F-4E RAAF

and USAF exchange service. Included below is a table recording Australian Pilots,Navigators and AEO's that crewed the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II with the RAAF
(and the USAF as noted). In Part 2 is a table listing those Australian Pilots and Navigators that flew on exchange with the USAF, but did not crew F-4's with the RAAF.
Please contact me if you can add further information or detect any errors.

Major Casper 'Cas' Bierman USAF (left) and PLTOFF Dave Rogers (right) then a RAAF 79 Sqn Sabre pilot.
PLTOFF Rogers scored a ride in a 45th TFS 8th TFW F-4C 64-0700 at Ubon AFB, Thailand on July 3rd 1965.(Photo:Dave Rogers)

RAAF and USAF Crews at McDill AFB,Florida for F-4E conversion with the USAF's 4530th TFTS August 1970.(Photo:Dave Rogers)

RAAF Amberley September 14th,1970....Defence Minister Malcolm Fraser has the pleasure
of meeting USAF and RAAF F-4 phlyers including the RAAF's FLTLT Kevin Merrigan.(Photo:?)

(l-r) Sergeant's Terry Noble and Doug Johnston of the RAAF with
USAF Chief Master Sergeant W J Meredith check out the
20mm cannon on an F-4E.(Photo:?)

(l-r) LAC Bryant RAAF,Corporal McCombe RAAF,Technical Sergeant Christian USAF and LAC Zscheh RAAF, work
on an F-4E's Westinghouse APQ-120 Radar.(Photo:?)

The first photo of 1Sqn crews with their new F-4E taken in November 1970, the first CO, WGCDR Mike Ridgway
is fourth from the right in the front row.(Photo:Al Green)

The spray effect at engine start up early in the morning is evident in this photo,it comes about when
operating the blown flaps and slats after moisture has collected overnight.(Photo:Bob Howe)

RAAF Amberley in 1971 and SQNLDR Ken Smith astride Snoopy's Kennel celebrates being the RAAF's first Phantom pilot
to attain 1,000 Hours on F-4 fighters. This total includes about 700 Hours on exchange with the USAF.The first pilot to attain
1,000 hours on Phantoms was the then SQNLDR Lyall Klaffer which included flight time in the recce RF-4C.Refer to
the list below of RAAF Phantom Phlyers.(Photo:Dave Rogers)

SQNLDR Smith celebrates with SQNLDR Robert Montgomery (left), Smith on Snoopy's kennel
along with FLTLT Dave Rogers and FLTLT Bill Best.(Photo:Dave Rogers)

Crew Briefing prior to the RAAF 50th Anniversary Airshow at RAAF Amberley,Qld in 1971.
Aircrew are - back row Montgomery and Halvorson, front row Burtt, Rogers, Rowland and Barker.
Notice the F-4 Cravat's worn by some of the crew for these special flights.(Photo:Dave Rogers)

FLTLT Bob Howe on the Phantom flight line.(Photo:Bob Howe)

FLTLT Tub Barker and FLTLT Bob Howe both serving with 82WG HQ prepare to board an RAAF F-4E.Note aircraft is fitted with a
full compliment of auxillary fuel tanks and SUU-20 practice bomb dispenser.(Photo:Bob Howe)

FLTLT John Ross of 1 SQN and FLTLT Bob Howe from 82 Wing HQ with an RAAF Phantom. (Photo:Bob Howe)

FLTLT Bob Howe straps on a Phantom.(Photo:Bob Howe)

RAAF 1SQN Formation Team Back Row (l-r) SQNLDR Ivan Skipworth, WGCDR Lyall Klaffer AFC, FLTLT Marty Sussans, FLTLT Bren Roberts
Front Row FLTLT John Wilkinson, SQNLDR Neil Pollock, FLTLT Pete Growder and FLTLT Noel Ryan.(Photo:Noel Ryan)

Happy RAAF Phantom crews head for debriefing. Note the nearest F-4E has rarely seen Sidewinder and Sparrows fitted and is yet to under go the
Midas 4 gun blast diffuser upgrade,whilst the next F-4E has had the Midas 4 upgrade completed.(Photo:Lyall Klaffer)

69-7202 with RAAF 6SQN Crews at RAAF Townsville,QLD in 1971.(Photo:Bob Howe)

The Phamous Phantom Spook with his very own 82 Wing RAAF F-4E!.(Photo:Dave Rogers)

82 WG Spook with the RAAF 51st Anniversary F-4 Display Pilots in 1972.
(l-r) FLTLT Dave Rogers, WGCDR Al Reed, SQNLDR Robert Montgomery, FLTLT Brian Fooks DFC
(Photo:Dave Rogers)

