F-4 Phantom II in USAF Service Quotes

“The F-110 designation was applied to the initial F-4 Phantom II variant operated by the USAF covering 29 F4H-1 (F-4B) carrier borne fighters loaned to the USAF by the USN for evaluation. In the early 1960’s the USAF was looking for a new tactical fighter, which came down to a fly-off competition between the Convair F-106 Delta Dart (then in USAF ADC service as an interceptor) and the USN McDonnell F4H-1 Phantom II. While the USAF traditionally opposed adopting naval fighter aircraft the Phantom II had obvious advantages over the F-106, being designed with true multi-role capability, whereas, the F-106 had been optimised for the interception role.”
― Hugh Harkins, F-4 Phantom II in USAF Service

“Specification   McDonnell F-110 Spectre (USN F-4B)   Engines: Two General Electric J79-GE-8A (or -8B) turbojets each rated at 17,900-lb thrust with afterburner Length: 58-ft 3-in Height: 16-ft 3-in Wingspan: 38-ft 4-in Weights: 54,600-lb maximum gross Maximum speed: 1,485-mph Cruising speed: 575-mph Service ceiling: 62,000-ft Range: 1,610-miles Armament: Around 16,000-lb of missiles, rockets and bombs. Air to air missiles included AIM-9 Sidewinder and AIM-7 Sparrow; air to surface missiles included AGM-12C Bullpup B and 2.75-in FFAR. A tactical nuclear free fall bomb could be carried and under wing external fuel tanks were sometimes carried depending on mission requirements Crew: Two”
― Hugh Harkins, F-4 Phantom II in USAF Service

“F3H-G/H mock up fitted with a miss-matched powerplant of a single J-65 and a single General Electric J79-2 engine then being developed for the Convair B-58 Hustler supersonic bomber. This variant, which did not progress beyond the mock-up stage, was a clear precursor to the F-4 Phantom II.”
― Hugh Harkins, F-4 Phantom II in USAF Service

“A pair of USN F-4B Phantom II’s prepares to catapult from a USN carrier. Selection of this USN fighter was a departure from normal practise for the USAF. USN”
― Hugh Harkins, F-4 Phantom II in USAF Service

“Development of the Phantom II began in 1953 when McDonnell began studying concepts for an all-weather naval strike fighter to replace the USN F3H Demon. The Demon was a starting point for the Phantom II studies with evolutionary growth variants of the later leading to the un-built F3H-(C), which was a 1953 proposal of an enlarged version of the F3H-2 to be powered by the J67-W-1 engine to produce a so called Super Demon. Further design studies led to the un-built F3H-(E) single seat, single engine fighter based on the Demon.”
― Hugh Harkins, F-4 Phantom II in USAF Service