On this date in 1967, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, St. Louis, Missouri, delivered the 2,000th F-4 Phantom II to the United States Air Force. It was assigned to the 40th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing, at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
By mid-September, the Phantom II was being flown by Major Lloyd Warren Boothby and 1st Lieutenant George H. McKinney, Jr., of the 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron. Following a Rolling Thunder attack on railroad sidings at Trung Quang, the plane's wing was hit by anti-aircraft cannon shell. Boothby fought to keep it under control for as long as possible, but ultimately both pilots were forced to eject some 35 miles from their base. For their airmanship in trying to save their airplane, Boothby and McKinney were each presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross in a pre-dawn ceremony at Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base by President Johnson.
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