F-4 Phantom

An F4 Phantom II In 1952 the US Navy wanted a carrier based interceptor. Mcdonnell Douglas responded and gave us the “Super Demon”. After some changes it was finished in the late 50's to early 60's as a fighter. What also changed was the name, several times actually. Now while it was a good jet, it wasn't good at dogfighting because they thought dogfighting was obsolete and didn't need a gun. But the skies over Vietnam were crowded to the point if you used missiles you might shoot a friend down. Due to the unfortunate combination of no guns, missile technology not that good at the time, a smoky trail and the fact it wasn't too terribly maneuverable as it was an interceptor pretending to be a fighter going against a fighter designed as a fighter meant several were lost. Despite that it was a fine jet, the Swiss army knife of planes(Bomber, Fighter, Interceptor, Reconnaissance and so much more) and was retired in the US in 1996 and other countries started retiring it