82 WG Spook with the RAAF 51st Anniversary F-4 Display Crews in 1972.
Back Row:(l-r) FLTLT Bill Best, SQNLDR Brian Bolger DFC, FLTLT Bob Molony and FLTLT Gus Hannam
Front Row:(l-r) FLTLT Dave Rogers, WGCDR Al Reed, SQNLDR Robert Montgomery, FLTLT Brian Fooks DFC
(Photo:Dave Rogers)

FLTLT Dave Rogers and FLTLT Bill Best climb aboard 69-7220 "20" at RAAF Amberley.(Photo:Dave Rogers)

Last Amendment 20/11/16

Crew Rank,Name and Duty	Remarks
O56146 FLTLT Graham (Tub) Robert Barker (P)	Flew RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968, however did not fly RAAF F-111s after the F-4. CO 35 Sqn RAAF Caribous Later WGCDR Barker.
FLTLT Bill Best (N)	Previously crewed RAAF P-3s Later crewed RAAF F-111s. Later WGCDR Best.
O23741 SQNLDR Edwin Brian John Bolger DFC (N)	Crewed RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War.
O17778 FLTLT Frank Edward Burtt (N)	Crewed RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968. Later crewed RAAF F-111s. Later AIRCDE Burtt OBE.
O22170 FLTLT John Allan Bushell (N)	Crewed RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Also crewed RAAF F-111s. Later GPCAPT Bushell.
FLTLT Lester Cavanagh (N)	Crewed RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968. Later crewed RAAF F-111s. Later SQNLDR Cavanagh.
O44252 FLTLT Peter 'Pete' Damien Condon (P)	Flew RAAF Mirages. Served as Forward Air Controller during the Vietnam War. CO 75 Sqn RAAF Mirages. Later WGCDR Condon.
O31590 FLTLT John Laurence Ellis DFC DFC(US) Air Medal (US) (P)	Flew RAAF Sabres. Flew RAAF Mirages. FLGOFF Ellis ejected from 76 Sqn RAAF Mirage IIIO A3-46 on 03/04/67 at 1,500ft @ 245kts approx 4nm northeast of Darwin,NT after engine failure,during post engine change air test. Flew USAF F-4Cs and F-4Ds with the 559th TFS / 12th TFW and 389th TFS / 37th TFW during the Vietnam War. Later Cathay Pacific Boeing 747 Captain.
SQNLDR Stuart C Fisher (P)	Flew RAAF Sabres Flew RAAF Mirages RAAF Test pilot. Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968. CO (Temp) 6 Sqn RAAF Canberras. Killed in the loss of RAAF F-4E 69-7203 "3" 16/06/71 with FLTLT Robert Waring (N).
O44200 FLTLT Brian Harris Fooks DFC (P)	Flew RAAF Mirages. Served as a Forward Air Controller during the Vietnam War. Later WGCDR Fooks DFC.
O32556 WGCDR Roy E Frost (P)	Flew in Korean War. CO 3 Sqn RAAF Mirages. CO 6 Sqn RAAF Canberras. Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968. Initial CO 6 Sqn RAAF F-4Es from 04/12/70. Later AVM Frost AO.
WGCDR Raymond 'Ray' George Funnell (P)	Fourth CO 6 Sqn RAAF F-4Es from 10/10/72. Later AM Funell AC.
O223696 FLTLT Paul William Goodwin (N)	Crewed RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Later crewed RAAF F-111s. Later WGCDR Goodwin.
O223268 FLTLT Jim H Graham (AEO)	Former Air Electronics Officer on RAAF P2V-5,SP-2H Neptunes and P-3B Orions. Later crewed RAAF F-111s. Later WGCDR Graham.
O25941 FLTLT Al J Green (N)	Crewed RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968. Later crewed RAAF F-111s. Later WGCDR Green.
O117122 FLTLT Pete William Growder (N)	Crewed RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Crewed USAF and RAAF F-111s. Navigator onboard F-111C A8-141/6 Sqn when it crashed into Hauracki Gulf near Auckland,New Zealand after fire 25/10/78. Pilot Dave Rogers and Navigator Peter Growder ejected OK. Later AIRCDRE Growder.
O51382 FLTLT Lance J Halvorson (N)	Crewed RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968. Later crewed RAAF F-111s. Later WGCDR Halvorson MBE.
FLTLT Gus Hannam (AEO)	Former Air Electronics Officer on RAAF P2V-5,SP-2H Neptunes and P-3B Orions. Vietnam service as RAAF Photo Interpreter.
