Phantom Boys: True Tales From UK Operators Of The McDonnell Douglas F-4
Originally developed for the US Navy, this twin-engined supersonic long-range fighter-bomber first flew in the spring of 1958. It then entered service for the US Navy in 1961, and in 1969 with the Fleet Air Arm and RAF in the UK. Regarded as one of the most versatile fighters ever built, the Phantom F-4 was the US Navy’s fastest and highest-flying aircraft. It was flown by both US military demonstration teams (Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds) from 1969 to 1973. It ended its service in 1991 with the RAF. But it continued to serve a variety of air forces across the world, with some still in service fifty years after its first flight. Throughout the twenty chapters of this book, thirteen contributors will take readers across the world with adventures in the Falkland Islands, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Far East and Germany. There are anecdotes of reconnaissance missions, encounters with the Russian Tupolevs, record-breaking flights and life on HMS Ark Royal. The scope, flair and pace of the writing in this book will appeal to the general reader as well as to the enthusiast.
"1132934657"
Phantom Boys: True Tales From UK Operators Of The McDonnell Douglas F-4
Originally developed for the US Navy, this twin-engined supersonic long-range fighter-bomber first flew in the spring of 1958. It then entered service for the US Navy in 1961, and in 1969 with the Fleet Air Arm and RAF in the UK. Regarded as one of the most versatile fighters ever built, the Phantom F-4 was the US Navy’s fastest and highest-flying aircraft. It was flown by both US military demonstration teams (Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds) from 1969 to 1973. It ended its service in 1991 with the RAF. But it continued to serve a variety of air forces across the world, with some still in service fifty years after its first flight. Throughout the twenty chapters of this book, thirteen contributors will take readers across the world with adventures in the Falkland Islands, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Far East and Germany. There are anecdotes of reconnaissance missions, encounters with the Russian Tupolevs, record-breaking flights and life on HMS Ark Royal. The scope, flair and pace of the writing in this book will appeal to the general reader as well as to the enthusiast.
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Phantom Boys: True Tales From UK Operators Of The McDonnell Douglas F-4

Phantom Boys: True Tales From UK Operators Of The McDonnell Douglas F-4

by Richard Pike
Phantom Boys: True Tales From UK Operators Of The McDonnell Douglas F-4

Phantom Boys: True Tales From UK Operators Of The McDonnell Douglas F-4

by Richard Pike

Paperback

$22.95 
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Overview

Originally developed for the US Navy, this twin-engined supersonic long-range fighter-bomber first flew in the spring of 1958. It then entered service for the US Navy in 1961, and in 1969 with the Fleet Air Arm and RAF in the UK. Regarded as one of the most versatile fighters ever built, the Phantom F-4 was the US Navy’s fastest and highest-flying aircraft. It was flown by both US military demonstration teams (Navy Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds) from 1969 to 1973. It ended its service in 1991 with the RAF. But it continued to serve a variety of air forces across the world, with some still in service fifty years after its first flight. Throughout the twenty chapters of this book, thirteen contributors will take readers across the world with adventures in the Falkland Islands, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Far East and Germany. There are anecdotes of reconnaissance missions, encounters with the Russian Tupolevs, record-breaking flights and life on HMS Ark Royal. The scope, flair and pace of the writing in this book will appeal to the general reader as well as to the enthusiast.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781911621881
Publisher: Grub Street
Publication date: 04/26/2020
Series: The Jet Age Series , #10
Pages: 184
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Richard Pike became a flight cadet in 1961 at the RAF College, Cranwell, where on graduation, he was awarded the Dickson Trophy and Michael Hill memorial prize for flying. In the early stages of his forty-year flying career he flew the English Electric Lightning before converting to the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom. On leaving the Royal Air Force he became a civilian helicopter pilot. His duties took him to a wide variety of destinations at home and overseas including the Falkland Islands not long after the end of the Falklands War. His last assignment was in Kosovo helping to distribute emergency humanitarian aid on behalf of the United Nations World Food Programme. He and his wife live in Aberdeenshire. He is the author of several Grub Street titles including: Lightning Boys, Lightning Boys 2, Hunter Boys and Phantom Boys Volume 1 and 2.

Table of Contents

Author's Note 8

Chapter 1 Postal Drop 9

Jack Hamill's bad break

Chapter 2 Bastille Blues 17

Alan Winkles came across closure of an unwelcome kind

Chapter 3 Distant Horizons 25

John Walmsley's record breaking flight

Chapter 4 Bleak Choice 34

Steve Gyles' dilemma

Chapter 5 True Witness 44

Phil Owen's disagreement with HQ

Chapter 6 Short Trip 50

David Roome's quick decision

Chapter 7 Coup de Grâce 55

Roger Colebrook's bad weather experiences

Chapter 8 An Impossible Dream 64

Les Hurst's dream eventually came true

Chapter 9 Tough Old Bird 77

Rick Peacock-Edwards' red hot overshoot

Chapter 10 Naval What-Knots 84

Alan Winkles' life on the ocean waves

Chapter 11 Sobering Moments 96

Ian Hartley in the Falklands

Chapter 12 Sterling Service 101

John Walmsley's long experience on the Phantom

Chapter 13 Hatch Catch 110

Roger Colebrook's unscheduled interception

Chapter 14 Rush! 117

Alan Winkles and the hazards of haste

Chapter 15 Big Issues 124

Ian Hartley recalls the good, the bad and the downright

Chapter 16 Hit or Myth 136

Roger Colebrook's in-flight refuelling dilemma

Chapter 17 Close Shaves 143

Alan Winkles recollects a bird strike

Chapter 18 Crafty Combat 152

Keith Skinner at Decimomannu

Chapter 19 Bold Spirits 158

Richard Pike recalls intriguing events

Addendum A High Note 170

Chris Stone recalls a special fly-past

Appendix 177

Select Biographies

Index 182

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