The Spanish F-4 Phantom II fighters, their tanker aircraft and the sad end of many of them

Spain operated 40 F-4C Phantom II fighters and 18 RF-4C reconnaissance aircraft

The Spanish F-4 Phantom II fighters, their tanker aircraft and the sad end of many of them

@DefAviation Esp 4·02·2025 · 22:23 0

I'm a big fan of the Spanish Air Force's EF-18 Hornet fighters, but I like to remember the old glories that preceded them.

The Spanish phantoms of Torrejón: the two Phantom II aircraft preserved by the 12th Wing
KC-97 Stratotanker, the first military aerial refueling aircraft that Spain had

One of Spain's most memorable historical fighter aircraft was the McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II, the Spanish Air Force's first twin-engine jet fighter. This aircraft is still operated by two NATO member countries, Greece and Turkey. This Wednesday, Fly By Wire Aviation published a video showing images of this fast, powerful and noisy fighter, as well as one of the tanker aircraft that was responsible for its in-flight refueling, the Boeing KC-97L Stratotanker. A video full of nostalgia:

The Spanish F-4C and RF-4C

Spain received 40 F-4C Phantom II fighters and 18 RF-4C reconnaissance aircraft. The first F-4C of the initial batch of 36 arrived in February 1971. This aircraft replaced the F-104G Starfighters of the 12th Wing, based at Torrejón de Ardoz (Madrid). The fighters were operated by the 121st and 122nd Squadrons, while the RF-4C reconnaissance aircraft were assigned to the 123rd Squadron.

The F-4C Phantom II C.12-19 in the foreground. Behind it is the F-104G Starfighter C.8-12, and behind it we see the RF-4C CR.12-55. Today they are preserved by the 12th Wing at Torrejón Air Base (Photo: Ejército del Aire).

Four F-4Cs were lost in accidents, after which Spain purchased four more to replace them. The F-4Cs were retired from service in 1989, after 28 years in service, being replaced by the EF-18 Hornet. The RF-4Cs remained in service until 2002.

The RF-4C CR.12-55 (12-64), preserved at Torrejón Air Base, with the grey paint applied in Spain (Photo: Ejército del Aire).

KC-97L Stratotanker tanker aircraft

To be able to refuel these aircraft (the only ones Spain has ever had that require the boom system), at the end of 1972 the USAF transferred three Boeing KC-97L Stratotanker tanker aircraft to the Spanish Air Force. These aircraft were assigned to the 123rd Squadron in that Wing and remained in service until March 1976.

Boeing KC-97L Stratotanker (TK.1-3/123-03) tanker aircraft used by the Spanish Air Force between 1972 and 1976. It is located at the Cuatro Vientos Air Museum in Madrid (Photo: Elentir).

The F-4C and RF-4C preserved today in Spain

Today, some of these lucky aircraft are on display in museums or as monuments. The F-4C C.12-37 (12-29), the RF-4C CR.12-42 (12-51) and the KC-97L TK.1-3 (123-03) are on display at the Cuatro Vientos Air Museum. In Torrejón, Ala 12 has two aircraft on display and restored: the F-4C C.12-19 (12-15) and the RF-4C CR.12-55 (12-64).

The F-4C Phantom II C.12-37 (12-29), preserved at the Cuatro Vientos Air Museum in Madrid. Behind it is the RF-4C CR.12-42 (12-51), from the 123rd Squadron (Photo: Elentir).

In addition, at the Catalonia Aeronautical Park, in Sabadell (Barcelona), there is the F-4C C.12-26 (122-13). Likewise, The F-4C C.12-02 is displayed as a memorial at Torrejón Air Base in Madrid, in a roundabout. The F-4C C.12-36 (122-18) and the RF-4C CR.12-46 (12-55) are also displayed in the same way at the base. According to El Viajero Histórico in 2017, six other Spanish F-4s are on display as monuments in Getafe (the F-4C C.12-33 12-33), Zaragoza (the F-4C C.12-34 122-17 and the RF-4C CR.12-47 12-56), Málaga (the RF-4C CR.12-49 12-58), the EADS-CASA factory in Seville (the RF-4C CR.12-51 12-60) and Antigüedad(Palencia, the RF-4C CR.12-48 12-57).

The F-4C C.12-02 (12-01), preserved as a monument in a roundabout at the Torrejón Air Base, in Madrid (Photo: Elentir).

According to the same source, at that time there were ten F-4s in storage at Torrejón Air Base, specifically six F-4Cs: C.12-14 (12-10), C.12-18 (12-14), C.12-20 (12-16), C.12-29 (12-22), C.12-32 (122-16) and C.12-39 (12-31), and four RF-4Cs: CR.12-44 (12-53), CR.12-45 (12-54), CR.12-56 (12-64) and CR.12-58 (12-67). In addition, two RF-4Cs were cut off and their noses are used in exhibitions, the CR.12-52 (12-61) and the CR.12-57 (12-66).

The F-4C and RF-4C used as targets in the Bardenas

On the other hand, at the Bardenas shooting range in Navarre, there are 18 F-4Cs: C.12-03 (12-02), C.12-04 (12-03), C.12-07 (12-04), C.12-08 (12-05), C.12-09 (12-06), C.12-10 (12-07), C.12-11 (12-08), C.12-12 (12-09), C.12-15 (12-11), C.12-16 (12-12), C.12-17 (12-13), C.12-22 (12-17), C.12-23 (12-19), C.12-27 (12-20), C.12-28 (12-21), C.12-30 (12-15), C.12-38 (12-30) and C.12-40 (12-32), and three RF-4Cs: CR.12-41 (12-50), CR.12-43 (12-52), CR.12-50 (12-59). These aircraft are used as targets in shooting practice by the Spanish Air Force. A sad end for such a formidable aircraft. You can see here some photos of these aircraft published on the Bardenas Air Barracks website.