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Welcome to Wikipedia,the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.2,389,375 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 850-foot (260 m) Commerzbank Tower (pictured) is the tallest building in the European Union?… that the discovery of a celt with Indus script in Tamil Nadu in 2006 was regarded by epigraphist Iravatham Mahadevan as the “greatest archaeological discovery of a century in Tamil Nadu”?… that Russian right-wing politician Nikolai Markov tried to convince Germany to contribute to a conspiracy to re-instate the House of Romanov after the post-World War I revolutions?… that the first live television broadcast viewed on a moving train was on October 7, 1948, when passengers on the B&O Railroad’s Marylander saw the second game of the 1948 World Series?… that the 1994 Bolivia earthquake was the largest earthquake ever recorded with a focal depth greater or equal to 300 km (190 mi)?… that Bucks point lace is a bobbin lace from the East Midlands in England with both floral and geometric designs?… that paleoecologist Heinz Lowenstam discovered that living organisms can produce magnetite within their bodies?… that the Omaha Star building housed the DePorres Club after they were asked to leave Creighton University because of their activism in Omaha’s civil rights movement?Archive – Start a new article…In the newsEthiopia’s Supreme Court sentences former ruler Mengistu Haile Mariam to death in absentia for his role in the Red Terror.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.The Union of South American Nations, a supranational union modelled on the European Union, is founded in Brasília.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…