McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom

This F-4C Phantom II depicts one of the most iconic configurations of the Vietnam War: the asymmetric armament as flown during Operation Bolo, under the command of Col. Robin Olds. The payload tells a story of deception and air combat tactics: three AIM-9B Sidewinders, four AIM-7E Sparrows, an ALQ-161 ECM pod, and a jettisoned fuel tank that evokes the intensity of combat. It is precisely this asymmetry that underscores the realism of the mission, in which F-4s masqueraded as F-105s to lure MiG-21s into a deadly ambush.