The first two F-4EJs were US-built and arrived at Komaki on 25JUL71, as part of an order for 140 machines (the
remaining 138 were assembled/built by Mitsubishi), and the last F-4EJ(s/n.17-8440) was delivered on 20MAY81.
The type equipped the 301st (formed 16OCT73) to 306th (formed 30JUN81) Squadrons, and a few were allocated to
the Air Proving Wing. A total of 96 machines were up-graded to the F-4EJ-"Kai" standard during 1984-99.
On 30MAR97, the 8th Squadron was re-equipped with F-4EJ-Kai (from Mitsubishi F-1) and they had operated the
F-4EJ-Kai until 06MAR09. The 8th was fully re-equipped with Mitsubishi F-2 at the same time. A lot of Japanese
F-4s have already been retired from active service and there are only two F-4EJ-Kai squadrons (301st/302nd Sqdn)
are still in active service now (at the time of writing this text in 2013).
The standard color scheme was gloss light grey with white undersides during 1971-1992. In 1992 they changed the
standard color scheme for the F-4EJ in order to minimize visibility and their new scheme was two tones of matt
grey (dark & light grey) overall. The F-4EJs operated by the 8th Sqdn were painted in two tones of dark blue
overall. Unfortunately, I was not able to take any photos of F-4EJs in new grey nor blue paint scheme.
日本のマニアの皆様にとっては良くご存知のF-4EJですので、日本語での解説文は割愛させていただきます。
上の写真は1981年10月の百里航空祭で写しました。デモ飛行用の機体が一列に並んでいましたが、迷彩塗装が
まだ比較的珍しい時代でしたので大いに興奮したのを覚えています。
301st Squadron 第301飛行隊
Provisional F-4EJ Sqdn was forned at Hyakuri on 01AUG72, within 7th
Air Wing, with two F-4EJs at the beginning. The unit was re-organized
as Provisional 301st Sqdn, which became 301st Sqdn on 16OCT73. The
301st was a conversion training squadron from its creation. The 301st
was transferred from Hyakuri (7th Air Wing) to Nyutabaru (5th Air Wing)
on 02MAR85. The unit was re-equipped with F-4EJ-Kai in April 1991.
The 301st is still in active service with F-4EJ-Kai at Nyutabaru.
As mentioned above, the 301st was based at Hyakuri, which is located
near Mount Tsukuba, and it is famous for the many frogs living there
which have the special name of "Shirokuno-Gama". There are seven
black stars in the yellow muffler worn by the "Shirokuno-Gama",
which represent the "7"th Air Wing.
.
F-4EJ
37-8311
@ Hyakuri
18DEC73
F-4EJ
37-8308
@ Hyakuri
18DEC73
(above two photos)
I took the above photos at Hyakuri on 18DEC73, it was only one month after the 301st Sqdn was officially formed.
They did not carry their "frog" markings yet at that time. They started applying the frog marking from 1974.
(上2枚）第301飛行隊が編成されてわずか１ヶ月後の73年12月に百里で撮影したF-4EJの列線です。カエルの尾翼
マークはまだどの機体にも見られませんでした。カエルのマークは翌74年に採用されたはずです。列線の各機には
インテークにカバーが付けられていましたが、このシート状カバーはこの当時だけ使われていたように思います。
.
F-4EJ
57-8356
97-8423
@ Hyakuri
30OCT83
F-4EJ
47-8327
@ Hyakuri
05OCT79
F-4EJ
97-8419
@ Hyakuri
11DEC81
(above three photos)
Top photo shows formation take-off from Hyakuri in 1983. Middle and bottom photos show special F-4EJs with
orange fuselage band and orange wing tips. Such a colorful paint scheme was used for air combat manoeuvre
training purpose from 1978 through the 1980's. One interesting note is......the frog on #327 (at middle) is
facing a little downwards, while the frog on #419 (bottom photo) is facing a little upwards.
(上3枚）中段と下段の写真は視認性（識別性）向上のためオレンジの腹巻を付け、更に外翼もオレンジに塗った
F-4EJです。この２機の尾翼のカエルを良く見ると、327号機（中段写真）のカエルは元気なくちょっと下向きに
なっていますが、419号機（下段写真）のカエルは気分良く上を向いています。左面のカエルはどっちを向いて
いるのか興味のある所ですが、プラモのデカールを貼る時は実機写真をちゃんと確認する必要がありますね。
.
