The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) operated 24 McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom IIfighter-bombers between 1970 and 1973. The aircraft were leased from the United States Air Force (USAF) as an interim measure owing to delays in the delivery of the RAAF's General Dynamics F-111C bombers. The F-4C Phantom was evaluated by the RAAF in 1963 as a possible replacement for the English Electric Canberra, but was judged unsuitable. The F-111 was selected instead, but when technical faults delayed the project, the RAAF decided that the F-4E would be the best alternative. The Australian and US governments negotiated an agreement in 1970 for the RAAF to lease 24 F-4Es from the USAF. The Phantoms entered service in September that year, and proved highly effective. They prepared aircrew to operate the sophisticated F-111, and the training program improved the RAAF's professional standards. One of the F-4Es was destroyed in an accident in June 1971, and another was repaired by the RAAF after it was damaged in a crash landing. The 23 surviving aircraft were returned to the USAF in two batches during October 1972 and June 1973. (Full article...)
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