Jon, McNamara's multi-service fighter dream was really the F-111. The F4 predated McNamara and while McNamara pressured the Air Force to utilize the F4 which was already in use by the USN and USMC, his real goal was to develop a new airframe capable of being used by all seervices. The Navy wisely decided not to play the F-111 game but it was a costly move for Vice Admiral Thomas Connolly the DCNO for Air Warfare who testified before Congress that the F-111 was not a suitable naval fighter aircraft. The nickname for the F14 (Tomcat) was a tribute to Connolly. Rick