HISTORY

aircraft electrical power to the pods, so the ram air turbines

(RAT) originally used were replaced by dummy nose cones.

As the number of AN/ALQ-71 pods increased, USAF F-4D/Es

were also fitted with them beginning in April 1967. Initially

the F-4s were modified to carry the pods on other pylons than

the right outboard, but soon the strike aircraft began carrying

them in the front Sparrow wells, freeing up the other stations

for ordnance or fuel tanks.

The first F-4D unit to receive ECM pods was apparently the

Udorn RTAFB-based 432nd TRW. Prior to January 1968 they

carried at least one AN/ALQ-71. From January through March

1968, they carried two AN/ALQ-71 pods, one standard and

one SPECIAL.

Beginning in April 1968, Da Nang-based 366th TFW F-4D/

Es, which only flew in the southern part of North Vietnam

where the only threat was (wrongly) assumed to be AAA, were

fitted with a single AN/ALQ-71 pod. Since the pod formation

was only needed to counter the SAM threat, these aircraft

commonly flew in pairs.

Cat. No. 648491 AN/ ALQ-71(V)-2 ECM pod

Cat. No. 648492 AN/ALQ-71(V)-3 ECM pod

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INFO Eduard - December 2019

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