Cancellation of F-111B (Naval Variant) - [excerpt from "Wings Over Water" (1986)]
4The historical documentary "Wings Over Water" was produced in 1986 by David Hoffman and broadcast multiple times on various PBS stations.
The film itself chronicled the evolution of United States naval aviation in addition to the various political ramifications affiliated with certain developments.
One component focused on the Secretary McNamara's micro-mismanagement of various components of the U.S. Defense industry which extended far beyond his own expertise, which included the misguided pressure upon both the U.S. Air Force and Navy to jointly adopt the General Dynamics F-111 as a multi-service fighter-bomber.
Accordingly, the F-111B proved woefully inadequate both for carrier usage in addition to fulfilling the Naval requirements for a frontline multi-role fighter.
Ultimately, it was the words of Admiral Thomas Connolly (interviewed above) at the Senate Armed Services Committee who, by his own admission, risked his own career by defying McNamara's recommendations and bluntly stating, "There isn't enough thrust in all Christendom to make a Naval fighter out of this airplane".