Williams, Nicholas M. Douglas F4D-1/F-6A Skyray

The radical tailless F4D Skyray built by Douglas in the early 1950s was the product of flying wing research work originally done by Jack Northrop and Germanys Alexander Lippisch of Me-163 fame. Since no horizontal tail was present, longitudinal and lateral control was maintained by trailing edge elevons that functioned as both elevators when used together, and as ailerons when used opposite one another. These were supplemented with a set of wing root "trimmers".
This carrier fighter interceptor was originally scheduled to be powered by the J40 which proved inadequate and thus entered the Fleet with the J57 instead. The F4D Skyray set World 3 km and 100 km speed records and Time-to-Climb records. As an intercepter it was armed with four 20mm wing mounted canons supplemented with rocket pods and later Sidewinder missiles. It was operated for about 10-years until 1964 by 29 Navy squadrons and testing units and 11 Marine squadrons and units.

These were supplemented by a series of wing root "trimmers".
This aircraft carrier-based interceptor was originally intended to be powered by a J40 engine, but this proved inadequate, so it was accepted into the U.S. Navy with the J57 instead. The F4D "Skyray" set world speed records for 3 km, 100 km and climb flights. As an interceptor, it was armed with four wing-mounted 20 mm cannons, which were supplemented by rocket pods and later by Sidewinder missiles. It was used by 29 Navy squadrons, test units and 11 Marine Corps squadrons for about 10 years until 1964.