McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom 2 (15-3866)

Good shot, Bill. Saw a lot of F4's come into Cubi, one with no nose wheel, but they got out ok. Looks like it was a J model converted to an S and lost while with VF-171 in Virginia in 1980.

Don, I witnessed a similar incident at Cubi involving an F-4 where the nose gear failed to deploy. It was one of the most incredible things I have ever seen. The aircraft landed and somehow managed to keep the nose at an angle off the deck during rollout. The ground crew positioned a dolly with a tug on the runway.The pilot finessed the power to keep the nose off the deck and taxied to the dolly and set the nose down on the dolly. Zero damage to the aircraft. I never heard if the F-4 crew received any official recognition for saving their aircraft, but I would think a Distinguished Flying Cross would have been in order

Bill, according to Joe Baugher's website, this appears to be:

"McDonnell F-4J-31-MC Phantom, 153866 (MSN 2391) converted to F-4S. Crashed with VF-171 near Fentress, Virginia Dec 16, 1980."

So the full serial number is 153866, and it looks like Don was right on. Nice job, Bill and Don!

OMG-- What a great story @Chris -- cudos to all who were aboard and serving THAT day! What a hoot, the DFC for a ground crew, WOW!!!