<hi style=afpcap>The early years of the Vietnam War taught the US Air Force a valuable lesson that the noble art of the close-in aerial engagement was far from gone. The USAF had placed reliance upon air to air missiles for their interceptors, although all too often the MiG fighters managed to perform evasion tactics, or operate in weight of numbers close to their home bases. The initial solution was to fit the SUU-16A gun on the centreline or underwing hard point of the F-4D. McDonnell Douglas was not slow to develop a version of the Phantom with an integral gun, which was produced in 1966 as the F-4E with a multi barrel Vulcan cannon installed in the nose. Leading edge manoeuvring flaps were fitted to enhance the air defence role. The F-4E entered service with Tactical Air Command in 1967 with deliveries also being made to units in South East Asia. As with the F-4D, the F-4E was also operated by the reserves.</hi>
