179th Fighter Interceptor Squadron,
148th Fighter Interceptor Group
"Bulldogs"
Duluth International Airport, Duluth, Minnesota, 1983-1990
This page created by R. Tahsin Guney
If you can provide any further F-4D Phantom II information, photos and drawings, or have any comments on this site, please contact me :
Minnesota ANG unit first received Phantoms during the winter of 1975 when the 179th Fighter Interceptor Squadron converted from F-101B/F Voodoos to RF-4Cs, and its was redesignated the 179th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on January 1976. The unit converted to F-4Ds and from 15 November 1983was again redesignated the 179th FIS. In 1986-87, it contributed F-4Ds, crew and maintenance personnel to Operation "Creek Klaxon" and Guardsmen assumed an air defense commitment at Ramstein AB, Germany. During the winter of 1990, 179th FIS completed its conversion to F-16A/B ADF Falcons.
Above: F-4D-30-MC Phantom II, 66-7512. 148th FIG, 179th FIS, Duluth IAP, Minnesota. Aircraft in standart Air Force Aerospace Defense Command gray paint scheme. Dark blue and white markings on the tail. The Big Dipper constellation is on the tail in white stars, and three white stars are also on each intake ramp, the forward portion of which is also painted dark blue.
Above: F-4D-30-MC Phantom II, 66-7647. 148th FIG, 179th FIS, Duluth IAP, Minnesota. Aircraft in standart Air Force Aerospace Defense Command gray paint scheme. Note the curved anti-glare panel.
Above: F-4D-26-MC Phantom II, 65-0608. 148th FIG, 179th FIS, Duluth IAP, Minnesota. Aircraft in standart Air Force Aerospace Defense Command gray paint scheme. One MiG kill star are located on the intake ramp. This Phantom shot down a North Vietnamese MiG-21 Fishbed on 12 September 1972.
Above: F-4D-26-MC Phantom II, 65-0586. 148th FIG, 179th FIS, Duluth IAP, Minnesota. Aircraft in standart Air Force Aerospace Defense Command gray paint scheme. Different markings are seen on this aircraft, but it was not adopted. The entire tail is dark blue, and the last four digits of the serial number are on the tail in a larger size than on the aircraft shown in the other drawings. The ANG badge has been moved to below the word MINNESOTA on the fuselage.
Above: F-4D-24-MC Phantom II, 64-0930. 148th FIG, 179th FIS, Duluth IAP, Minnesota. Aircraft in standart Air Force Egypt One three tone gray camouflage scheme. Squadron markings were toned down so as to conform with the low-visibility gray camouflage.
E-mail: rtahsing@gmail.com
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