An F-4F Phantom of the 20th FS based at Hollomon AFB in New Mexico makes a pass during the 2004 Reno National Championship Air Races at Stead Field in Nevada. The F-4 Phantom II is a two-seat supersonic all-weather fighter-bomber originally developed for the U.S. Navy by McDonnell Douglas. The Phantom flew in numerous variants in US service from 1960 to 1996 as well as the armed forces of 11 other nations. The F-4 could carry up to 18,650 pounds of weapons on nine external hardpoints, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, and unguided, guided, and nuclear bombs. The F-4 was designed when air-to-air missiles were expected to eliminate the need for close air combat and did not enter service with an internal cannon. However, air combat experience over North Vietnam revealed that a gun was needed and the 20 mm Vulcan cannon was added in the F-4E variant. The 20th Fighter Squadron of the 49th Fighter Wing, used by the German Luftwaffe for training, was inactivated on December 20, 2004.