F-4D 66-271 served with the 184th TFG until it was retired from flying service on 30 March 1990. 66-271 Downed two Mig-21's while assigned to the 555th TFS/432nd TRW Udorn RTAFB, Thailand in July 1972 while crewed by Lt. Col. Carl Bailey & Capt. Jeffrey Feinstein. Following its duty in Vientam, 271 was assigned to various units in Taiwan, Florida and Minnesota, finally arriving to the 184th on 10 April 1984. For five years 271 trained numerous aircrews for the same mission it completed in Vietnam. While taking part in a training flight from Volk Field, WI on 20 July 1989, it flew its final tactical sortie. At some point during the mission, 271 suffered a cracked wing spar, damaged to such an extent that a less stout aircraft might not have been able to complete the flight. Following a one-way flight back to McConnell AFB, it was determined 271 was damaged beyond economical repair. The constant pounding of more than 5,200 Flight Hours had finally accomplished what the MIGs, SAMs, Triple A batteries and otherwise hostile enviroment over Vietnam could not. On 31 March 1990, F-4D 66-271 stood guard at the 184th TFG's Air Park as the last seven F-4D Phantom's departed for the Boneyard and the 184th converted to the F-16's.
On a personal note my father spent many hours loading munitions on the F-4D & F-16A,B,C,D's at the 184th. I spent many of days out back of his shop watching these aircraft in the pattern or on the flight line.
Please let me know what you think, I am no expert at repaints.....I wanted some of my Guard birds to fly so I created my own using some other repaints and MS Paint. I might consider releasing it once I get the ok from the other painters for their work I used. I might be trying to do a few more repaints of the 184th here in the near future. Would anyone like this to DL if I decide to make it available?