O55744 SQNLDR Brian Stanley Hicks (N)	Crewed RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968. One of the initial RAAF F-4 Navs to train in the US.
428313/O33618 GPCAPT Vincent 'Vin' Hill DFC* AFC (P)	Flew in World War 2 and Korea. RAAF Test Pilot. CO 6 Sqn RAAF Canberras. Flew RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Initial OC 82 WG. Later AIRCDRE Hill DFC* AFC.
O218318 FLTLT Robert 'Bob' William Howe (N)	Former Tactical Coordinator on 10Sqn RAAF SP-2H Neptunes. Flew RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Graduate RAF Aero Systems Course,UK. Staff Officer Aero Systems,Office of Air Attache,Australian Embassy Washington,DC USA. Later WGCDR Howe MID.
O317782 FLGOFF John Michael Kennedy (P)	Flew RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Also flew RAAF F-111s. Later WGCDR Kennedy.
O44317 FLTLT Alan Daryl Kirby (N)	Crewed RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968. Later crewed RAAF F-111s. Later WGCDR Kirby.
O4218 WGCDR Lyall Robert Klaffer AFC OAM DFC(US) Air Medal (US) MID* (P)	Flying 3 Sqn Mustang A68-83 crashed at RAAF Fairbairn,ACT on 15/09/49 after colliding with Mustang A68-89. The Mustangs were trying to avoid 3 Sqn Wirraway A20-754 which had entered the Mustangs airspace.The Mustang A68-89 flown by a fellow 3 Sqn pilot did not survive. Flew 77 Sqn P-51D Mustangs in the Korean War on 105 operations. Flying 78WG Vampire FB.9 WR174 crashed after an aborted take off from El Adem Airfield,Libya on 24/11/52. SQN LDR Klaffer has the distinction of being the first RAAF pilot to fly an F-4 Phantom. Flew RF-4C's with the 16th TRS / 460th TRW during the Vietnam War (51 Ops). First RAAF Pilot to attain 1,000 hours on F-4 Phantoms was the then SQN LDR Lyall Klaffer whilst on exchange with the USAF flying RF-4C's.Klaffer is also the only RAAF pilot to go downtown to Hanoi during the Vietnam War whlist based at Udorn RTAFB,Thailand during the late 1960's. Second CO 1 Sqn from 20/12/71. Completed a F-4E refresher course with the RAAF in 1972. Later AIRCDRE Klaffer OAM AFC MID* DFC(US) Air Medal (US)
O316024 FLTLT Christopher 'Chris' James Lake (N)	Crewed RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968. Later SQNLDR Lake.
O216390 FLTLT Mervyn 'Merv' John Lewis (P)	Flew RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War.
O221632 FLTLT Alan Reginald Lockett (N)	Crewed RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968. Crewed USAF and RAAF F-111s. Later WGCDR Lockett MBE.
FLTLT Mick Lucas (P)	Flew RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968. Later flew RAAF F-111s. Later SQNLDR Lucas.
O43835 FLTLT Kevin Bernard Merrigan (P)	Flew RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968. Later flew RAAF F-111s. Later WGCDR Merrigan.
O112878 FLTLT Robert 'Bob' John Molony (N)	Crewed RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Later crewed RAAF F-111s. Later SQDLDR Moloney.
O55855 SQNLDR Robert James Montgomery (P)	Flew RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968. Later WGCDR Montgomery.
O44433 FLGOFF Trevor 'Trev' Albert Noblet (P)	Flew RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968. Later flew RAAF F-111s. Later FLTLT Noblet.
FLTLT Mick Nott (AEO)	Former Air Electronics Officer on RAAF P-3B Orions. Later crewed RAAF F-111s.
O112430 FLTLT Keith 'Piggy' Webster George Padgett (N)	Crewed RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Later crewed RAAF F-111s. Later WGCDR Padgett.
O56871 FLTLT Chad R Perry (N)	Former Navigator RAAF P-3B Orion. Later SQNLDR Perry.
SQNLDR Roy J Phillips (P)	Flew RAAF Sabres Flew RAAF Mirages. CO 3 Sqn RAAF Mirages. Later flew RAAF F-111s. Later WGCDR Phillips. Later Qantas Boeing 747 Captain
