McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II, USAF Users, part three

The F-4C was initally flown for the first time on 27th May 1963 and it differed from the Navy's F-4B in having dual controls, a boom-type flight refuelling system, low pressure tyres and different electronic equipment in order to make it suitable both for air superiority and ground attack roles. It was powered by two General Electric J79-GE-15 that have a a thrust of 10900lb (4944kgp) on dry and 17000lb st (7711kgp) with afterburner. When on air-to-air combat, it was equipped with four AIM-7 Sparrow III Missiles. In total 583 F-4Cs were manufactured, 40 of which were exported to Spain that it was the only foreign country to use that variant.

Sources:
1. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_F-4_Phantom_II#United_States_Air_Force

McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II, USAF Users, part two

On 10th July 1965, some F-4C from the 45th Tactical Fighter Squadron, of the 15 Tactical Fighter Wing, operating from Ubon, in Thailand, scored USAF's first aerial victory against a North Vietnamese MiG-17 with an AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile.
Later, on 26th April 1966, a MiG-21 was shot down by an F-4C of the 480th Tactical Fighter Squadron and, a little bit earlier, on 24th July 1965 another F-4C from the 45th Tactical Fighter Squadron became the first American aircraft to be shot down by an enemy surface-to-air-missile (SAM). On 5th October 1966 another F-4C became the first American aircraft to be shot down by an air-to-air missile shot from a North Vietnamese MiG-21.
The earliest versions suffered from leaks in wing fuel tanks that had to be re-sealed after each flight and at least 85 of them were found to have crack in outer wing ribs and stringers. Problems were also found in aileron control cylinders, electrical connectors, and engine compartment fires.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_F-4_Phantom_II#United_States_Air_Force
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II, USAF Users, part one

Initially the F-4C in the United States Air Force, was going to be called F-110 Spectre, before the introduction of the 1962 Tri-Service designation system. As the aircraft proved to be a very nice one, they quickly adopted it and became it's largest user.

The first Phantoms to serve in Vietnam with the USAF were the F-4Cs from the 555th Tactical Fighter Squadron, that arrived in December 1964. Differing from the navy and marine counterparts where a naval aviator sat in the front place and a naval flight officer in the back, acting as an interceptor officer, the USAF's ones employed two pilots on each Phantom, on both seats. The one in the back could also pilot the airplane, albeit having less flying instruments and worse visibility. Later it was decided that a qualified Air Force Navigator acting as a weapons/targeting systems officer in the rear, instead of another pilot. However, every Phantom serving with the USAF retained their dual controls.

Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_F-4_Phantom_II#United_States_Air_Force
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II, Spanish Users

The McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II served with the Spanish Air Force thanks to the renewal, in August 1970 of the mutual defence pact between the United States and Spain. Which, under the operation "Peace Alpha" 36 second-hand airplanes were delivered, together with three KC-97L Stratotankers, and two C-97 Stratofreighters. Initially the Spanish Air Force's technical commision declared their preference for the F-4E, but the economical restrictions forced the acceptance of the F-4C, which was older than the F-4E. The delivered airplanes had served in the United States Air Force with the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing in the bases of the United Kingdom and they arrived first in Spain in February 1971 and, by 1972 all 36 of them had already been delivered. They were assigned the denomination of C.12 in the Spanish Air Force and served until 1989, after serving intensely and having various accidents during the 1970s.
It was to recover those loses to accidents that, more of F-4C and RF-4C (which were dessignated CR.12) were adquired and delivered from the 363rd Reconnaissance Wing. Them all were replaced in 1989 by the McDonnell Douglas EF-18B Hornet which are still in active service.

Sources:
1. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_F-4_Phantom_II#Espa.C3.B1a (translated)
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters