The Turk Hava Kuvvetleri (Turkish Air Force, or THK for short) became an important Phantom user during the 1970s. The first Turkish orders were for 40 new-build F-4Es acquired in fiscal year 1973 under the project name Peace Diamond III.

The Phantoms were delivered to Turkey beginning in August of 1974, initially equipping 161 Filo (squadron) of 6 Ana Jet Us (Jet Air Base, or JAB). This outfit later re-equipped with the F-16C Fighting Falcon, and its Phantoms were passed along to 7 Air Base at Erhac, where they replaced F-5As in Filo 171 and 172. Filo 173 later joined 7 JAB as the operational conversion unit.

Initial crew training took place at Eskisehir with 1 JAB, but this unit disbanded by 1987.

An additional order for 32 more new-build F-4Es and eight RF-4Es was issued in Fiscal Year 1977, also under the terms of Peace Diamond III. These planes were issued to 111, 112, and 113 Filo of JAB 1 based at Eskisehir. 111 and 112 Filo got the F-4Es, with 113 Filo getting the RF-4Es.

Subsequent to the delivery of the newly-built Phantoms to the THK, several batches of retired USAF F-4Es were obtained, starting with the Peace Diamond IV program. These planes were intended to cover for attrition and to re-equip new squadrons. These planes were issued to Filo 131 and 132 of 3 JAB, based at Konya. This wing had previously flown F-100Ds and had been a training unit, and the arrival of Phantoms in 1988 allowed it to become an active-duty combat unit. 15 Phantoms were delivered from June 1981 to form 173 Filo, 15 in mid-1984, 15 in 1986, and a final batch of 40 in June-October 1987.

As payment for its support of US goals during the Gulf war, Turkey has received an additional 40 ex-USAF Phantoms, starting with an an initial delivery of four planes on March 25, 1991.

THK Phantoms have a code painted on their fuselages since 1999. The first digit in the code is the JAB (wing) to which the aircraft belongs, followed by the last 3 digits of the USAF serial number. For example, THK RF-4E "1-312" is RF-4E serial number 77-0312 belonging to the 1ci Ana Jet Us, based at Eskisehir.

The following is a list of the USAF serial numbers of the planes known to have been delivered to Turkey. This list includes both Phantoms delivered to Turkey as new builds, plus those used Phantoms transferred to Turkey from USAF stocks. 

66-0284/0297

McDonnell F-4E-31-MC Phantom

0292 to Turkey in 1991

0293 to Turkey in 1982

0297 to Turkey in 1987

66-0298/0338

McDonnell F-4E-32-MC Phantom

0300 to Turkey in 1987

0301 to Turkey in 1987

0303 to Turkey in 1987

0304 to Turkey in 1987

0305 to Turkey in 1986

0307 to Turkey in 1984

0309 to Turkey in 1987

0312 to Turkey in 1982

0314 to Turkey in 1987

0317 to Turkey in 1987

0318 to Turkey in 1984

0320 to Turkey in 1987

0323 to Turkey in 1986

0328 to Turkey in 1991

0333 to Turkey in 1987

0336 to Turkey in 1987

66-0339/0382

McDonnell F-4E-33-MC Phantom

0339 to Turkey in 1987

0344 to Turkey in 1987

0345 to Turkey in 1987

0346 to Turkey in 1986

0351 to Turkey in 1987

0354 to Turkey in 1987

0355 to Turkey in 1987

0359 to Turkey in 1991

0361 to Turkey in 1987

0370 to Turkey in 1987

0373 to Turkey in 1982

0374 to Turkey in 1982

0379 to Turkey in 1987

67-0208/0219

McDonnell F-4E-33-MC Phantom

0208 to Turkey in 1984

0210 to Turkey in 1987

0215 to Turkey in 1982

0216 to Turkey in 1984

0217 to Turkey in 1984

0218 to Turkey in 1987

67-0220/0282

McDonnell F-4E-34-MC Phantom

0221 to Turkey in 1984

0222 to Turkey in 1986

0226 to Turkey in 1987

0227 to Turkey in 1982

0230 to Turkey in 1987

0232 to Turkey in 1987

0233 to Turkey in 1984

0248 to Turkey in 1984

0251 to Turkey in 1982

0258 to Turkey in 1984

0259 to Turkey in 1982

0262 to Turkey in 1982

0268 to Turkey in 1987

0269 to Turkey in 1987

0272 to Turkey in 1987

0273 to Turkey in 1986

0274 to Turkey in 1987

0280 to Turkey in 1987

67-0283/0341

McDonnell F-4E-35-MC Phantom

0283 to Turkey in ???

0285 to Turkey in 1987

0290 to Turkey in 1984

0298 to Turkey in 1987

0301 to Turkey in 1991

0302 to Turkey in 1987

0304 to Turkey in 1982

0318 to Turkey in 1986

0321 to Turkey in 1986

0331 to Turkey in 1986

0334 to Turkey in 1986

0336 to Turkey in 1982

0338 to Turkey in 1982

67-0342/0398

McDonnell F-4E-36-MC Phantom

0342 to Turkey in 1984

0344 to Turkey in 1987

0354 to Turkey in 1987

0360 to Turkey in 1991

0372 to Turkey in 1991

0376 to Turkey in 1991

0387 to Turkey in 1984

0389 to Turkey in 1986

0391 to Turkey in 1991

0395 to Turkey in 1991

0396 to Turkey in 1991

0398 to Turkey in 1991

68-0303/0365

McDonnell F-4E-37-MC Phantom

0303 to Turkey in 1991

0307 to Turkey in 1987

0308 to Turkey in 1991

0313 to Turkey in 1987

0319 to Turkey in 1987

0346 to Turkey in 1991

0347 to Turkey in 1991

0350 to Turkey in 1987

68-0400/0409

McDonnell F-4E-38-MC Phantom

0400 to Turkey in 1991

0403 to Turkey in 1991

0409 to Turkey in 1991

68-0418/0433

McDonnell F-4E-39-MC Phantom

0427 to Turkey in 1991

68-0438/0451

McDonnell F-4E-39-MC Phantom

0446 to Turkey in 1991

0448 to Turkey in 1987

68-0458/0468

McDonnell F-4E-40-MC Phantom

0461 to Turkey in 1991

68-0473/0483

McDonnell F-4E-40-MC Phantom

0473 to Turkey in 1992

0474 to Turkey in 1991

0482 to Turkey in 1991

68-0495/0498

McDonnell F-4E-41-MC Phantom

0498 to Turkey in 1991

68-0526/0538

McDonnell F-4E-41-MC Phantom

0532 to Turkey in 1991

69-7579/7589

McDonnell F-4E-45-MC Phantom

7585 to Turkey in 1991

73-1016/1027

McDonnell F-4E-56-MC Phantom

new builds for Turkey, 1973

73-1028/1042

McDonnell F-4E-57-MC Phantom

new builds for Turkey, 1973

73-1043/1055

McDonnell F-4E-58-MC Phantom

new builds for Turkey, 1973

77-0277/0300

McDonnell F-4E-65-MC Phantom

new builds for Turkey, 1977

77-0301/0308

McDonnell F-4E-66-MC Phantom

new builds for Turkey, 1977