Since its first flight in May 1958, the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II proved to be a tough, rugged and excellent all-weather, air superiority fighter/bomber. From flying fleet defence missions during the Cuban Missile Crisis and performing as an air superiority fighter/bomber during the Vietnam War, to taking out Iraqi surface-to-air missile sites in the Wild Weasel role during Operation Desert Storm, the Phantom II did it all. Other nations have also benefited tremendously from the acquisition of export versions of this remarkable aircraft. Here Mark A. Chambers recounts an illuminating history of this truly unique aircraft’s design and development and relives its glorious record in the Vietnam War, various Arab-Israeli conflicts, the Cold War and Operation Desert Storm.
