In a poignant end of an era, South Korea’s formidable F-4 Phantom II jets soared through their final flight routines before being ceremonially retired after 55 years of guarding the skies. On June 7, at Suwon Air Base, the last of these venerable aircraft were officially decommissioned in a ceremony that not only marked the conclusion of over half a century of dedicated service but also heralded the transition to more advanced aerial combat technology.

The F-4 Phantom, developed in the 1950s by McDonnell Aircraft Corp., was a multi-role fighter that served with distinction across various branches of the U.S. military before being phased out in the early 1990s.

Its agility, payload capacity, and top speed of roughly 1,400 mph made it a formidable foe in the skies.

While it was discovered to be less maneuverable than adversaries like the Soviet Union’s MiG-21 during the Vietnam War, pilots learned to leverage the Phantom’s powerful engines and speed to dictate the terms of aerial combat.

Echoing the sentiments of enthusiasts, Chuck Watson, a curator for the Combat Air Museum, spoke to the unique place the F-4 holds in aviation history, “It’s got a tremendous following of people… When they’re all gone, there won’t be another like it.”

The Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF) had a fleet of about 220 Phantoms at its peak. These aircraft played critical roles ranging from flying bombing runs and reconnaissance missions in Vietnam to Wild Weasel missions in Operation Desert Storm.

The last unit to operate the F-4s, the 153rd Fighter Squadron, paid homage to their service with a farewell flight involving four specially painted Phantoms. Coinciding with their retirement, the F-4s released their final ordnance during live-fire drills, firing AGM-142 missiles and dropping MK-82 free-fall bombs towards simulated targets.

These drills not only marked the end of an era but also the last use of the AGM-142 Popeyes, since the F-4 was the sole ROK aircraft equipped to carry these missiles.

The Phantoms’ legacy will be succeeded by the indigenously developed KF-21 Boramae, an advanced multirole combat aircraft that is expected to become the backbone of South Korea’s air defense.

The KF-21 has already passed provisional combat suitability evaluations, signaling the beginning of a new chapter in South Korean aerial dominance.

As South Korea invests in the KF-21, with a budget of approximately US$178 million allocated for 2024, the Phantoms took their last flight in a nostalgic journey across the country.

They traced their storied past, flying over historic airbases and regions linked to pivotal moments in their operational history, including Cold War-era intercepts and counter-espionage missions.

These flights served as a salute to an aircraft that not only bolstered South Korea’s defenses but also became a symbol of the nation’s evolving prowess.

South Korea’s decision to retire the F-4 fleet was not taken lightly. The military keenly acknowledges the Phantom’s contribution to the nation’s security and its role in the U.S.-ROK alliance.

The Phantoms’ farewell flights were set against the backdrop of the largest annual U.S.-ROK Air Exercise, underscoring the ongoing commitment to regional security. “The F-4 will always be remembered for its service to the country,” said a Ministry of National Defense spokesman, encapsulating the reverence with which the retiring aircraft are held.