After almost 40 years of service, the final interceptors were retired during a decommissioning event to be staged at the Luftwaffe's Wittmund air base.
The final German examples weree operated by the air force's JG 71 "Richthofen" squadron, which was also the first to begin flying the type, in March 1974. Delivered in 1973, its first F-4F, 37+01, received a special livery for the occasion.
A total of 263 Phantoms were acquired by Germany, including 88 in the RF-4E reconnaissance configuration, from 1971.
According Flightglobal's database shows Germany's retirement of the Phantom will reduce the global frontline fleet of the type to 431 aircraft, operated by the air forces of Egypt, Greece, Iran, Japan, South Korea and Turkey. The US Air Force also has more than 150 examples, which have been adapted for use as QF-4 aerial targets.
flightglobal
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