F-4EJ
67-8390
@ Hyakuri
25OCT81
F-4EJ
47-8330
@ Hyakuri
25OCT81
(above two photos)
These photos were taken at Hyakuri airshow in 1981. Top photo shows splinter pattern camouflage in blue-grey
over the standard paint scheme. This aircraft participated in the JASDF's annual fighter meet held in November
1980. The photo immediate above shows another camouflaged F-4EJ in dark blue on the forward fuselage over
the standard grey/white paint scheme. All under surfaces of the fuselage/wings of this a/c. were also painted in
dark bule, and you can notice the left main gear door painted in dark blue. Camouflage pattern on the right
fuselage/tail surfaces can be seen from the top photo of this page.....the #330 is seen at the most right.
(上2枚）いずれも81年の百里航空祭で写しました。390号機（上写真）は80年戦競に参加しています。330号機
（下写真）は写真に写っている左側面だけ見ると機首付近のみの迷彩に見えますが、逆の右側面では機首部分
を除きほとんどが青に塗られています。それはこのページの一番上に貼り付けた列線写真（右端の機体）に少し
写っています。本機は胴体と主翼の下面全体も青に塗られています。本機は戦競には参加していません。
.
F-4EJ
07-8433
@ Hyakuri
29MAY82
F-4EJ
07-8433
@ Hyakuri
29MAY82
(above two photos)
These two photos show the same F-4EJ (#433) which was photographed on the same taxi-way at Hyakuri on
the same day (29MAY82). The top photo shows the #433 taxing down to the runway for taking-off, and the
bottom photo shows the same #433 taxing back to the ramp after landing on the same day. So, you can
recognize the difference in its camouflage pattern between the two sides.
(上2枚）433号機の右と左の両側面を同じ日（29MAY82）に百里の『くノ一』で写しました。301飛行隊では
81年戦競にこの迷彩パターンを使いました。
.
F-4EJ
07-8435
@ Hyakuri
11DEC81
F-4EJ
37-8322
@ Hyakuri
11DEC81
(above two photos)
These two photos were taken on the same day (11DEC81) at Hyakuri. Camouflage patterns of these F-4EJs
were basically the same as #433 depicted above. I mean, the pattern on the #435 (upper photo) was the
same as the pattern of the #433 (two photos shown above). The camouflage pattern on the #322 (lower one)
was an inverted version of the above mentioned pattern. They participated the JASDF's annual Fighter
Meet held in 1981.
(上2枚）いずれも同じ日（11DEC81）に百里の『くノ一』で写しました。上２枚の写真を見ると両機は
別々の迷彩パターンのように見えますが、実際には左右反転した同一の迷彩パターンです。
.
F-4EJ
67-8387
@ Hyakuri
28OCT84
F-4EJ
67-8378
@ Hyakuri
29MAY82
(above two photos)
These two camouflage schemes were similar to each other, painted overall blue/grey. The #387 on the top
photo was painted in two (or three?) tones of blue overall. Also, it carried a personal artwork on the
inlet ramp....a cobra firing a gun. The under side of this #387 seems to be painted in darker blue....
you can recognize blue area around the lower side of the nose and also main gear door looks dark blue.
The #378 on the bottom photo was painted in matt bluish grey.
(上2枚）いずれも百里の『くノ一』で写しました。上写真の387号機にはインテークのランプにコブラの
パーソナルマークが描かれていました。機首のバルカン砲周りや主脚カバーが濃い目の青に塗られている
ようなので、定かではないんですが、胴体と主翼の下面全体は濃い目の青に塗られているように思います。
下段写真の378号機は、上の387号機に比べると青みの少ないグレー一色に機体全体が塗られている様に
見えますが、主翼の上下面（のどこか）に別トーンのグレーが使われているかも知れません。
.
