RF-4E Phantom II 7499 "The end of the Film" Hellenic AF 1953-2017

The 5th May 2017, on Larissa airbase was last day of flight for the Greek recce Phantoms, also it was the day of disbandment of the 348MTA (Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron).

The RF-4E Phantom II serial 69-7499 was painted black specially for the event, it received squadron colors, the "spook", a film along the wings and fuselage and the phrase : "The end of the film" as well as the silhouettes of historic aircraft flown by the 348MTA on tail and underside, (the F-84G, RT-33A, RF-84F and RF-4E).

It's important to note that the (69-7499) is an Ex-Luftwaffe RF-4E, who was already black painted in 1994 for the disbandment of AG-52, the closure of Lack AB (in northern Germany) and for the retirement of RF-4E in germany, it was numbered 35+52.

History of 348MTA :

The 348MTA was created in 1953 on Eleusis AB, north-west from Athens, and flew with F-84G specially equiped with cameras. It moved to Larissa on 1954, and never moved again.
From 1955, the F-84G's were replaced by RT33A's for few years before being transfered to French air force between 1956 et 1957 to be replaced by RF-84F.

The RF-4E Phantom arrived in 1978, and progressively replaced the RF-84F which flew until 1987. Between 1993 and 1994, the Luftwaffe delivered 27 of their RF-4E to Greece, all were taken on charge by the 348MTA at Larissa (several for parts).

From 2003, the electronic reconnaissance was integrated to 348MTA and a few RF-4E Phantom were equiped with ASTAC pod.

Beysides the military reconnaissance and intelligence missions, the Greek RF-4E flew for public utilities like the photographic missions over the wild fires.