S. Korea's F-4 Phantom fighter jets retire after 55 years of service

55년 임무 끝내는 '도깨비' 팬텀… 오늘 퇴역

It’s time to say goodbye, to South Korea’s F-4 Phantom fighter jets.
After 55 years of safeguarding the country's airspace, the Phantoms have now retired and become history.
Our defense correspondent Choi Min-jung gives the highlights of the retirement ceremony.

An era has come to an end, as South Korea's F-4 Phantom fighter jets completed their final flights over the Korean Peninsula.

A fleet of Phantoms took off from their home base in Suwon on Friday, marking an end to 55 years of dedicated service.

Also called the "Goblin of the Sky", the first Phantoms joined the Republic of Korea Air Force in 1969.
And since their first introduction, the South Korean Air Force has operated a total of around 2-hundred Phantoms.

In his congratulatory remarks, Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, said these jets were a game changer, which boosted the nation's defense capabilities against threats posed by North Korea.

"South Korea, the fourth country in the world to introduce the Phantoms, was able to immediately overwhelm North Korea's air power. Since then, North Korea's air force has been no match. The past 55 years with the Phantom have been a history of victory for South Korea."

Lee Jae-woo, a retired major general who was among the pilots who flew the first fighter jets over the Pacific Ocean to Daegu Air Base in 1969, was at the site to say farewell.

"My last words for the Phantom. Goblin of the Sky. Goodbye Phantom, farewell Phantom."

The farewell ceremony ended with the Defense Minister awarding the Phantoms an honorable discharge to commemorate their retirement.

The event also featured congratulatory flights by the Phantom's successors, including the F-16, the KF-16, the FA-50, as well as the Black Eagles aerobatics team.
Choi Min-jung, Arirang News.

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2024-06-07, 18:00 (KST)