F-4N Phantom II

One of the most widely used and capable warplanes in history–it established 12 world records when first introduced–the F-4 was originally intended to intercept Soviet bombers at high altitude with missiles.  The Vietnam War forced a shift in its operations as it attacked targets on the ground and engaged in dogfights with enemy fighters.  The museum’s display aircraft shot down a North Vietnamese MiG-19 in air-to-air combat on May 18, 1972.