The McDonnell Douglas F-4C Phantom II served with the
Spanish Air Force thanks to the renewal, in August 1970 of the mutual defence pact between the United States and Spain. Which, under the operation "Peace Alpha" 36 second-hand airplanes were delivered, together with three KC-97L Stratotankers, and two C-97 Stratofreighters. Initially the Spanish Air Force's technical commision declared their preference for the F-4E, but the economical restrictions forced the acceptance of the F-4C, which was older than the F-4E. The delivered airplanes had served in the
United States Air Force with the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing in the bases of the United Kingdom and they arrived first in Spain in February 1971 and, by 1972 all 36 of them had already been delivered. They were assigned the denomination of C.12 in the Spanish Air Force and served until 1989, after serving intensely and having various accidents during the 1970s.
It was to recover those loses to accidents that, more of F-4C and RF-4C (which were dessignated CR.12) were adquired and delivered from the 363rd Reconnaissance Wing. Them all were replaced in 1989 by the McDonnell Douglas EF-18B Hornet which are still in active service.
Sources:
1. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_F-4_Phantom_II#Espa.C3.B1a (translated)
2. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters
