I flew the Mk2 and 2A between 1964 and 1968 and I too initially felt that it was a truly wonderful machine - well ahead of anything else at the time. However, in Germany we began to meet USAFE F4's and, even though they were severely handicapped by inflexible operating doctrine, I quickly realised that my truly wonderful machine lacked a decent weapons system as well as enough fuel to do something really useful. Yes, it was great to fly but not to win a war with.