In 1958, McDonald Aircraft Corporation delivered a prototype, twin engine, supersonic, all-weather, long range fighter - a design the US Navy could not ignore. The F-4 Phantom was designed for a new age of warfare. Rather than nimble aerial dogfighting, the F-4 would use advances in radar and missile technology to engage enemy aircraft from beyond visual range. It would go on to become the most produced American jet fighter in history and a cold war icon. It would also later end up in British service.

Please note - at 2.33 mins into the video, the presenter references an F-86 Super Sabre. The footage shows an F-100 Super Sabre.

At 1:58 there is a brief shot of an F15 cockpit.

Watch another video in this series, on the Hawker Hunter aircraft, here:
   • Why this 1950s British fighter was st...  

To see the Phantom F-4 up close, visit IWM Duxford. Plan your visit:
https://www.iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-dux...

Explore and license the film clips used in this video from IWM Film:
https://film.iwmcollections.org.uk/my...

This video contains photos courtesy of the following individuals and organisations:

Gojanovic123456789
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan...

German Federal Archive
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bu...

Tourbillon
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...

This video also contains archive material from the U.S. Department of Defence (DoD). The appearance of U.S. Department of Defence (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.

Follow IWM on social media:
  / i_w_m  
  / imperialwarmuseums  
  / iwm.london