The F-4 Phantom II is a twin-engine tactical fighter bomber that was manufactured by McDonnell Douglas between 1958 and 1981. Originally designed for the U.S. Navy, it was also a major part of the air fleet for the Marine Corps and the Air Force. The most produced American supersonic military aircraft in history, the F-4 was manufactured using asbestos-containing parts throughout its entire history of use. Exposure to the carcinogenic material put pilots, aircraft mechanics, production and supply chain workers, and many others at risk of being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and other serious asbestos-related diseases.
About the F-4 Phantom II
The F-4 Phantom II was a high-altitude interceptor that relied on radar-guided missiles for offense. It had a well-earned reputation as a superior aircraft and established over a dozen world speed, altitude, and time-to-climb records. In addition to needing a pilot, the F-4 Phantom II required a Radar Intercept Officer to operate its advanced weapon systems and sensors. Though it was originally created for the U.S. Navy, the plane also served the Marines and the Air Force, and has been used in airshows by both the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds.[1]
The F-4 could carry over 18,000 pounds of weaponry, which is twice the normal load of its predecessor, the World War II-era B-17 bomber; it generally carried several air-to-air missiles for self-protection and eight bombs along with its external fuel tanks. The plane was also equipped with an internally mounted 20mm multi-barrel gun.[2] It had a range of 2,300 miles, a service ceiling of 62,000 feet, and a maximum speed of 1,495 miles per hour at 48,000 feet. Between 1958 and 1979, there were 5,195 F-4 Phantom IIs manufactured by McDonnell Douglas, ranking it second only to the MiG-21 in overall production of military aircraft.[1]
History
The F-4 Phantom II was developed for the U.S. Navy by McDonnell Aircraft after the company had approached them with proposals for a modular aircraft that could be fitted differently for different missions; though the Navy ordered a mock-up of the design, it ultimately decided that it had no need for another supersonic fighter, and instead provided the company with its requirements for an all-weather fighter bomber that could serve as a fleet defense interceptor and that could accommodate a second person to operate the plane’s radar system. After three years of development, the Phantom II had its introductory flight in 1958.[2]
The jet underwent multiple modifications over the years, and in 1963, it was introduced as part of the U.S. Air Force’s fleet after Defense Secretary Robert McNamara’s demand that there be a unified fighter jet for all branches of the U.S. military. During its years of use, the Phantom set 16 world records, including a zoom climb to a world record of 98,557 feet in 1959, several speed records, and a series of time-to-altitude records.[2]
The F-4s were largely used during the Vietnam War; the Air Force used them in air-to-air missions against North Vietnamese fighters as well as for attacking ground targets. In addition to having been used by the Navy and Air Force, it was also flown by the Marine Corps and played a vital role during the Cold War and in Desert Storm. The F-4 Phantom II was officially retired for use by the U.S. military in 1996, though there are still dozens currently in operation in other countries.[2]
How Was Asbestos Used in the F-4 Phantom II?
Today, asbestos is recognized as a carcinogenic material, but in the years between the 1930s and the 1980s, its dangers were not public knowledge. Though many companies that included asbestos in their products were aware of its link to multiple respiratory diseases, they kept this information about the inexpensive material quiet so they could maximize their profits. Unaware of the dangers and valuing asbestos’s characteristic resistance to fire and heat and its insulating properties, the U.S. military specified its inclusion in multiple applications, including its aircraft. The use of the material was meant to protect service members but ended up leading to many being diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases.
The F-4 Phantom II was built using many asbestos-containing parts. Asbestos was used in its insulation and released from its hot air engine ducts. It was a component of clamps on hydraulic lines, insulating blankets, and parts of the General Electric jet engines that powered them. Court documents have indicated that the government required the use of asbestos-containing materials in areas that required high temperature and fluid resistance.[3]
The F-4 Phantom II’s construction included many parts that contained asbestos, and repairs of the plane also used asbestos-containing materials. Products that posed a risk of asbestos exposure included:
- Engine insulation
- Electrical wiring
- Brake systems and lining
- Cockpit heating systems
- Engine heat shields
- Torque Valves
- Gaskets
- Cargo bay insulation
- Fuselage
- Landing gear
- Sealants
- Adhesives
In addition to the products that were used to build the aircraft, jet mechanics who worked on maintenance and repairs of the planes were frequently outfitted with protective clothing and blankets that contained asbestos.
Who Was Exposed to Asbestos Installed in the F-4 Phantom II?
