McDonnell Aircraft
![An FH-1 Phantom, in 1948.](/Images/godic/202501/26/FH-1_Phantom_in_flight_in_February_19482746.jpg")
![McDonnell F2H Banshee, F3H Demon, and F4H Phantom II.](/Images/godic/202501/26/F2H_F3H_and_F4H_McDonnell_fighters_in_flight_c19592746.jpg")
The McDonnell Aircraft Corporation was an American aerospace manufacturer based in St. Louis, Missouri. The company was founded on July 6, 1939 by James Smith McDonnell, and was best known for its military fighters, including the F-4 Phantom II, and manned spacecraft including the Mercury capsule and Gemini capsule. McDonnell Aircraft later merged with the Douglas Aircraft Company to form McDonnell Douglas in 1967.