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Secret Documents #208: F-4E Guide - Weapons - Part 6

Added 2025-03-21 11:00:15 +0000 UTC

Hi folks!

Time to clear the skies with the Phantom's air-to-air weapons. History remembers the F-4's prowess in air combat from the Vietnam War. I am sure some of you might have heard of Operation Bolo, a daring mission against the VPAF where Colonel Robin Olds' Phantoms of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) ambushed Vietnamese MiG-21s. How? By flying a route typically used by US bombers during Operation Rolling Thunder, drawing MiGs expecting to find heavily loaded fighter-bombers like the F-105 Thunderchief... but instead facing much more agile F-4Cs. The story behind this operation is fascinating, especially considering how the ambush was planned and executed.

Overall, the F-4E is remarkably well-equipped for the time period, especially after the internal gun was added due to the hard lessons learned in Vietnam. The missiles of the 1960's and 1970's were not as reliable as advertised, especially when being employed in a hot and humid environment like South East Asia. As a combat platform, the Phantom was quite flexible by the time the E variant was operational. Radar-guided Sparrows could provide the most accurate firing solution, but electronic warfare jamming and radar limitations may force you to switch to Sidewinders or even the 20 mm cannon in desperate situations.