F-4EJ
57-8354
@ Nyutabaru
26NOV89
F-4EJ
77-8397
@ Nyutabaru
26NOV89
F-4EJ
57-8369
@ Nyutabaru
26NOV89
(above three photos)
I took these three photos at Nyutabaru airshow in November 1989. The 301st Sqdn was transferred from
the 7th Air Wing (Hyakuri) to the 5th Air Wing on 02MAR85, but the tail marking (frog head) of the
squadron remained the same. The only small change was the number of black stars in the yellow muffler
worn by the frog. It used to have seven black stars, meaning the "7"th Air Wing, which controlled the
301st at the beginning. After transfer to the 5th Air Wing, the number of black stars changed from seven
to five, meaning the "5"th Air Wing. The top photo shows the standard grey/white paint scheme. The lower
two photos show special markings of shark mouth, big "Amigo" and a black tail. This marking was applied
on four F-4EJs of the 301st participated in the JASDF's annual Fighter Meet in 1989.
(上3枚）いずれも1989年の新田原航空祭で写しました。五空団に移動した後も筑波の『四六のガマ』は
尾翼マークとして継承されましたが、マフラーに描かれた黒星の数は7から5（五空団の意）に変更され
ました。下２枚の写真は89年の戦競に参加した特別塗装機です。良く見ると鮫口のデザインが各々少し
づつ異なっているようです。
.
302nd Squadron 第302飛行隊
302nd Sqdn was formed on 01OCT74 at Chitose, within the 2nd
Air Wing, with F-4EJ as a fighter interceptor squadron. The
302rd was transferred from Chitose (2nd Air Wing) to Naha
(83rd Air Group) on 26NOV85. The 302nd was re-equipped with
F-4EJ-Kai during 1993. The unit was again transferred from
Naha (83rd Air Group) to Hyakuri (7th Air Wing) in March 2009.
The unit is still in active service with F-4EJ-Kai at Hyakuri
The tail marking of the 302nd is a "white-tailed eagle" which
inhabits the high mountains in Hokkaido, where Chitose AB is
located. As mentioned above, the 302nd was formed at Chitise
at the beginning. The various parts of this stylized eagle form
the figures "302". The swept back wing form the figure "3",
the triangular tail forms the "0", and the talons form the figure "2". The unit moved from Chitose to Naha
and moved again to Hyakuri, but they still use Hokkaido's white-tailed eagle marking now.
.
F-4EJ
57-8353
@ Chitose
08AUG82
(above photo)
I took the above photo at Chitose airshow on 08AUG82. It was painted in standard grey/white scheme.
(上写真）82年の千歳航空祭で写しました。デモ飛行を終えてエプロンに戻る途中です。
.
F-4EJ
07-8432
@ Komatsu
08JUN82
F-4EJ
07-8432
@ Chitose
08AUG82
F-4EJ
07-8434
@ Chitose
08AUG82
(above three photos)
The top two photos show the same F-4EJ #432 in blue/grey camouglage. The false canopy was painted in
black and white around the nose gear door as seen on the top photo. Camouflage pattern shown on the
bottom photo was similar to the one of the #432 above. These camouflaged F-4EJs participated in the
JASDF's annual Fighter Meet held at Komatsu in June 1982.
(上3枚）いずれも1982年の戦競に参加した『濃い目』の迷彩機です。同隊には『薄い目』の迷彩機も82戦競
に参加しましたが、それらの写真は以下に掲載しました。上段と中段の写真では同じ432号機の右と左側面の
迷彩パターンを見て取れます。一番上の写真を見ると、バルカン砲部分は黒く塗られており、その後ろの前脚
カバーは白と黒で欺瞞キャノピーが描かれています。最下段写真の434号機は上の432号機と同じ色味の迷彩
ですが、パターンが少し異なっているようです。また434号機には欺瞞キャノピーの塗装がありません。最上段
の写真は82戦競が行われていた小松で、下２枚の写真は1982年の千歳航空祭で写しました。
.
F-4EJ
87-8415
@ Chitose
08AUG82
F-4EJ
47-8334
@ Chitose
AUG82
F-4EJ
07-8428
@ Komatsu
06JUN82
(above three photos)
These photos show the "lighter" version of the 1982 camouglage scheme. Two tones of light grey were
used for this camouflage and it was prepared for the JASDF's annual Fighter Meet held at Komatsu in
June 1982. Grey camouflage paint was sprayed over most of the stencils including "DANGER" and "JET
INTAKE" just forward of the inlet ramp.
