4EJ 47-6903 was one of the original new builds delivered. The Japanese serial system is made up of a 4-digit serial(6903) prefixed by 2-digits, the first of which is the Western year of delivery (4, for 1974) and an aircraft designator (7 for the F-4). Originally delivered in a grey/white scheme, they now wear a tactical two-tone green and brown scheme and grey undersides, very similar to the old USAF SEA scheme but with brighter colours. © Unknown/Peter Greengrass Collection

	La Tsvah Haganah le Israel/Heyl Ha'Avir
	Israel Defense Force/Air Force

Not Known			Tel Nov, Israel
Squadron	115 Squadron*
Type/Remarks	RF-4E	The first Recon versions operated were 2 RF-4C's on loan from the USAF during 1970/71. Operation 'Peace Echo IV' brought the IDF/AF it's first 6 RF-4E's in 1972/73, followed by a second delivery of 12 between 1974 and 1976 under 'Peace Echo V' * It is possible that this squadron does not exist and there has been rumours that the Recon RF-4's are spread between the other Fighter units.

115 Sqn	IDF/AF RF-4E no.485 at Hatzerim. During May 2000. Serial and unit data is extremely hard to come by concerning the IDF/AF. © Simon Watson

	Imperial Iranian Air Force
	Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force

Not Known			Not Known, Iran
Squadron	Not Known
Type/Remarks	RF-4E	The Imperial Iranian Air Force started to receive it's RF-4E's in February 1971, with 16 being delivered. Another 16 were ordered but these were cancelled due to the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Some of the original 16 are still believed to be operational.

Not Known	CAN YOU HELP? At this time we are unable to provide a scan of this unit/Type. If you are able to help, either by providing a scan or maybe a slide (to be returned of course) Please get in touch.

110 Pterix Mahis 110th Combat Wing			Larissa, Greece
Squadron	348 Mira Taktikis Anagnoriseos 348th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron
Type/Remarks	RF-4E	The first delivery's of RF-4E's to 348 Mira began in June 1978. These were 8 new build FY77 Phantom's. Three of which have since crashed. In 1994/95 the remaining 6 were joined by 29 RF-4E's (7 of which were for spares) from the German Air Force. The 110th Ptx also operate F-4E's in the Air Defense role.