I did think it was brilliant to develop a way to mount an engine, apparently with no fans (as you can see all the way through) and just haul it with them. I am assuming it was a regular passenger flight, I couldn't tell from what was there.

Yes, I have heard the Phantom description several times. I know one Vietnam pilot was said to have told a newsman to pray that they do not get hit or have a flameout as it quickly becomes just a flying brick. Flying downwards. They also discovered that you had to strap on a gun to go to a gunfight, their smart missile just were not very smart. That was McNamara's brilliance there....