Luftwaffe F‑4F Phantom II 37+12 captured on a dramatic low‑level run.
photographed by Stuart H Bourne.
© Stuart H Bourne / Quality Aviation Photos International.
Photograph of McDonnell Douglas F‑4F Phantom II 37+12 in service with the Luftwaffe (German Air Force). Delivered in 1972 (c/n 4376), this aircraft was part of the first batch of 175 F‑4Fs built specifically for West Germany under NATO agreements. The F‑4F was a simplified version of the F‑4E, optimized for air defense duties and later upgraded under the ICE (Improved Combat Efficiency) program.
During its career, 37+12 served with several front‑line wings including JG 72 “Westfalen” at Hopsten and JBG 35 at Pferdsfeld, flying NATO QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) missions and participating in major exercises across Europe. In the early 1990s, it was among the Phantoms to overfly Berlin after reunification, symbolizing the Luftwaffe’s renewed role in a united Germany.
Withdrawn from service in the early 2000s as the Eurofighter Typhoon entered Luftwaffe squadrons, 37+12 was eventually retired and scrapped, though it remains well‑documented in enthusiast archives. Today, surviving Luftwaffe Phantoms can be seen at the Luftwaffenmuseum Berlin‑Gatow and other German collections, preserving the legacy of this Cold War icon.