(上3枚）いずれも1982年の戦競用に塗装された『薄い目』の迷彩機です。胴体上部の青みがかったグレーと
胴体下半分の薄いグレーとの境界線はギザギザ状に大きく波打っています。また、機体各部の注意書き類は
ほとんど塗り潰されています。インテークランプ前のJET INTAKEの赤帯まで消されています。最上段の写真
（415号機）は82年の千歳航空祭で、中段の写真はその航空祭前後に千歳のフェンスの外から、また最下段の
写真（428号機）は82戦競が行われていた小松で写しました。
.
F-4EJ
57-8373
@ Naha
18AUG89
F-4EJ
57-8354
@ Naha
18AUG89
F-4EJ
47-8345
@ Naha
18AUG89
(above three photos)
These photos were taken at their second home base "Naha", Okinawa in August 1989. The #373 on the
top photo was ready to taxi out with silver dart target under the left wing. The middle and bottom
photos show F-4EJs with blue fuselage bands and wing tips. These blue paint were used to increase
visibility during the air combat tarining. Please note.....the #354 (at middle) carried two blue fuselage
bands on the forward of the red turbine line, while the #345 (at bottom) carried one blue band just
forward of the red turbine line and the other blue band just aft of the turbine line.
(上3枚）いずれも1989年8月に302飛行隊の二番目のベースとなった那覇で写しました。一番上の373号機は
左翼下にダート標的をぶら下げて、今まさにタキシーアウトしようとしているところです。中段と下段に
写る２機のF-4EJは青の帯を巻き、外翼部も青に塗装されていますが、何故か腹巻の位置が両機で違います。
中段写真の354号機では両方の腹巻ともタービンラインの前方に巻いていますが、下段写真の345号機では
タービンラインを挟んでその前と後ろに腹巻をしています。
.
303rd Squadron 第303飛行隊
303rd Sqdn was formed on 26OCT76 at Komatsu, within the 6th
Air Wing, with F-4EJ as a fighter interceptor squadron. The
302rd was re-equipped with F-15J on 01DEC87, and the 303rd
is still in active service at Komatsu with F-15J.
Initial tail marking for the 303rd was a blue/orange/white marking,
which was a unified marking for the 6th Air Wing between 1978 &
1981. The following three photos depict F-4EJs with the unified
tail marking for the 6th Wing. This old marking was commonly
used by the F-104Js of the 205th Sqdn controlled under the same
6th Air Wing.
In June 1981, the 303rd began using their new marking as shown
at left. It is a green dragon on a light blue background. There
is a sacred mountain called "Hakusan" near Komatsu AB, the home
of the 303rd, and this green dragon is the guardian-god of the
sacred mountain "Hakusan". The green outline of this marking is
a stylized "6" representing the "6"th Air Wing.
.
F-4EJ
17-8439
@ Komatsu
22MAY81
F-4EJ
47-8340
@ Komatsu
02AUG79
F-4EJ
57-8368
@ Komatsu
22MAY81
(above three photos)
These photos show F-4EJs of the 303rd in standard gloss grey/white paint scheme with old (initial) tail marking.
Top photo shows a F-4EJ #439 on its final approach to Komatsu AB. Please note one AIM-7 Sparrow AAM under
the fuselage (forward right). A F-4EJ #340 (middle photo) was taxing back to the ramp after landing at Komatsu.
Please note a left wing tank with green camouflage on its upper surfaces. It could be borrowed from the RF-4E
(501st) Sqdn, or else an old USAF tank?? The bottom photo shows a F-4EJ #368 taxing back to the ramp after
landing. Please note a checkered fin painted in darker grey over the standard light grey. I do not know the
purpose (or meaning) of this checker tail.
(上3枚）いずれも小松で撮影した旧六空団マークを付けた標準塗装のF-4EJです。同隊は編成（26OCT76）当初
から１年半近く尾翼マークを付けていませんでしたが、78年5月頃より六空団の統一マークを付け始めました。
上段写真の439号機は胴体下の右前にスパローを付けています。中段写真の340号機は緑迷彩の増槽タンクを
左翼下に付けています。これは迷彩RF-4E用タンクなんでしょうかね？でも波型迷彩ではないのでUSAFのお古
なんでしょうか？下段写真の368号機は垂直尾翼全面が市松模様に塗られています。理由はわかりませんが。
.
