McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2, XV 401, 74 Sqn, RAF Wattisham

            McDonnell Douglas Phantom F4.M was built in St. Louis, Missouri as a FGR.2 aircraft for the RAF. It was delivered to its new owners on 08/11/1968 to Aldergove airport, Northern Ireland, where it was placed into the care of 23 MU (Maintenance Unit) to prepare the aircraft for military service. The aircraft was officially taken on charge by the RAF on the 11/11/1968.
The aircraft entered service with RAF 228 OCU (Operational Conversion Unit) based at RAF Coningsby on the 16/01/1969 and remained with 228 OCU until transferring to 41 Sqn. also at RAF Coningsby on the 10/04/1972 when it was allocated the tail code 'A' from late 1972. Whilst with 41 Sqn. XV 401 suffered a Cat. 3R incident on the 18/06/1975 and this was repaired on site at RAF Coningsby by 71 MU. The aircraft returned to 41 Sqn on 31/08/1975 with the tail code 'O', it was recoded to 'I' during September 1975.
XV 401 was transferred to 111 Sqn. at RAF Leuchars, Scotland on the 18/01/1977 with the tail code 'U'. 
On the 15/01/1979 XV 401 was transferred to 56 Sqn. at RAF Wattisham, with the tail code 'N' and was recoded to 'V' in January 1981.
XV 401 was transferred to 19 MU at RAF St. Athan on the 30/10/1981 for major servicing and a repaint in the grey air defence paint colour scheme. Upon completion of the work XV 401 was transferred to 228 OCU at RAF Coningsby on the 25/05/1982 and allocated the tail code 'B' during June 1982.
On the 13/12/1982 XV 401 returned to 19 MU for MOD 698 work to be performed and returned to 228 OCU at RAF Coningsby on the 12/01/1982 still with the tail code 'B'.
XV 401 was transferred to 29 Sqn. at RAF Coningsby on the 10/10/1983 with the tail code 'L', with a short spell on loan to 229 OCU also at Coningsby from 06/07/1984 to 18/07/1984.
On the 08/05/1986 XV 401 was transferred to 56 Sqn. at RAF Wattisham in preparation for duty in the Falkland Islands and was transferred to 23 Sqn at Mount Pleasant airfield on 16/05/1986, coded 'A'. XV401 served for nearly two years on the Falkland Islands, before returning to 56 Sqn at RAF Wattisham on the 23/03/1988, still coded A. 
XV401 was loaned to 228 OCU now at RAF Leuchars between 15/04/1988 and the 25/04/1988, before returning to 56 Sqn.
On the 15/11/1988 XV 401 departed 56 Sqn. for 19 MU at RAF St Athan for a repaint before transferring to 19 Sqn. at RAF Wildenrath in West Germany and was recoded as 'AA' on 05/01/1989.
XV 401 returned from RAF Wildenrath during October 1989 to RAF St. Athan for maintenance, before departing on the 11/04/1990 to 228 OCU at RAF Leuchars and coded 'CN'.
XV 401 returned to RAF Wattisham during January 1991, this time to serve with 74 Sqn. initially still coded 'CN' until April 1991 now recoded to 'I'. XV 401 served with 74 Sqn. until withdrawn form use during March 1992 and was stored at RAF Wattisham.
XV 401 moved to DERA at RAF Boscombe Down on an unknown date during 1992/1993.
During 2000 XV 401 was taken under care by the Boscombe Down Aviation museum. When the museum departed RAF Boscombe Down for Old Sarum they were unable to take the airframe with them and XV 401 was sold to Everett Aero. XV 401 was purchased by Bentwaters Cold War Museum during November 2013. Although the aircraft is painted in primer it still has it's 74 'Tiger' Sqn. black tail and tiger badge.

Model: McDonnell Douglas FGR.2
Purpose: Interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber/reconnaissance
Crew: Two
Wingspan: 38 ft. 4 in. (11.7 m)
Length: 57 ft. 7 in. (17.55 m)
Height: 16 ft. 1 in. (4.9 m)
Empty weight: 31,000 lb. (14,061 kg)
Max. take-off weight: 56,000 lb. (25,402 kg)
Service ceiling: 57,200 ft (17,400 m)
Engines: 2 × Rolls-Royce Spey 202/204 low bypass turbofans Engine output - dry thrust: 2 x  12,140 lb. (54 kN) 
Engine output - afterburner: 2 x 20,500 lb. (91.2 kN) 
Max speed at 40,000 ft. (12,190 m): Mach 1.9 (1,386 mph - 2,230 km/h)
Ferry range: 1,520 nautical miles (1,750 miles - 2,816 km)

Weapons
4 x AIM-7 Sparrow or Skyflash in fuselage recesses 
4 x AIM-9 Sidewinders on wing pylons
1 x 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan 6-barrel Gatling cannon in SUU-23 gun pod
Up to 180 SNEB 68 mm unguided rockets
Mix of 500 lb., 750 lb. and 1,000 lb. free-fall or retarded bombs
                            
   

Taken in: UK / England / Suffolk Coastal District / Rendlesham (show map)

Taken on: August 30, 2021

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McDonnell Douglas Phantom FGR.2

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Sets appears in: • BCWM • Military - Royal Air Force

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Camera: Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II, f/4.0, 1/400 sec, 36.8mm, ISO 125 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
Aperture:	f/4.0
Exposure Time:	0.003 sec (1/400)
Focal Length:	36.8mm
ISO:	125
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Windows Photo Editor 10.0.10011.16384
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