Grey USAF F-4s

[tigercat2]

In doing a bit of research on USAF F-4s, it seems that the very first F-4s (initally designated the F-110A) were delivered in the standard Navy scheme of gull grey with white underneath, and white rudders.  This was true for the first RF-4s, as well, as photos clearly show.  After a very short time, all F-4/RF-4s received the SEA scheme, and kept this scheme for many years.  There were also Euro I schemes and Hill Grey schemes, IIRC.

In the 80s, a number of ANG units painted their F-4s with what seems like ADC Grey overall, it seems.  Are both of these assumptions correct; Navy scheme in the early days and ADC grey (same color as F-106s and F-101Bs) towards then end of their service.


Wes W.

[nev]

Yes, they had ADC grey in the late 70s/early 80s (and that goes for some active USAF units as well - the 57th FIS out at Iceland wore it (and wore it well)).  But ANG units also wore Euro I and Hill Grey colours as the 80s became the 90s.

[tigercat2]

Thanks very much for the answer.  Here is a related question; sometimes you see photos of F-89s and F-104s in a very light grey, as opposed to NMF in the late 60s.  Was the grey used for these ADC grey or some other shade?


Wes W.

[anthonyp]

Yes, they had ADC grey in the late 70s/early 80s (and that goes for some active USAF units as well - the 57th FIS out at Iceland wore it (and wore it well)).  But ANG units also wore Euro I and Hill Grey colours as the 80s became the 90s.

Quite right.  I've got some pics of 171st F-4D's in Hill Grey scheme.  Their markings even looked smoking hot in low-vis 

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Just happened to be researching 111the FIS F-4C's at the moment - and was on the Texas ANG website earlier this evening. Their first 'grey F-4's' received after the F-101B's in 1982, were the standard FS16473 (often called ADC Grey but the actual name of the shade is 'Aircraft Grey' - a JMZ type moment, I know but I only found-that-out this evening m'self !!). Later in 1986 a few of the F-4C's were repainted in the three-tone Hill Grey 1 scheme, later still between 1986 and 1989 they were issued F-4D's, all of which were painted Hill Grey 1.

Yes the 'Aircraft Grey' you see on very late F-89J's, F-104's and some F-100C's (NM ANG) etc, is the same tone. This tone has also erroneously been referred to as 'anti-corrosion grey', especially when referred to in illustrations of 'export' F-104G's (and TF-104's).

HTH

Ian - awash in Xtracolour 'ADC Grey' at the moment !

[nev]

IS that the same grey worn by F-104Js out of Okinawa then?  I've seen that referred to as "anti-corrosion" because they spent so much time flying overwater.

[upnorth]

IS that the same grey worn by F-104Js out of Okinawa then?  I've seen that referred to as "anti-corrosion" because they spent so much time flying overwater.

I thought that was aluminum laquer, not  a shade of grey.

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

At the risk of hi-jacking Wes's thread:

Post war anti corrosion coating was/is an aluminium 'paste' suitably thinned and sprayed - in certain lighting conditions and in some b/w photos it could easily be mistaken for an overall grey or even white. Later this year I'll be building a 'Bitburg' F-105 in precisely this finish. The JASDF F-104J's wore a number of grey schemes right at the end of their operating lives, Nev, but for most of their lives they were either unpainted, in the aforementioned anti-corrosion aluminium finish or wore 'FS16473' (the upper wings were almost always glossy white, even on unpainted aircraft I'm not certain, but I'd guess that was something to do with heat reflection).

Just to add to the mix VERY early prototype and production P-80A's (and one of prototype YF-86A's) were painted in glossy 'Pearl Grey' which was simply to give the aircraft a few more MPH !! - Haven't got a clue what ANA/FS number that would be, though 

Ian

[tigercat2]

Thanks so much to everyone for these great answers!!  One more grey-related question; many transport aircraft in the late 60s and 70s were grey, or at least a part of them.  I am thinking of EC-121s, C-131s, HC and WC-130s and C-141s (these were grey with white tops).  Did all of these aircraft use "ADC Grey"?  I know that the present C-130 scheme is "AMC Proud Grey", which is different from ADC Grey. 

I have a 1/72 EC-121 that I want to do; I am thinking that overall ADC Grey with orange day-glow would look pretty good.


Wes W.

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

Yep FS16473 for your Connie will be correct..... One more from my memory - USAF, FAC tasked OV-10's O-1's & O-2's all wore a matt version (FS36473) of the same colour..... OK, I'll stop now.....

Ian

[Geoff]

The gloss white upper wings on the unpainted F-104's was to improve the airflow IIRC.

[Radish]

Some F-4Ds (and possibly F-4Cs) as well, had the tan areas of the SE Asia camo repainted in SAC Green. This has proved "controversial" and I've done quite a bit of research on this, some of it "primary" as i corresponded with a Crew Chief from the 48th TFW who confirmed it all. There have been a number of these triple-green F-4s in photos and also on Xtradecal sheets.

[Radish]

Also, some of the HILL GREY F-4s of the ANG/AFRES had variations....check out the Texas ANG as well as the Alabama ANG?

[tigercat2]

Another F-4 question:  In the excellent book "Phantom" by Stewart Wilson, on page 137 there is a color photo of F-4C-20-MC  63-7637 in what seems to be a very attractive light blue/medium blue scheme.  Can't tell from the photo if this is an ANG bird, but I just found a reference on the internet at http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=172092&pid=1635877&mode=threaded&start=
that states that these birds were from the  122 TFS in the LA ANG.  Very interesting scheme, as you can see from this photo.

Wes W

[Radish]

Looks like it could be from the Arkanswas ANG or Texan ANG.