SQNLDR Neil Pollock (N)	Original F-111 instructor 1967. Completed an RAAF F-4E conversion course in early 1972 along with Flt Lt Tony Wilkinson. Later crewed RAAF F-111s. Later WGCDR Pollock.
O52363 WGCDR Alan 'Al' Raymond Reed (P)	Flew RAAF Canberras Flew USAF RF-4Cs with the 12th TRS/460th TRW during the Vietnam War (100 Ops). Second CO 6 Sqn RAAF F-4Es from 05/07/71. Flew in excess of 1,000 hours on F-4 Phantoms. Also flew RAAF F-111s as Air Staff Officer Amberley. AIRCDRE Reed Air Attache Washington DC,USA. Later AVM Reed AO DFC with Oak Leaf Cluster (US).
O223697 FLGOFF John Francis Reis (N)	Crewed RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Later crewed RAAF F-111s. Later FLTLT Reis.
O33285 WGCDR Mike J Ridgway AFC (P)	Also flew RAAF Lincolns and RAAF Canberra's. Initial CO 1Sqn RAAF F-4Es from 15/12/69. Later AVM Ridgway AFC.
FLTLT Bren J Roberts (P)	Previously flew RAAF Mirages. FLTLT Roberts ejected from 3 Sqn RAAF Mirage IIIO A3-70 on 30/10/68 at 2,800ft @ 210kts near Salt Ash weapons range,NSW after richochet ingested by engine during air-ground gunnery. Later flew RAAF F-111s. Later WGCDR Bren Roberts. CO 1 Sqn RAAF F-111s.
O221357 FLTLT David 'Dave' N Rogers (P)	Flew RAAF Sabres Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968. Fourth CO (Temp) 1 Sqn RAAF F-4Es from 23/02/73. CO 6 Sqn RAAF F-111s. Pilot onboard F-111C A8-141/6 Sqn crashed into Hauracki Gulf near Auckland,New Zealand after fire 25/10/78. Pilot of Dave Rogers and Navigator Peter Growder ejected OK. Later AVM Rogers AM.
O113665 FLGOFF John Knox Ross MID (P)	Flew RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Later flew RAAF F-111s. Later Qantas Boeing 767 Captain
FLTLT Clinton E Rowland (P)	Previously flew RAAF Mirages. Later flew RAAF F-111s. Later WGCDR Rowland CO 1 Sqn RAAF F-111s.
FLTLT Noel Ryan (AEO)	Former Air Electronics Officer on P2V-5,SP-2H Neptunes and P-3B Orions. Vietnam service as RAAF Photo Interpreter.
O57678 FLGOFF Peter Anthony Salvair (P)	Flew RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Later flew RAAF F-111s. Later SQNLDR Salvair.
O11502 FLTLT Robert 'Bob' Towers Sivyer (P)	Flew RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Later flew RAAF F-111s. Later SQNLDR Sivyer.
SQNLDR Ivan S Skipworth (P)	Initial RAAF instructor on F-111 in 1967 with USAF. Third CO (Temp) 1 Sqn RAAF F-4Es from 03/07/72.
SQNLDR Ken G Smith (P)	Flew USAF F-4C and F-4D 431st TFS (479th TFW?). Third CO (Temp) 6 Sqn RAAF F-4Es from 03/07/72. Flew in excess of 1,000 hours on F-4 Phantoms. Later WGCDR Smith.
O17733 FLTLT Clarrie J Stjernqvist (N)	Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968. Later crewed RAAF F-111s. Later AIRCDRE Stjernqvist.
FLTLT Marty S Susans (P)	Previously flew RAAF Mirages FLGOFF Susans ejected from 3 Sqn RAAF Mirage IIIO A3-52 on 25/09/67 at 20,000ft @ 300kts at Gloucester,NSW approx 8nm from RAAF Williamtown,NSW after engine failure during night navex. FLGOFF Susans suffered minor injuries. Later flew RAAF F-111s. Later WGCDR Susans.
O221761 FLTLT Robert John Waring (N)	Crewed RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. Original RAAF F-111 crew in 1968. Killed in the loss of RAAF F-4E 69-7203 "3" 16/06/71 with SQNLDR Stuart Fisher (P).
O221023 FLTLT Anthony 'Tony' Reginald Wilkinson (N)	Older brother of SQNLDR John Wilkinson. Crewed RAAF Canberra's with 2 Sqn. Completed an RAAF F-4E conversion course in early 1972 along with FLTLT Neil Pollock. Later crewed USAF F-111s on exchange. Later crewed RAAF F-111s. Later WGCDR T Wilkinson.
O223864 FLTLT John Jeffrey Wilkinson (N)	Younger brother of WGCDR Tony Wilkinson. Crewed RAAF Canberras with 2 Sqn during the Vietnam War. 36 SQN Later crewed RAAF F-111s. Later SQNLDR J.Wilkinson MID.