Because asbestos was used in the F-4 Phantom II’s engines, brake systems, and insulation, the individuals who were at the greatest risk of asbestos exposure from the jets were the mechanics who were responsible for maintaining and repairing the planes. The most basic operational processes put Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps mechanics at risk of disturbing the carcinogenic fibers contained in brake pads and electrical wiring, and once these invisible microscopic fibers were disturbed, they became airborne and were easily inhaled or ingested. Those particles, once embedded in the body’s cells, created inflammation that led to scarring, genetic mutations, and deadly tumors.
Though mechanics were at the greatest risk of asbestos exposure from the F-4 Phantom II, many other veterans and civilian personnel were also at risk after manufacturing, operating, or working on the jets. These include:
- Aircraft handlers
- Aircraft mechanics
- Aerospace engineers
- McDonnell Douglas and Boeing employees
- Firefighters
- Electricians
- Communications repair workers
- Supply chain workers
- Navy veterans
- Air Force veterans
- Marine Corps veterans
In addition to all of these personnel having been put at risk of occupational asbestos exposure, the inclusion of the carcinogenic material in the Phantom II jets also created a risk of secondary exposure to asbestos for their children and spouses. Many workers whose hair, skin, or work clothes became contaminated with the material on the job unknowingly carried the dangerous mineral’s fibers into their homes.
There have been a tragic number of women who have died of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases after having spent years shaking asbestos dust off of their husband’s work clothes before laundering them and, in the process, inhaling the deadly particles that contaminated the air in their laundry room.
How Does Asbestos Sicken Those Exposed to It?
Asbestos is a mineral whose use has come at a deadly price. Though it has been prized for centuries for the physical and chemical attributes that make it strong yet flexible and impervious to chemicals, heat, and flame, it is highly toxic, and inhaling or ingesting its fibers has been linked to multiple serious and deadly diseases, including:[4]
- Asbestosis – scarring in the lungs caused by breathing asbestos fibers
- Pleural disease – a non-cancerous lung condition in which the membrane surrounding the lungs and chest cavity becomes thickened, and fluid builds up around the lungs
- Lung cancer – a malignant tumor that invades and blocks the lung’s air passages
- Malignant mesothelioma – a rare and fatal form of cancer of the membrane that surrounds the cavity that holds the organs of the chest or of the abdomen
Asbestos has also been linked to other types of cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD.)
What to do if You Were Exposed to Asbestos from the F-4 Phantom II
If you’ve been exposed to asbestos from having built, flown, or worked on the F-4 Phantom II, you have good cause for concern. Though the material has not been used for over forty years, and your exposure may have been decades ago, asbestos-related diseases like malignant mesothelioma have extremely long latency periods – for many victims of asbestos exposure, fifty or sixty years pass before their symptoms begin to appear.
Though you can’t do anything to stop an asbestos-related disease from developing after having been exposed, you can take action to educate yourself about the symptoms and ensure that, should they appear, you are diagnosed quickly and receive the appropriate treatment. Make sure that your healthcare professional is aware of your exposure so that they can monitor you appropriately and include asbestos-related disease in their differential diagnosis of any health problems that you develop in the future.[4]
Compensation for Those Affected by Asbestos from the F-4 Phantom II
Being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease is frightening, confusing, and infuriating, but there is help available. The Department of Veterans Affairs has created several important and helpful resources for veterans who were exposed to the material during their service; many of the VA treatment centers offer specialized care for malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer, and you may also be eligible for special disability compensation and benefits.
Beyond the services provided to you as a veteran, you may also be eligible to pursue legal action seeking compensation from the asbestos companies that exposed you to the toxic material. The best way to determine whether you are eligible to file a lawsuit is by seeking help from an experienced asbestos attorney. These knowledgeable professionals have extensive resources that can help you identify all of the sources of your exposure and inform you of your options. You may also be able to file claims with some of the asbestos trust funds that were set up by companies that were forced into bankruptcy by their asbestos liabilities.
Though being diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease like malignant mesothelioma can be overwhelming, you need to begin investigating your choices quickly. No matter where in the United States you live, your state has what is known as a statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit. This statute places a limit on how long personal injury victims have in which to file a claim against those they hold responsible for the harm that they’ve suffered. Once this date has passed, you will no longer be eligible to pursue the justice you deserve, so the earlier you contact a mesothelioma lawyer, the more options you’ll have.
References
View All References
