F-4 static display struck by lightning

  • Published
  • By Capt. Penny Ripperger
  • 119th Wing
July 10, 2008 --  Fargo, N.D. -- The F-4 Fighting Phantom static display that is proudly displayed directly inside the main gate of the N.D. Air Guard base, 119th Wing was struck by lightning at approximately 8:00 a.m. this morning.

The aircraft's radome (ray-dome), which is located in the nose of the jet, was slightly damaged by the lightning strike. No one was injured in the incident.

The 119th Wing, at the time called the 119th Fighter Wing, successfully flew the F-4 from 1977 to 1990. The unit received many awards during the F-4 flying era, to include winning William Tell, a world-wide weapons meet in Florida in 1984.

Heritage Park, located south of the F-4 Static Display exhibits static displays of every aircraft flown by 119th Wing since the conception of the N.D. Air Guard in 1947.

The static displays at Heritage Park include: P-51 (1947-1954), F-94 (1954-1960), F-89 (1960-1966), F-102 (1966-1969), F-101 (1969-1977), F-4 (1977-1990) and the F-16 (1990-2007).

The current flying missions of the 119th Wing consist of the C-21 Lear Jet and the MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial System.

For more information about this media advisory, please contact Capt. Penny Ripperger, 119th Wing Public Affairs Officer, at 701-451-2194.