I though this was a very well done scale model scene until I found the original photo in the NARA and zoomed in enough to see expressions on faces. It was taken 40 years ago today in the coldest stretch of the Cold War.
Official caption: “An elevated view of the refueling of an F-4E Phantom II aircraft undergoing maintenance. The aircraft belongs to the 81st Tactical Fighter Squadron, 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing. Spangdahlem Air Base, Rheinland-Pfalz, West Germany. 18 March 1985″
USAF Photo DFST8511926, National Archives Identifier 6389752
The photographer was TSGT Jose Lopez Jr., who was seriously skilled. NARA has over 200 images of his that are digitized and several of them are incredibly stirring, especially when you remember they were all snapped back in the analog manual camera days when you had to be in touch with your F-stops and film speeds.
Check these two out:
“An air-to-air right side view of two F-15 Eagle aircraft from Detachment 1, 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, passing the rear of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park.” January 1, 1988. DFST8808317. National Archives Identifier 6427662. TSGT Jose Lopez Jr.
“A moisture cloud forms on the wings of a 96th Bomber Wing B-1B bomber aircraft as the plane executes a tight turn.” March 9, 1987. DFST9110024. National Archives Identifier 6462842. TSGT Jose Lopez Jr.