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Aegean Patrol II

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   Two  McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom of 339 All Weather Squadron on patrol above a cloudy Aegean.

    The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is a tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor fighter/fighter-bomber originally developed for the United States Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. It first entered service in 1960 with the U.S. Navy. Proving highly adaptable, it was also adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Air Force, and by the mid-1960s had become a major part of their respective air wings.
   The Phantom is a large fighter with a top speed of over Mach 2.2. It can carry more than 18,000 pounds (8,400 kg) of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground missiles, and various bombs. The F-4, like other interceptors of its time, was designed without an internal cannon. Later models incorporated a M61 Vulcan rotary cannon. Beginning in 1959 it set 15 world records for in-flight performance, including an absolute speed record, and an absolute altitude record.

    In 1971, the Hellenic Air Force ordered brand new F-4E Phantoms, with deliveries starting in 1974. In the early 1990s the Hellenic AF acquired surplus RF-4Es and F-4Es from the Luftwaffe and U.S. ANG. Following the success of the German ICE program, on 11 August 1997, a contract was signed between DASA of Germany and Hellenic Aerospace Industry for the upgrade of 39 aircraft to the very similar "Peace Icarus 2000" standard. The Hellenic AF operates 34 upgraded F-4E-PI2000 (338 and 339 Squadrons) and 12 RF-4E aircraft (348 Squadron) as of September 2013. (Source: Wikipedia)

    The 339 All Weather Squadron was formed on July 7 1952, at Elefsis airbase, as the 339 Fighter Bomber Squadron and equiped with F-84G aircraft. In August 1959 the Squadron received the new F-84F and redeployed to Larissa airbase. In April 1960 it redeployed to the Nea Anchialos airport at 111 Combat Wing. In March 1971 it redeployed to Andravida airport at 117 Combat Wing where it is based till today. In 1973 it redeployed temporarily to Araxos airport at 116 CW, in order to  perform necessary infrastructure works at Andravida for the reception of the F-4E Phantom II. After the works’ completion at 117 CW, the 339 Sqn returns and integrates in its force the new aircraft, and was renamed to 339 All Weather Intercept Squadron. In September 1978, the Sqn takes on as its main role the Fighter Bomber mission and as secondary the Intercept. In February 1982 it assumes as a main role the Intercept and as a secondary the Fighter Bomber. (Source: HAF)

    Created with C4D, rendered with Maxwell, PP with Photoshop.
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Neptune83's avatar

Great picture. I love it the use of color and composition.

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