F-4EJ
47-8328
@ Komatsu
17OCT81
F-4EJ
77-8397
@ Komatsu
17OCT81
(above two photos)
I took both of these taxing shots at Komatsu on 17OCT81. The 303rd Sqdn started using their DOAGON marking
in June 1981. Top photo shows the most colorful F-4EJ (#328) in the JASDF service. The outline of the orange
area viewed from the top represented the MiG silhouette, but this aircraft did not have any orange area on
under surfaces. Please note that the inboard portion of the stabilators (unpainted normally) was also painted
in orange. The lower photo shows a F-4EJ #397 camouflaged in two tones of bluish grey prepared for the JASDF's
annual Fighter Meet in 1981. The "V1" marking painted in light grey on the inlet ramp represented the the first
victory in the JASDF's annual Fighter Meet.
(上2枚）いずれも小松の誘導路脇で撮影した新しいドラゴンマーク（81年６月採用）付きのF-4EJです。上段
写真の328号機は当時マニアの間で大いに話題となったオレンジ色のMiGシルエット機です。下面にはオレンジ
塗装が無かったようです。下段写真の397号機は81戦競機ですが、インテークランプに"V1"のマークが見えます。
.
F-4EJ
47-8345
@ Komatsu
06JUN82
F-4EJ
37-8313
@ Komatsu
02MAY85
F-4EJ
77-8392
@ Komatsu
02SEP86
(above three photos)
I took all these taxing shots at Komatsu in 1982-86. The 303rd used grey overall scheme with shark mouth
markings on the nose for the JASDF's annual Fighter Meet during the early-mid 1980's. As you can compare
between the above three photos, there was not a standardized design for the shark marking. The JASDF's
camouflage paint was water-based paint, so the camouflage colors were easily weathered after several months.
The photos at middle and at the bottom shows grey camouflage scheme which was badly weathered. Please note
also that the white outline around the Japanese national roundel was painted over by the camouflage grey on
all three F-4EJs shown above. You can find a B-747 of All Nippon Airways in the back ground of the bottom
photo. Komatsu AB is controlled by the JASDF, but there is a civil terminal on the opposite side of the runway.
(上3枚）80年代前半から中頃にかけて、グレー迷彩に鮫口を描いた303飛行隊のF-4EJが良く見かけられました。
鮫口のデザインは幸い(ha-ha!!)統一性が無く、マニア的には色々なデザインのものを楽しめました。また日の丸
の白縁はだいたい迷彩グレーに塗り潰されていたと記憶しています。下段写真の392号機では、主翼下面は標準
塗装の白のままのように見えます。主脚カバーも白いです。退色もしくは剥離して下地の白が現われたのかも知れ
ませんが。
.
F-4EJ
47-8335
@ Hyakuri
07MAR86
F-4EJ
77-8401
@ Komatsu
25JUL86
(above two photos)
Colorful shark mouth appeared in the mid-1980's. Top photo is a grey overall F-4EJ with yellow & red shark
mouth taxing at Hyakuri AB for another training mission. White outline around the roundel was painted over
in camouglage grey. The bottom photos shows a F-4EJ in the standard grey/white scheme with red/white shark
shark mouth.
(上2枚）80年代中頃には色付きの鮫口が同隊に出現しました。上段写真は百里に移動訓練に来た335号機です。
全面グレーに黄色と赤の鮫口を付けています。日の丸の白縁は迷彩色で塗り潰してあります。下の写真は1986
年の小松航空祭で写しました。標準塗装機（非迷彩機）に鮫口を付けた機体は珍しく思いました。
.
F-4EJ
37-8319
@ Komaki
09NOV86
(above photo)
I took the above photo at Komaki airshow in November 1986. The aircraft was painted in the standard color
scheme of grey & white with a "Dragon" marking on the inlet ramp.
(上写真）86年の小牧航空祭に展示されていた319号機です。インテークランプにドラゴンのマークが見えます。