American units that operated the F-4 Phantom II are listed below.
U.S. Air Force
Following the test and evaluation of loaned Navy F-4Bs, the first production F-4C was delivered to U.S. Air Force in November 1963. The 4453rd Combat Crew Training Wing at MacDill AFB was the first unit to receive the Phantoms. The first combat unit to receive F-4Cs was the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing in 1964.Wilson, Stewart. McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phanton. Notebook Publications, 2000. .
List of units:Gerard Paloque "McDonnell F-4 Phantom, Vol. 2: US Air Force and Export Versions (Planes and Pilots)"
Active Duty
Tactical Air Command United States Air Force Thunderbirds F-4E - Nellis AFB, Nevada (1969-1974) 1st Tactical Fighter Wing - MacDill AFB, Florida 27th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1971-1975) 71st Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1971-1975) 94th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1971-1975) 4th Tactical Fighter Wing - Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1967-1970) F-4E (1970-1991) 335th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1967-1970) F-4E (1970-1990) 336th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1967-1970) F-4E (1970-1990) 337th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1985-1987) 15th Tactical Fighter Wing - MacDill AFB, Florida 43d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C (1964-1970) F-4E (1970-1982) 45th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C (1964-1971) 46th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C (1964-1971) 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C (1964-1971) 31st Tactical Fighter Wing - Homestead AFB, Florida 306th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1970-1988) 307th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1970-1988) 308th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1970-1986) 309th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1970-1986) 33d Tactical Fighter Wing - Eglin AFB, Florida 40th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1965-1967) 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1970-1979) 59th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1973-1979) 35th Tactical Fighter Wing - George AFB, California 20th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron F-4F (1973-1978) F-4E (1972-1992) 21st Tactical Fighter Training Squadron F-4C (1972-1980) F-4E (Black 1980-1992) 39th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (White 1977-1980, Gold 1982–1984) 431st Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1972-1976) 434th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C (1967-1972) F-4E (1972-1976) 37th Tactical Fighter Wing - George AFB, California 561st Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E/G (Yellow 1980-1992) 562d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E/G (Blue 1972-1992) 563d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E/G (Red 1975-1989) 49th Tactical Fighter Wing - Holloman AFB, New Mexico 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1968-1977) 8th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1968-1977) 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1968-1977) 20th Fighter Squadron F-4F (1993-2004) 56th Tactical Fighter Wing - MacDill AFB, Florida 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1975-1982) 61st Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1975-1980) 62d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1975-1981) 63d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1975-1981) 57th Fighter Weapons Wing - Nellis AFB, Nevada 414th Fighter Weapons Squadron F-4C/D/E (1969-1986) 58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing - Luke AFB, Arizona 426th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron F-4 550th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron F-4 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing - Bergstrom AFB, Texas 7th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C (1967-1971) 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C (1966-1971) 22d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C (1966-1971) 75th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing - Bergstrom AFB, Texas 347th Tactical Fighter Wing - Moody AFB, Georgia 68th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1973-1987) 69th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1983-1988) 70th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1975-1987) 388th Tactical Fighter Wing - Hill AFB, Utah 4th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1976-1979) 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1976-1979) 421st Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1976-1979) 474th Tactical Fighter Wing - Nellis AFB, Nevada 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1977-1980) 429th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1977-1980) 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1977-1980)
United States Air Forces in Europe 32d Tactical Fighter Squadron - Soesterberg AB, Netherlands F-4E (1969-1979)
57th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron - NAS Keflavik, Iceland F-4C (1975–1978) F-4E (1978-1985)
10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing - RAF Alconbury, United Kingdom 1st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C (1966-1988) 30th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C (1966-1976) 32d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C (1966-1976) 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing - Zweibrücken AB, Germany 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C (1969-1978) 38th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron RF-4C (1965-1991) 36th Tactical Fighter Wing - Bitburg AB, Germany 22d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1966-1973) F-4E (1973-1977) 53d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1966-1973) F-4E (1973-1977) 525th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1966-1973) F-4E (1973-1977) 48th Tactical Fighter Wing – RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom 492d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1972-1977) 493d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1972-1977) 494th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1972-1977) 50th Tactical Fighter Wing - Hahn AB, Germany 10th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (1966-1976) F-4E (1976-1982) 313th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1976-1981) 496th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1970-1982) 52d Tactical Fighter Wing - Spangdahlem AB, Germany 23d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (Blue 1981-1987) F-4G (Blue 1983-1991) 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (Yellow 1983-1986) F-4G (Yellow 1979-1994) 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E/G (Red 1972-1987) 81st Tactical Fighter Wing - RAF Bentwaters/Woodbridge, United Kingdom 78th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C (1965-1972) F-4D (1972-1979) 91st Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C (1965-1972) F-4D (1972-1979) 92d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4C (1965-1972) F-4D (1972-1979) 86th Tactical Fighter Wing - Ramstein AB, Germany 512th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (Yellow, Yellow & Black 1976-1985) 526th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (Red, Red & Black 1970-1986) 401st Tactical Fighter Wing - Torrejon AB, Spain 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (Blue 1971-1983) 613th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (Yellow 1971-1983) 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4D (Red 1971-1983)
