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Description
Although developed for the U.S. Navy, the Phantom was one of the first fighters to be adopted by multiple armed services. Because of its speed and maneuverability, the Phantom was extraordinarily popular with pilots. More than 5,000 were produced and flown by American and foreign armed forces.
Originally, the Phantom did not carry guns or cannons. Designers felt confident that cannons were unnecessary because the Phantom would carry longer-range Sparrow III and shorter-range Sidewinder missiles for air-to-air combat. The Phantom’s close encounters with North Vietnamese MiGs during the Vietnam War (1955–1975) sometimes proved them wrong. These experiences laid the groundwork for the next generation
of dogfighters, such as the F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Hornet, which were designed with internally mounted cannons.
The Phantom attained legendary status during the Vietnam War. It served with U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps squadrons, but it was too large and heavy for use aboard smaller Essex-class carriers like Intrepid. The actual air-to-air success rate of the Phantom is unclear. Both sides make vastly different claims regarding victories and losses. The U.S. Navy officially claims 40 victories to 7 losses in air- to-air-combat. On May 10, 1972, pilot Lt. Randy Cunningham and radar intercept officer Lt. (j.g.) William Driscoll shot down three North Vietnamese MiG-17 fighters. These victories, combined with two previous kills, made Cunningham and Driscoll the first aces of the Vietnam War.
This Phantom served with Marine squadron VMF-323 on combat standby during the failed Iranian hostage rescue mission of April 24, 1980.

Description
Although developed for the U.S. Navy, the Phantom was one of the first fighters to be adopted by multiple armed services. Because of its speed and maneuverability, the Phantom was extraordinarily popular with pilots. More than 5,000 were produced and flown by American and foreign armed forces.
Originally, the Phantom did not carry guns or cannons. Designers felt confident that cannons were unnecessary because the Phantom would carry longer-range Sparrow III and shorter-range Sidewinder missiles for air-to-air combat. The Phantom’s close encounters with North Vietnamese MiGs during the Vietnam War (1955–1975) sometimes proved them wrong. These experiences laid the groundwork for the next generation
of dogfighters, such as the F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Hornet, which were designed with internally mounted cannons.
The Phantom attained legendary status during the Vietnam War. It served with U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps squadrons, but it was too large and heavy for use aboard smaller Essex-class carriers like Intrepid. The actual air-to-air success rate of the Phantom is unclear. Both sides make vastly different claims regarding victories and losses. The U.S. Navy officially claims 40 victories to 7 losses in air- to-air-combat. On May 10, 1972, pilot Lt. Randy Cunningham and radar intercept officer Lt. (j.g.) William Driscoll shot down three North Vietnamese MiG-17 fighters. These victories, combined with two previous kills, made Cunningham and Driscoll the first aces of the Vietnam War.
This Phantom served with Marine squadron VMF-323 on combat standby during the failed Iranian hostage rescue mission of April 24, 1980.