The other Phantom squadron is 501 Hikotai and they operate all the RF-4EJ Kai’s in JASDF service. Some are original RF-4EJ’s upgraded to Kai standard and about 17 more are F-4EJ fighters converted to RF-4EJ Kai standard. It’s confusing because despite the same designations, all the fighter conversions retain their fighter nose and their sensors are carried in three types of pods externally. Here’s a photo of one of the original recce birds in 501 Hikotai markings with the Woody Woodpecker badge that the unit is so well-known for. If you ever see what seems to be an F-4EJ fighter in the same camo that means it is a converted RF-4EJ Kai serving with 501 Hikotai.

There is no confusion, emmm maybe only in the Western press :P. All original RF-4 are simply designated RF-4E by the JASDF were delivered straight from St. Louis. This has been confirmed by several members in the F4ej board, some of whom work on the plane.

DJ or others

Just wondering had the Yu Avion Novi combat aircraft come into fruition what designation and name be given to it. Were there plans to arm it with French AAMs ?

Had to ask out of curiosity.

I heard the RF-4EJ had the 20mm removed. Can anyone confirm this ?

Looks like AN/AVQ-26 Pave Tack

Ok..lets try to work something out 😉
Actually they are many publications out there that actually refer to Japanese birds as RF-4E’s. If you have access to Koku-Fan Magazine, you can notice they always had them called RF-4E’s. Several issues of Air International also make a distinction between the RF-4E, RF-4E Kai and RF-4EJ Kai. I manage to dig out 2 issues, Jan 96 and May 98 both covering the JASDF. All Japanese websources also never call the RF-4E’s as EJ’s, they are completely different variants. Take a look at some of them:

http://homepage1.nifty.com/KWAT/list/jasdf/f-4ej.htm
http://www.f-4ej.com/squadron/501sq.htm <–f-4ej.com’s 501 Hikotai page
http://www.f-4ej.com/index2.htm
http://www.jda.go.jp/jasdf/equipment/index.html# <–Official JASDF website

Non-japanese sites:

Even Joe Baugher called them RF-4E’s although he also used RF-4EJ(confusion?)
http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/f4_47.html
http://www.scramble.nl/jp.htm

I only notice RF-4EJ being used to describe the original 14 airframes once in a western publication, the Phantom Story. Can’t blame books like that and “Spirit of the Skies” for making this error(typo perhaps ?) since they try cover every variant of the F-4. Now i must try get this book since i am a big F-4 fan myself.

That’s the first I’ve ever heard of them being called RF-4E’s instead of EJ’s…..

If I’m not mistaken at least a few F-4EJ’s were built in the USA, and yet still called F-4EJ’s……..

The ultimate reference work on the Phantom entitled “McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom: Spirit In The Skies” even makes it a point to mention how both the RF-4EJ fleet and several F-4EJ’s that were modified to recce standards are all called RF-4EJ Kai……

Regarding the Israeli RF-4’s I’m not sure if that was possible because of the fact that on all RF-4 variants the Sparrow missile wells are faired over…..

Not sure about “Spirit in The Skies” as i haven’t read it. The first 2 F-4EJs were assembled at St Louis but are called EJs because they are of a similar standard to MHI examples.

The original Japanese RF-4s never had the EJ, they are simply called RF-4E and the upgraded version RF-4E Kai. Most publications i read and f-4ej.com always refer them as RF-4E. I do notice Jbaugher’s calling them RF-4EJ but most japanese sources don’t agree.

I still cant find any details on Sparrow well IR missile pylons for IAF Phantoms. There is even mention of the Vulcan being replaced by a pair of 30mm DEFAs.

Matchbox kits!

I had some 1/72s back in the day. As far as i can remember they had like 3 ranges. The small 2 color kits(Spitfire, Alphajet), medium and large box tri color kits(Viggen, F-4). I remember alot of them were still in production back in the 90s.

I had the F-4M/K, F-14A, AJ-37, Wellington, Spit IX, Tempest, AlphaJet, Skyservant and some of the armour. I think i still have some of the boxes.

The fictional Japanese SF-4JII 😀

http://www3.ocn.ne.jp/~tac1991/sf4j22.html