Vietnam War: F-8 Crusader - "The Last Gunfighter"

Designed in the 1950s, the Vought F-8 Crusader (right) was the last American fighter designed with guns as its principle weapon. Developed by John Russell Clark, the F-8 possessed a unique look with a high, variable-incidence wing. Entering service in 1957, the F-8 quickly became the US Navy's top daytime fighter. With the American entry into the Vietnam War, the F-8 saw frontline service operating from American aircraft carriers. Though known for its guns, the F-8 generally depended on missiles such as the AIM-9 Sidewinder when dueling North Vietnamese MiGs. The fighter variant of the aircraft remained in service until 1976, with the photo version remaining in the fleet until 1987.

Photograph Courtesy of the US Navy