the RAF's last Phantom FGR. 2 was XV 501 - "25th anniversary of the Phantom" Greenham Common IAT 1983

A couple of recently 'digitised' negatives in my collection  - this is XV 501 painted as 'B' of 23.Sq at the Greenham Common Air Tattoo on 23 July 1983. XV 501 was a 56 Sqn machine painted up for the "25th anniversary of the Phantom" celebration at the airshow. However, despite the Falklands Island crest, (close up below) it appears that the a/c never served in the Falklands if I've read Patrick Martin's individual a/c histories correctly. XV 501 was lost in France on 2 August 1988 while on detachment in Reims, crashing after going out of control in a dive. The crew ejected safely. Click to view large

".. Crashed 02/08/1988, marked as 'Bravo' on 56 Squadron. The pilot lost control of the aircraft when pulling out of a dive during a practice intercept with a French Mirage F1. The crew ejected (Flight Lieutenant D.Johnson and Flight Lieutenant Joe N. S. Hacke) and XV501 crashed near Mayenne, France (between Le Mans and Rennes) 56 Squadron were detached to Reims at the time.

XV 501 was the last F-4 M Phantom FGR.2 to be delivered to the RAF, arriving on 29 October 1969.."

via Matt Bantoft