On this date in 1962, the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation delivered the first F-110A Spectre to the United States Air Force. The F-110A was intended to continue the "Century Series" but under pressure from Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, the USAF and US Navy aircraft designation systems were combined into a single scheme resulting in the F-1 to F-11. President Kennedy requested Congressional approval for the procurement of Navy F4H-1 derivatives for the Air Force under the designation F-110. The USAF F-110A and US Navy F4H-1 became F-4C and F-4B respectively.
Above, Sanford N. McDonnell hands over the keys to the first F-110A Spectre to Colonel Gordon Graham and Colonel George Laven, USAF, at the McDonnell plant at St. Louis, Missouri.
