The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo is a
supersonic
Supersonic speed is the speed of an object that exceeds the speed of sound (Mach 1). For objects traveling in dry air of a temperature of 20 °C (68 °F) at sea level, this speed is approximately . Speeds greater than five times ...
jet fighter designed and produced by the American
McDonnell Aircraft Corporation.
Development of the F-101 began in the late 1940s as a long-range
bomber escort (then known as a
penetration fighter
The term penetration fighter has been used to describe a long-range fighter aircraft designed to penetrate enemy air defences and attack defensive interceptors. The concept is similar to the escort fighter, but differs primarily in that the aircr ...
) for the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
's (USAF)
Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command (SAC) was a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile compon ...
(SAC). It was also adapted as a
nuclear
Nuclear may refer to:
Physics
Relating to the nucleus of the atom:
*Nuclear engineering
*Nuclear physics
*Nuclear power
*Nuclear reactor
*Nuclear weapon
*Nuclear medicine
*Radiation therapy
*Nuclear warfare
Mathematics
* Nuclear space
*Nuclear ...
-armed
fighter-bomber
A fighter-bomber is a fighter aircraft that has been modified, or used primarily, as a light bomber or attack aircraft. It differs from bomber and attack aircraft primarily in its origins, as a fighter that has been adapted into other roles, wh ...
for the USAF's
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command (TAC) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Lang ...
(TAC), and as a
photo reconnaissance aircraft. On 29 September 1954, it performed its
maiden flight
The maiden flight, also known as first flight, of an aircraft is the first occasion on which it leaves the ground under its own power. The same term is also used for the first launch of rockets.
In the early days of aviation it could be dange ...
. The F-101A set world speed records for jet-powered aircraft, including airspeed, attaining per hour on 12 December 1957.
Delays in the
1954 interceptor project led to demands for an interim
interceptor aircraft
An interceptor aircraft, or simply interceptor, is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically for the defensive interception role against an attacking enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Aircraft that are c ...
design, a role that was eventually won by the F-101B Voodoo. This role required extensive modifications to add a large radar to the nose of the aircraft, a second crew member to operate it, and a new weapons bay using a rotating door that held its four
AIM-4 Falcon
The Hughes AIM-4 Falcon was the first operational guided air-to-air missile of the United States Air Force. Development began in 1946; the weapon was first tested in 1949. The missile entered service with the USAF in 1956.
Produced in both heat- ...
missiles or two
AIR-2 Genie rockets hidden within the airframe until it was time to be fired. The F-101B entered service with USAF
Air Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command was a major command (military formation), command of the United States Air Force, responsible for air defense of the continental United States. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air De ...
in 1959 and the
Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...
(RCAF) in 1961. While the Voodoo was a moderate success, it may have been more important as an evolutionary step towards its replacement in most roles, the
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an American tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber that was developed by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy.Swanborough and Bower ...
, one of the most successful Western fighter designs of the 1950s; the Phantom would retain the twin engines, twin crew for interception duties, and a tail mounted well above and behind the jet exhaust, although it was an evolution of the
F3H Demon while the Voodoo was developed from the earlier
XF-88 Voodoo.
The Voodoo's career as a fighter-bomber was relatively brief, but the reconnaissance versions served for some time. Along with the USAF's
Lockheed U-2
The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed the "''Dragon Lady''", is an American single-engine, high–altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force (USAF) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) since the 1950s. Designed for all- ...
and US Navy's
Vought RF-8 Crusaders, the RF-101 reconnaissance variant of the Voodoo was instrumental during the
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis, also known as the October Crisis () in Cuba, or the Caribbean Crisis (), was a 13-day confrontation between the governments of the United States and the Soviet Union, when American deployments of Nuclear weapons d ...
and saw extensive service during the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
.
Interceptor versions served with the Air National Guard until 1982, and in Canadian service, they were a front line part of
NORAD
North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD ; , CDAAN), known until March 1981 as the North American Air Defense Command, is a combined organization of the United States and Canada that provides aerospace warning, air sovereignty, and pr ...
until their replacement with the
CF-18 Hornet
The McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet (official military designation CF-188) is a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) variant of the American McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter aircraft. In 1980, the F/A-18 was selected as the winner of the New ...
in the 1980s. The type was operated in the reconnaissance role until 1979. The US
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia (United States), militia of each U.S. ...
operated former USAF Voodoos until 1982. The RCAF Voodoos were in service until 1984.
Design and development
Background and XF-88

Initial design on what would eventually become the Voodoo began in June 1946 in response to a USAAF Penetration Fighter Competition launched just after
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
.
[Greenhalgh 1979, p. 1.] This competition called for a long-range, high-performance fighter to escort a new generation of bombers, similar to the wartime role of the
North American P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in 1940 by a team headed by James H. Kin ...
in escorting the
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is an American four-engined heavy bomber aircraft developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). A fast and high-flying bomber, the B-17 dropped more bombs than any other aircraft during ...
es and
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and some initial production aircraft were laid down as export models desi ...
s across contested airspace.
