On the 31^st of August 1973 the first of two McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantom II landed at the Luftwaffe airbase in Wittmundhafen. Almost exactly 40 years later, the flyout of this aircraft took place at the FIGHTER SQUADRON 71 ” RICHTHOFEN “. The workhorse of the German Air Force was replaced in a solemn ceremony by the more modern weapon system Eurofighter EF-2000. The very last unit which operated the F-4F was the JG 71 “R” which was therefore one of the last operators of this legendary combat aircraft (current status of countries still flying the F-4 : Turkey, Greece, Japan and Iran). No more reason is required to have a closer look at the history and the career of the McDonnell Douglas F-4F in the service within the Luftwaffe.