„The “German Phantom Squadron (DPS)” upholds the tradition of military aviation with special emphasis on the F-4 Phantom. Internally, the DPS strives to keep a spirit based on fellowship and mutual respect of its members, externally the DPS seeks cooperation and exchange with like organizations. The DPS fosters its own traditions vis á vis future generations of Luftwaffe aircrew members as well.”

That much concerning the purpose of our statute. But why do we identify ourselves in such a way with a specific aircraft?

At the beginning of the seventies the F-104 G “Starfighter” and the Fiat G-91 were the main weapon systems of the still young German Air Force. These were relatively small, single seat aircraft with only one engine and increasingly dated avionics and armament. The “Starfighter” also suffered from a high accident rate, whereas the G-91 had a very short radius of action.

And then came the “Phantom“! Many of the old F-104 and G-91 pilots would not hide their initial contempt for this massive machine. Unfriendly nicknames like “Flying Barndoor”, “Double Ugly” or “Rhino” were common. Whereas the F-104 cockpit was close to the ground and would be entered from the right, the former Starfighter pilots now had to enter the cockpit from the left by means of a long ladder. Most notably however was the fact that the pilot no longer was alone with his aircraft, but shared the cockpit with a second crew member, who initially and slightly contemptuously was referred to as “Kampfbeobachter” (Fight Observer) – as if his main task would consist of merely looking out of the window.

Initial difficulties related to the introduction of a new weapon system were to be expected and unavoidable, but for a while, with the new Phantom the Luftwaffe was again competitive amongst NATO air forces. Mechanical reliability, high load carrying capacity, a capable air – air missile in the form of the AIM-9 L, all-weather capability, plus for the “Recce” version high resolution cameras and capable all-weather stand-off sensors all were contributors to this enhancement of the Luftwaffe´s weight within NATO. During composite air operations, NATO-evaluations and competitions we again were able to play a leading role. Especially the “Recces” on their - for early warning reasons - important missions with the side looking airborne radar (SLAR) in close proximity to the Inner-German border and along the Baltic coast attracted special attention from Warsaw Pact air defense fighters – sometimes to the pleasure of escorting own Phantom fighters as well.

But especially in the air to air role it soon showed, that the merely as an interim solution -  initially for the “Multi Role Combat Aircraft“ (MRCA)”, later for the “Jäger 90” - procured F-4F with increasing age could not compete with a new generation of modern fighter aircraft being put into service. For a time, we tried to compensate these deficiencies.

No “Look-Down – Shoot-Down“ capability? – We flew even lower in order to look and shoot upwards. Smoking engines? – We engaged the afterburner in order not to be seen. No cockpit-recorders? – We bought small cassette recorders and handcrafted the required intercom-connections.

So, out of necessity we had to be inventive, the crews closed ranks, new tactics were developed and the units worked closer together, in short:

The Phantom fleet and their crews tried to make the best out of the situation.

However, when NATO adapted the concept of stopping an eventual Warsaw Pact attack as far forward as possible and the nations were requested to provide a more robust conventional contribution to this end, the Phantom fighter (air superiority) and fighter-bomber (air to ground) wings were to be converted into multi-role “Tactical Fighter Wings” and the reconnaissance wings were to take over fighter-bomber tasks as a secondary mission. The flexible Phantom most likely would have been suited for this. But as neither the required infrastructural and material preconditions, nor flying hours and training conditions, would be sufficiently adapted in order to accommodate the new requirements – flying hours even were continuously reduced during the following years – the concept in the end was not viable. A high percentage of aircrews, especially of the fighter (air superiority) and reconnaissance wings, agreed: in order to ensure safe and efficient flying operations and to keep from losing operational readiness, something had to be changed. The grumbling was heard by the Luftwaffe leadership in Bonn and Cologne as well, and it was just a question of time until the plan was abandoned.

After the end of the Cold War and more than 20 years of reconnaissance operations, the Luftwaffe RF-4 E wings were decommissioned in the early 90s. Aircraft and sensors proved to be reliable and efficient until the end. We as aircrews would have liked to keep the “RF” for a while longer.

As the introduction into service of the meanwhile “Eurofighter“ renamed F-4F successor was further delayed, several service life enhancement measures were required, because components like landing gear, fuselage, wings and engines caused increasing problems. In conjunction with these, the “Air Defense Diesel”, as the air superiority fighter wings Phantoms were sometimes referred to due to their smoking engines, received a capability upgrade which brought a new radar and medium range all weather air to air missile. Now the Phantom finally had the sadly missed “Look-Down – Shoot Down” capability and was at last competitive again in the air to air role. This greatly helped the crews to draw the required motivation for their profession. Consequently, the fighter-bomber (air to ground) wings were re-named as fighter wings (air superiority). But already during the mid-90s, in the context with the merger of Jagdgeschwader (JG) 73 with a MiG 29 Squadron at Laage the first F-4F squadron was decommissioned, and JG 72 “Westfalen” in Rheine Hopsten was to follow soon.

The new century eventually saw the delivery of the first Eurofighter. Jagdgeschwader 73, now with the traditional name “Steinhoff”, and JG 74, in the meantime without its traditional name “Mölders”, successively retired their Phantom fighters. The last F-4F Phantoms flew with JG 71 “Richthofen” until the summer of 2013. With their replacement by Eurofighters the last German Phantoms disappeared into the Wild Blue Yonder.

Although some of our comrades no longer are in our midst, they will always be members of our society and in thoughts they will be amongst us. We feel obliged to the Phantom era of our Luftwaffe, and we strive to continue the developed fellowship and friendship within our society - we, the Luftwaffe “Phantom Phlyers”.

Should you, as an ex-Phantom-flyer, be interested in joining the “Deutsche Phantom Staffel (DPS)”, contact us under mail@phantomstaffel.de.

Current: February 2018

Jürgen Erbeck