McDonnell was among several companies to respond to the competition; their design benefitted from
recently captured German research into high-speed jet aircraft.
[Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 1-2.][Davies 2019, pp. 6-7.]
On 14 February 1947, McDonnell was awarded a contract (''AC-14582'') to produce a pair of prototypes, designated
XF-88 Voodoo.
[Francillon 1979, pp. 460–461.][Knaack 1982, p. 135.] The first prototype (serial number ''46-6525''), which was powered by two 3,000 lbf (13.3 kN)
Westinghouse XJ34-WE-13 turbojet
The turbojet is an airbreathing jet engine which is typically used in aircraft. It consists of a gas turbine with a propelling nozzle. The gas turbine has an air inlet which includes inlet guide vanes, a compressor, a combustion chamber, and ...
s, flew from
Muroc on 20 October 1948.
[Angelucci and Bowers 1987, p. 304.][Greenhalgh 1979, p. 2.] Preliminary testing revealed that while handling and range were adequate, the top speed was a disappointing 641 mph (1,032 km/h) at sea level.
[Francillon 1979, p. 461.] After fitting McDonnell-designed afterburners to the second prototype, thrust was increased to 3,600 lbf (16.1 kN) with corresponding performance increases in top speed, initial rate of climb, and reduced takeoff distance. Fuel consumption also increased, reducing range.
[Davies 2019, pp. 7-8.]
The XF-88 won the "fly-off" competition against the competing
Lockheed XF-90 and
North American YF-93. But the
detonation of the first nuclear weapon by the
Soviet Union
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
led the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
(USAF) to raise the priority of interceptors and reduce that of bomber escorts, and it terminated the Penetration Fighter program in 1950.
[Dorr and Donald 1990, pp. 146, 148.][Davies 2019, p. 8.] Another factor in the termination was budgetary limitations.
Analysis of
Korean War
The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...
missions, however, revealed that contemporary USAF strategic bombers were vulnerable to fighter interception. In early 1951, the USAF issued a new requirement for a bomber escort, to which all major US manufacturers submitted designs.
[Knaack 1982, pp. 135-136.] The McDonnell design, a larger and higher-powered version of the XF-88, won the bid in May 1951. Six months later, the redesigned F-88 was designated F-101 Voodoo.
[Peacock 1985, p. 76.][Knaack 1982, p. 137.]
Enlarged design
The new design was considerably larger, carrying three times the initial fuel load and designed around larger, more powerful
Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojets.
[Francillon 1979, p. 538.] The greater dimensions of the J57 engines required modifications to the engine bays, and modification to the intakes to allow a larger amount of airflow to the engine. The new intakes were also designed to be more efficient at higher Mach numbers. In order to increase aerodynamic efficiency, reduce structural weight and alleviate
pitch-up phenomena recently identified during flight testing of the
Douglas D-558-2 Skyrocket, an aircraft with a control surface configuration similar to the XF-88, the horizontal tail was relocated to the top of the vertical stabilizer, giving the F-101 its signature "T-tail". In late 1952, the mission of the F-101 was changed from "penetration fighter" to "strategic fighter", which entailed equal emphasis on both the bomber escort mission and on nuclear weapons delivery. The new Voodoo mock-up with the reconfigured inlets, tail surfaces, landing gear, and dummy nuclear weapon was inspected by Air Force officials in March 1953.
[Knaack 1978, pp. 137–138.] The design was approved, leading to an initial production order for 29 F-101As being placed on 28 May 1953. No prototypes were required as the F-101 was considered to be a straightforward development of the XF-88,
[Francillon 1979, p. 539.] with the
Cook-Cragie production policy, in which initial low-rate production would be used for testing without the use of separate prototypes, chosen instead.
[Peacock 1985, p. 78.][Knaack 1982, p. 136.]
Changing roles and into production

Despite securing an order for the type, McDonnell received a stop order for production on 16 April 1954; this was due to a substantial cutback in funding for the USAF in general. Meaningful production activity was not resumed until a favourable instruction was received by the company on 2 November 1954.
[Greenhalgh 1979, p. 5.] At this point, the USAF gave McDonnell an operational deadline of early 1957.
[Knaack 1982, p. 138.]
The first production aircraft, F-101A serial number ''53-2418'', performed its maiden flight on 29 September 1954 from
Edwards AFB; during this flight, it attained a maximum speed of at an altitude of .
[Francillon 1990, p. 141.] This aircraft, which is privately owned, has been moved to the Evergreen Maintenance Center in
Marana, Arizona
Marana () is a List of municipalities in Arizona, town that mostly lies in Pima County, Arizona, Pima County with a small portion in Pinal County, Arizona, Pinal County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is located northwest of Tucson, Arizona, ...