Pacific Air Forces 3d Tactical Fighter Wing - Clark AB, Philippines 3d Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1975–1991) 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron F-4E (1975-1977) F-4G (1977-1991) 8th Tactical Fighter Wing - Ubon RTAFB, Thailand 12th Tactical Fighter Wing - Cam Ranh Air Base, South Viet Nam (1964–1971) 18th Tactical Fighter Wing - Kadena AB, Japan (1967–1989) 21st Tactical Fighter Wing - Elmendorf AFB, Alaska (1970–1982) 32d Tactical Fighter Wing - George AFB, California (1964) 51st Tactical Fighter Wing - Osan AB, South Korea (1974–1989) 36th Tactical Fighter Squadron 53d Wing - Holloman AFB, New Mexico 54th Tactical Fighter Wing - Kunsan AB, South Korea (1970) 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing - RAF Upper Heyford, United Kingdom (1969–1970) 354th Tactical Fighter Wing - Kunsan AB, South Korea (1968–1970) 355th Tactical Fighter Wing - Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona (1971) 363d Tactical Fighter Wing - Shaw AFB, South Carolina (1965–1989) 366th Tactical Fighter Wing - Da Nang Air Base, South Viet Nam (1969–1973) 388th Tactical Fighter Wing - Korat RTAFB, Thailand (1969–1973) 432d Tactical Fighter Wing - Udorn RTAFB, Thailand (1972–1974)
Squadrons 43d Tactical Fighter Squadron - Elmendorf AFB, Alaska (1964–1982) Assigned to: 15th Tactical Fighter Wing, 8 January 1964 - 15 July 1970 Attached to: 405th Fighter Wing, 20 August 1965 – 31 October 1965 Attached to: 12th Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 November 1965 - 4 January 1966 Assigned to 21st Composite Wing, 15 July 1970 - 15 November 1977 Assigned to 343d Tactical Fighter Group, 15 November 1977 - 1 January 1980 Assigned to 21st Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 January 1980 - 1 October 1982 82d Aerial Targets Squadron - Tyndall AFB, Florida, (1995–2015 (Detachment 1 to Holloman AFB, New Mexico ended 2016)) Geographically Separated Unit (GSU) of 53d Wing at Eglin AFB, Florida
Air Force Reserve 301st Tactical Fighter Wing - Carswell AFB, Texas (F-4D, F-4E) 482d Tactical Fighter Wing - Homestead AFB, Florida (F-4C, F-4D) 924th Tactical Fighter Group - Bergstrom AFB, Texas (F-4D, F-4E)
Air National Guard
Alabama Air National Guard 116th Reconnaissance Squadron, 117th Reconnaissance Wing (RF-4C) Arkansas Air National Guard 184th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 188th Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C) California Air National Guard 194th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 144th Fighter Interceptor Wing (F-4D) 196th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 163rd Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C, F-4E) 196th Reconnaissance Squadron, 163rd Reconnaissance Group (RF-4C) District of Columbia Air National Guard 121st Tactical Fighter Squadron, 113th Tactical Fighter Wing (F-4D) Georgia Air National Guard 128th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 116th Tactical Fighter Wing (F-4D) Hawaii Air National Guard 199th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 154th Group (F-4C) Idaho Air National Guard Reconnaissance Weapons School, 189th Tactical Reconnaissance Training Flight, 190th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 124th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (RF-4C) 190th Fighter Squadron, 124th Fighter Group (RF-4C, F-4G) Illinois Air National Guard 170th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 183rd Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C, F-4D) Indiana Air National Guard 163d Tactical Fighter Squadron, 122d Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C and F-4E) 113th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 181st Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C and F-4E) Kansas Air National Guard 127th Tactical Fighter Squadron and 177th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, 184th Tactical Fighter Group (F-4D) Kentucky Air National Guard 165th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 123d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (RF-4C) Louisiana Air National Guard 122d Tactical Fighter Squadron, 159th Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C) Michigan Air National Guard 171st Tactical Fighter Squadron, 191st Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C and F-4D) Minnesota Air National Guard 179th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 179th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron; 148th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 148th Fighter Interceptor Group (RF-4C and F-4D) Mississippi Air National Guard 153d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron; 186th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (RF-4C) Missouri Air National Guard 110th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 131st Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C and F-4E) Nebraska Air National Guard 173d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 173d Reconnaissance Squadron; 155th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 155th Reconnaissance Group (RF-4C) Nevada Air National Guard 192d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, later 192d Reconnaissance Squadron; 152d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, later 152d Reconnaissance Group (RF-4C) New Jersey Air National Guard 141st Tactical Fighter Squadron, 108th Tactical Fighter Group (F-4D and F-4E) New York Air National Guard 136th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 107th Fighter-Interceptor Group (F-4C and F-4D) North Dakota Air National Guard 178th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 119th Fighter-Interceptor Group (F-4D) Oregon Air National Guard 123d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 142d Fighter-Interceptor Wing (F-4C) Texas Air National Guard 111th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 147th Fighter-Interceptor Wing (F-4C and F-4D) 182d Tactical Fighter Squadron, 149th Tactical Fighter Group (F-4C) Vermont Air National Guard 134th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 158th Tactical Fighter Group (F-4D)
U.S. Navy
The Phantom entered service with the U.S. Navy on 30 December 1960 with the VF-121 Pacemakers at NAS Miramar. The VF-74 Be-devilers at NAS Oceana became the first deployable Phantom squadron when it received its F4H-1s (F-4Bs) on 8 July 1961.Thornborough and Davies 1994, p. 260.
Frontline & Reserve U.S. Atlantic Fleet / Naval Air Force Atlantic - All based at NAS Oceana, Virginia VF-11 "Red Rippers" VF-31 "Tomcatters" VF-14 "Tophatters"