01/02/2018
Honor the Past. Inspire the Future.
History of Grove’s F-4
Grove’s F-4 made her first flight on October 10, 1972, after which she entered service with the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing unit at Seymour Johnson AFB, in North Carolina. She would remain seven years in North Carolina, before moving in 1979 to the 52nd TFW at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany.
At that time, the aircraft received serial number 71-0247 and 71-1247 for a short time.
After returning to the US in 1988, she was assigned to the 37th TFW at George Air Force Base in California.
The mission of the 37th was to provide pilot transition training for the F-4G ‘Wild Weasel’.
In 1988, operations at George AFB were phased down and all its aircraft were transferred to the 35th TFW in 1989.
In March 1990, 71-0247 was removed from service and parked in an aircraft maintenance and storage facility at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona.
Next, Holloman AFB in New Mexico needed a ground trainer, and 71-0247 was selected.
She was assigned to the Crash Damage or Disabled Aircraft Recovery (CDDAR) unit in July 1995. Remaining F-4s became target drones.
Over the years, 71-0247 was also used as a ‘floater’, an aircraft used for display, but without a fixed home on base.
By 2017, she was collecting dust in a hangar at Holloman, awaiting donation through the GSAXcess SASP system.
ABOUT THE F-4 PHANTOM (General)
The F-4 Phantom, built by McDonnell Douglas, ranks among the most important military aircrafts in the history of the United States, serving her country from Vietnam to Iraq. Sleek and powerful, this supersonic jet fighter in-spired awe in all who saw her in action.
The F-4 Phantom first took flight in 1958 and quickly set 25 world records in categories such as speed (reaching Mach 2.6) and altitude. Due to the aircraft’s impressive performance, the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps all flew the F-4.
Nearly 5,200 Phantoms were built from 1958 to 1981, making it the most-produced American supersonic military aircraft.
Soon after entering service, the F-4 was quickly swept away from the glory of record-breaking flights and was thrust into combat in Southeast Asia.
During the Vietnam War, the Phantom was successful at bombing enemy positions, dog-fighting with North Vietnamese MIG’s, and providing close air-to-ground support for the troops.
After Vietnam, the F-4 fighters continued to serve with US military forces around the world. Their next major conflict was Operation Desert Storm, where Air Force F-4G “Wild Weasel” Phantoms carried out strategic strikes against Iraqi military installations. Finally, in 1996 (nearly 40 years after its inception), the F-4 was retired from the role of combat. Air Force last flew the aircraft Dec. 21, 2016.
GROVE STEPS UP
The retirement of the F-4 Phantom fighters threatened to end any chance for people to see this aircraft that contributed so much to our country’s history.
However, concerned citizens in Grove, Oklahoma, stepped up to the challenge of saving 71-0247 for future generations. Members of the community worked together to secure the aircraft, plan for its transfer to Grove, and to seek private support for its display.
Ferra Aviation of Grove has donated property adjacent to its facility where the F-4E Phantom will be placed on display. The company will provide long-term general grounds maintenance, camera surveillance, lighting, and overflow parking for weekend F-4 events.
The Grove community offers a magnificent home base for 71-0247, while honoring the past and inspiring the future. The F-4 will be featured in Grove’s annual Veteran’s Day celebration. In addition, veteran organizations, Grove Rotary and Grove Civil Air Patrol have pledged support for the project.
SITE
A Memorial Display will commemorate the F-4E and recognize the donors. The eye-level static display of the F-4E offloads the landing gear. The F-4 itself honors those whose lives have been touched by the Phantom as well as those who seek to achieve their aspirations for as long as a person imagines what has not yet been accomplished, this aircraft will stimulate fire in the minds and hearts of present and future generations.
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR F-4!
The F-4 project needs your help to give the Phantom a new home in Grove. Our total fundraising goal is split into three phases:
• $15,000 for the initial site preparation.
• $45,000 for disassembling, transporting and reassembling the F-4. The aircraft must be taken apart at Holloman AFB, transported to Oklahoma, and reassembled in Grove.
• $40,000 for the development of the rest of the site, informational areas and donor display, sidewalks, benches, gardens, etc.
Donations may be made directly to the Grove Rotary Foundation, a 501(c)(3) entity. In the memo line, please indicate F-4. Mail check to:
Grove Rotary Foundation
P.O. Box 452286
Grove, OK 74345-2286
For more information, call:
Dave Helms (918) 786-4646
Pete Norwood (918) 791-1215
Our timing is tight, as the deadline to move the F-4 to Grove is early 2018.
Ferra has donated nearly an acre to the City of Grove per the GSAXcess SASP requirements. I hope you have been by the site as Bob Brogdon and Matt Walter Specialty Service are doing an absolutely awesome job. Matt Walter has completed the heavy equipment excavation and ground work, prepared the site making it ready for REC to drill the pier holes and then for Bru-Con to complete the concrete foundation with Longan Construction concrete. Once that is set, Miller Concrete Construction will be completing the concrete surface. Dave Helms and Mike Takkett are working on the mounts which will secure the F4E 71-0247 to the site.
We are expecting Grove’s F4E 71-0247’s arrival as early as next month, but she will certainly be here by the end of March. Prior to that she must be disassembled, cribbed on several supersized load trucks, permitted for transit from Holloman AFB to Grove, and moved. When the permits are granted, we will know the date of her arrival and we will notify the press and donor phone numbers. We would like everyone to be available to welcome her home. Please donate to help us bring her home!
With the help of Chandler Crane, it will then take an additional week to reassemble her on her site just east of Ferra Aviation & across from the Grove Airport Beacon water tower.
We then have the balance of the development of the rest of the site, informational areas and donor display, sidewalks, benches, gardens, etc. which we pray we will have the donations for prior to the dedication which will be in the summer.
