Designed originally as a carrier-borne interceptor armed only with missiles, its beginnings were so promising that the USAF adopted it as a tactical fighter ands was quickly followed by an impressive number of other air forces around the world which explains why certain examples are still in service today. The evolution of the Phantom goes back to the summer of 1953 when McDonnel gave one of his engineer teams the task of modernizing one of its earlier creations: the F3H Demon. In July 1959, the F4H-1 was officially christened Phantom II as a tribute to the McDonnelL FH-1, the first American jet plane designed in 1953 and intended for carrier-borne from the outset.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best titles in an excellent series--or any series, period!!,
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Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: McDonnell F-4 Phantom, Vol. 1: US Navy and US Marine Corps (Planes and Pilots) (Paperback)
Histoire & Collections (French publishers, who sometimes favor us with titles in English as with this one) have outdone themselves with Gerard Paloque's McDonnell F-4 Phantom Volume 1: US Navy and US Marine Corps. This book is filled with well over 100 stunning (and accurate to perfection) full color side-view and occasional four-view drawings of Phantoms of every Navy and Marine squadron ever to fly this classic fighter, of which more than 5,000 were built. There is worthwhile and informative text about the various units and their respective histories.
But it is the artwork which steals the day! Rarely has such a monograph been offered the enthusiast, although the regular citizenry can certainly appreciate it too. Just the schemes showing this plane in its Bicentennial Celebration (1976) colors from different squadrons is worth its "at a steal price." Also depicts every model and form the Naval/Marine F-4 flew in. Many of the color schemes were gorgeous, if that's the right term for a warplane. Don't pass this up! I look forward to what I hope will be two more volumes -- US Air Force (not nearly as colorful as the Navy/Marine ones)and non-US Phantoms. ENJOY!!!!
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
PRETTY --INACCURATE,
This review is from: McDonnell F-4 Phantom, Vol. 1: US Navy and US Marine Corps (Planes and Pilots) (Paperback)
SAVE YOUR MONEY!!
It never ceases to amaze me how many reviews for books rate them as 5-stars, without qualification other than how pretty their pictures and drawings are. In this case, one reviewer went so far as to say the illustrations were "accurate to perfection." Come again??? I looked at this book in a bookstore and was astonished to find that the author has many, many errors regarding something as basic as being able to distinguish earlier F-4B/J models from their later, rebuilt versions known as the F-4N and F-4S. Look at the upper intakes shoulders for the semi-tubular fairing of the AN/ALQ-126 ECM antennae on the F-4N and F-4S, which are NOT present on the F-4B or F-4J. It is a key ID recognition feature for a breakout of the various models. To be perfectly blunt, if one does not know this, there is no business writing a book about Navy/USMC Phantoms, or reviewing same. The author did mention these antennae in his text but this brings me to the other issue of proofing and editing: one reference for the AN/ALQ-126 is mistyped as ALAQ-126, a designation that simply doesn't exist. Reject this and any other book that makes such basic errors and shows that the publishers do not demand proper fact-checking, proofing or editing. Too many "junk" books like this are on the market and essentially rip off those who don't know the subject matter well. Readers have a reasonable expectation that published books are accurate, but there is increasing evidence that publishers only care about cranking out volume and don't care a whit about accuracy. Authors and publishers who engage in this kind of incompetence should be avoided. I would also recommend that unless a publishers allows a close look at the contents of their books, they should be avoided with suspicion and I call upon Amazon to insist that they either make examples available--with legible text--or Amazon won't carry them. This would avoid a lot of the problems. In this case, yes, you do get to see some samples of the pretty illustrations but the text is illegible. When I first saw the book, I was anxious to have a look. As an aircraft historian, author and a weapons systems maintainer of F-4D/RF-4C Phantoms, and an imagery interpreter on RF-4C imagery, I really looked forward to the book. Within just a few minutes, that same experience had me angered and disgusted. The book went back on the shelf and, if it is any indication of what this publisher puts out, I will never consider another of their products in the future. As for the other reviewers, please take a look at the contents of this book and consider revising your high 5-star ratings. The book does not deserve such praise. It is visually attractive but it has absolutely no credibility. A 5-star rating also damages the credibility of those who rate it so highly. Frankly, I am stunned that anybody who knows anything about the Phantom would praise this book, and I suspect that it has not been condemned by more people simply because true Phabulous Phantom 'Aphicionados' have not taken a look. If they had, they would be appalled at how wrong this book is.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Phantastic and colorful,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: McDonnell F-4 Phantom, Vol. 1: US Navy and US Marine Corps (Planes and Pilots) (Paperback)
This French publisher continues to put out worthwhile books, and this is the first of a multi-part series on the Phabulous Phantom. As with earlier volumes in this series, this is primarily a book of color side-view drawings. A brief 4-page synopsis describes the original development of the F-4 and a description of each of the navy variants, followed by 2 pages describing the aircraft's camouflage and markings in general terms. The rest of the book covers all the squadrons in numerical order, each squadron getting one or two pages of coverage, providing a brief history of the squadron's use of the F-4 and a picture of the squadron badge, along with from 3 to 7 side views of squadron Phantoms in a variety of color variations. Although these are primarily left-side views, there are a few top and bottom views to show certain variations. Special navy squadrons such as the VC and VX squadrons are covered, followed by the Marine Corps VMFA squadrons, as well as Marine reconnaissance squadrons flying RF-4Bs. About the only negative comment has to do with a few errors in translation and proofreading, often a weakness of H&C books. Even with all that has already been written about the F-4, I think all Phantomphiles will want a copy of this book in their collection of references.
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