Question about Col. Chuck Yeager's F4-C (Paint Scheme)

Thanks Grant !

**EDIT**

The Accurate Miniatures decal set for Yeager's F4 match the markings used on the F4 with the SA tail code and SEA scheme as shown in your pic - so I guess that settles it.  If I wanted to build an earlier Gull Grey/White bird, Id'd have to get new decals and find some other reference pics.  

 ****

And by the way - Welcome to the forum !

Chris

Here are two photos of 4th TFW Wing Commander's aircraft F-4Ds taken at Yokota AB in Japan. Initially, 4th TFW F-4Ds arrived in Japan, and by inference, Korea, sans tail codes. When they returned to Korea for the second deployment, they had the familiar SA/SB tail codes. In the first deployment, only the wing commander's aircraft had any tail code, in this case, XD in a non standard smaller size.

Photo by T. Matsuzaki


Photo by K.Yoshida.


From my old friends, the Yokota Kichiguys.
Thanks everyone.
Best wishes,
Grant

Max, Stick, Berny, & Hans,

Thanks so much for the info.  I really appreciate the input.  I'll be sure to post the results.

Chris

Berny's dead-on.. Dad was AXO at that time in the 334th when COL Yeager was the Wing King, although he (Yeager) did most of his flying as CO in the wing's B-57 hack...

4th Tactical Fighter Wing
"Fourth But First"
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Goldsboro, North Carolina, 1967-1970

The 4th Tactical Fighter Wing previously parented F-105 Thunderchief equipped 334th, 335th and 336th Tactical Fighter Squadrons from Seymour Johnson AFB, N. Carolina. Component squadrons re-equipped with F-4D in 1967. The Wing's aircraft were not camouflaged until 1968. The aircraft would have been painted in the Gull Gray (FS 36440) over gloss white. 4th TFW deployed to Kunsan AB, South Korea, following the USS Pueblo crisis between 29 January and 29 July 1968 and assigned to Fifth Air Force, at Japan. The 334th and 335th TFS deployed with the 336th TFS held in reserve. Tailcodes in the "S" range were implemented; "SA" for the 334th TFS, "SB" for the 335th TFS, "SC" for the 336th TFS during this deployment. The unit was under the command of aerospace legend, Colonel Charles E. Yeager between 23 March 1968 and 30 May 1969. In June 1968, the 336th TFS deployed to Kwangju AB, South Korea and attached to the 6175th Air Base Group when the 334th and 335th TFS returned home. 336th TFS returned to Seymour Johnson AFB in July 1969.
4th TFW assigned to Ninth Air Force on 24 December 1969. Two component squadrons, the 334th TFS and the 335th TFS, were attached during 1969 to the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing at Kunsan AB, South Korea. Squadrons returned to the Seymour Johnson AFB in May 1970. 4th Tactical Fighter Wing re-equipped with F-4E during 1970.

Above: 4th TFW Boss Bird. This aircraft flown by Colonel Charles E. Yeager. F-4D-31-MC Phantom II, 66-7678 / SA. 4th TFW, 334th TFS, Seymour Johnson AFB, N. Carolina. Aircraft in standart Air Force SEA camouflage scheme.

4th Tactical Fighter Wing F-4D squadrons:

334th Tactical Fighter Squadron

335th Tactical Fighter Squadron

336th Tactical Fighter Squadron

Early F-4Cs were delivered in the same paint scheme as their Navy counterparts, 36440 Lt Gull Gray over White. Later in production they switched to the SEA camo. Any overall monotone gray scheme on Air force F-4s would be the ADC/Aircraft gray that was re introduced on interceptor tasked f-4s in the 1970s.

Bossman, you are correct, Accurate Miniatures fudge d the color scheme. I saw a corrected one somewheres, I'll try to track it down for you!