June 29th, 2013 marked the end of an era. On this day the McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantom II was officially withdrawn from service within the LUFTWAFFE. The event was celebrated by an open day over the weekend at Wittmund Air Base, at that time home of JG-71. For the last time the F-4s were shown to the public in the air and on the ground. It was a challenge for us photographers to fight the weather as well as the crowd: more than 100.000 visitors flooded the base on that day.