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Welcome to Wikipedia,the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.2,389,830 articles in EnglishArtsBiographyGeographyHistoryMathematicsScienceSocietyTechnologyAll portalsOverview · Editing · Questions · HelpContents · Categories · Featured content · A–Z indexToday’s featured articleThe F-4 Phantom II is an American two-seat, twin-engined supersonic long-range all-weather fighter-bomber originally developed for the U.S. Navy by McDonnell Aircraft. The Phantom remained in production from 1958 to 1981, with a total of 5,195 built, and was used by the U.S. military from 1960 to 1996, serving with the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and U.S. Air Force. It was used extensively by all three U.S. services operating in Vietnam, ending the war as the principal air superiority fighter for both the Navy and Air Force, as well as being important in the ground-attack and reconnaissance roles. The Phantom continued to form a major part of U.S. military air power throughout the 1970s and 80s, being gradually replaced by more modern aircraft such as the F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon in the U.S. Air Force and the F-14 Tomcat and F/A-18 Hornet in the U.S. Navy. It remained in service in the reconnaissance and Wild Weasel roles in the 1991 Gulf War. The Phantom was also operated by the armed forces of 11 other nations. Israeli Phantoms saw extensive combat in numerous Arab–Israeli conflicts, while Iran used its large fleet of Phantoms in the Iran–Iraq War. Phantoms remain in front line service with seven countries, and in use as an unmanned target in the U.S. Air Force. (more…)Recently featured: Nguyen Ngoc Tho – Stanley Cup – LionArchive – By email – More featured articles…Did you know…From Wikipedia’s newest articles:… that the suit of armour on the effigy of Sir Ralph Fitzherbert (pictured) has been reproduced as a Second Life avatar?… that mathematician Paul Erdős called the Hadwiger conjecture, a still-open generalization of the four-color problem, “one of the deepest unsolved problems in graph theory”?… that the 1975 film Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris starred theater and cabaret stars Elly Stone and Joe Masiell in their only film performances?… that more than 5 million people died of starvation or disease in the Southern India famine of 1876–78?… that neo-Nazi politician and member of the Bundestag Fritz Rössler, who resembled Adolf Hitler, had a habit of attending parliament drunk?… that Muscatatuck State Park was the first Indiana state park to need no additional financial assistance, even through it never charged admission?… that Paris-based Naye Prese was the sole Yiddish-language communist daily newspaper in Europe during the interbellum period?… that the Crown Point Light, constructed as a conventional lighthouse, was rebuilt in 1912 as a monument to Samuel de Champlain’s explorations?Archive – Start a new article…In the newsEthiopia’s Supreme Court upholds an earlier conviction made in absentia of former ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam for his role in the Ethiopian Red Terror; however his sentence was changed from life imprisonment to death.NASA’s Phoenix (artist’s impression pictured) lands on Mars, the first successful powered descent on the planet in over 30 years.In rugby union, Munster defeat Toulouse to win the Heineken Cup.The Lebanese Parliament elects General Michel Sleiman, commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces, to the six-month-vacant post of president.Dima Bilan wins the Eurovision Song Contest for Russia with “Believe”.The International Court of Justice awards Pedra Branca to Singapore and Middle Rocks to Malaysia, ending a 29-year territorial dispute between the two countries.Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events…On this day…May 27: Children’s Day in Nigeria1153 – Malcolm IV became King of Scotland at the age of twelve.1703 – Russian Tsar Peter I founded Saint Petersburg after reconquering the Ingrian land from Sweden during the Great Northern War.1860 – Expedition of the Thousand: Giuseppe Garibaldi (pictured) and his Redshirts launched their attack on Palermo, capital of the Two Sicilies.1923 – French racing drivers André Lagache and René Léonard won the first running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans near Le Mans, Sarthe, France.1937 – The Golden Gate Bridge, at the time the world’s longest suspension bridge span, connecting the City of San Francisco to Marin County, California, opened.1942 – Operation Anthropoid: Czech resistance fighters in Nazi-occupied Prague ambushed and mortally wounded Reinhard Heydrich, the chief of Reich Security Main Office and the Protector of Bohemia and Moravia.More events: May 26 – May 27 – May 28Archive – By email – More anniversaries…Today’s featured pictureTwo racers cross the finish line of the 250cc class at the 2007 Swifts Creek lawn mower races. In this motorsport, competitors race modified lawn mowers, usually of the ride-on or self-propelled variety. Original mower engines are retained but blades are removed for safety. Lawn mowers have also been used in kart racing, a different sport.Photo credit: Fir0002Recently featured: Queen Wilhelmina and Princess Juliana – Kinhyōshi yōrin – Wayne GretzkyArchive – More featured pictures…