Springer
Well-Known Member
The Japanese air force is one of the last bastions of the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom and the reconnaissance RF-4. The F-4 operates in the air defense role, flying from Hyakuri Air Base near Tokyo with two squadrons, while a single unit flies the RF-4. F-4s also fly with a test unit from Gifu, near Nagoya. The era of the F-4 Phantom in Japanese air force service is coming to an end with the disbandment of the F-4 unit 302 Hikotai Sqdn., planned for early 2019. Japan will replace its F-4s with the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II. This F-4, performing at Hyakuri Air Base on Dec. 2, is one of two painted in a special farewell scheme.