, restored, and now on display at the
Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in
McMinnville, Oregon
McMinnville is the county seat of and the most populous city in Yamhill County, Oregon, Yamhill County, Oregon, United States at the base of the Oregon Coast Range. The city is named after McMinnville, Tennessee. As of the 2020 United States cens ...
. It was previously on display at the
Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum.
The end of the Korean War and the development of the jet-powered
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range, subsonic aircraft, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, which has continued to provide support and upgrades. It has been operated by the ...
negated the need for fighter escort and
Strategic Air Command
Strategic Air Command (SAC) was a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command responsible for command and control of the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile compon ...
(SAC) opted to withdraw from the program. Despite SAC's loss of interest, the F-101A had attracted the attention of
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command (TAC) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Lang ...
(TAC), leading to the F-101 being reconfigured as a
fighter bomber.
[Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 5-6.][Davies 2019, pp. 9-10.] In this capacity, it was intended to carry a single
nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission or atomic bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions (thermonuclear weapon), producing a nuclear exp ...
for use against
tactical targets such as airfields. TAC requested numerous alterations to the F-101 to suit the new role, including additional apparatus to permit air-to-ground communication, provisions to carry external pods, and structural strengthening.
[Greenhalgh 1979, p. 6.][Davies 2019, p. 10.]
Through the support of TAC, testing of the F-101 was resumed, with Category II flight tests beginning in early 1955. A number of problems were identified and were mostly resolved during this phase of development. Issues were found with the
autopilot
An autopilot is a system used to control the path of a vehicle without requiring constant manual control by a human operator. Autopilots do not replace human operators. Instead, the autopilot assists the operator's control of the vehicle, allow ...
,
hydraulics
Hydraulics () is a technology and applied science using engineering, chemistry, and other sciences involving the mechanical properties and use of liquids. At a very basic level, hydraulics is the liquid counterpart of pneumatics, which concer ...
,
viewfinder
In photography, a viewfinder is a device on a camera that a photographer uses to determine exactly where the camera is pointed, and approximately how much of that view will be photographed. A viewfinder can be mechanical (indicating only direct ...
, and control system; McDonnell typically replaced unsatisfactory parts with redesigned counterparts.
[Greenhalgh 1979, p. 7.] One particular issue was the aircraft's dangerous tendency towards severe pitch-up when flown at a high
angle of attack
In fluid dynamics, angle of attack (AOA, α, or \alpha) is the angle between a Airfoil#Airfoil terminology, reference line on a body (often the chord (aircraft), chord line of an airfoil) and the vector (geometry), vector representing the relat ...
; this would never be entirely rectified.
[Dorr 1995, p. 172.][Davies 2019, pp. 12-13.] However, the USAF was satisfied with the installation of an active inhibitor system to deter such instances.
Around 2,300 improvements were made to the F-101 between 1955 and 1956 ahead of full-rate production commencing in November 1956.
[Knaack 1982, pp. 139-140.]
Operational history
F-101A / RF-101G

On 2 May 1957, the first F-101A was delivered to the
27th Strategic Fighter Wing, which transferred to TAC in July that year,
[Knaack 1982, p. 140.] replacing their
F-84F Thunderstreak. The F-101A was powered by two Pratt & Whitney J57-P-13 turbojets,
allowing good acceleration, a high rate of climb, ease in penetrating the
sound barrier
The sound barrier or sonic barrier is the large increase in aerodynamic drag and other undesirable effects experienced by an aircraft or other object when it approaches the speed of sound. When aircraft first approached the speed of sound, th ...
in level flight, and a maximum performance of
Mach
The Mach number (M or Ma), often only Mach, (; ) is a dimensionless quantity in fluid dynamics representing the ratio of flow velocity past a Boundary (thermodynamic), boundary to the local speed of sound.
It is named after the Austrian physi ...
1.52. The F-101's large internal fuel capacity allowed a range of approximately nonstop.
[Francillon 1979, p. 547.] The aircraft was fitted with an MA-7 fire-control radar for both air-to-air and air-to-ground use, augmented by a
Low Altitude Bombing System (LABS) for delivering nuclear weapons,
and was designed to carry a
Mk 28 nuclear bomb
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission (fission or atomic bomb) or a combination of fission and fusion reactions (thermonuclear weapon), producing a nuclear exp ...
. The original intended payload for the F-101A was the McDonnell
Model 96 store, a large fuel/weapons pod similar in concept to that of the
Convair B-58 Hustler
The Convair B-58 Hustler, designed and produced by American aircraft manufacturer Convair, was the first operational bomber capable of Mach 2 flight.
The B-58 was developed during the 1950s for the United States Air Force (USAF) Strategic Air ...
, but was cancelled in March 1956 before the F-101 entered service. Other operational nuclear payloads included the
Mk 7,
Mk 43, and
Mk 57 weapons. While theoretically capable of carrying conventional bombs, rockets, or
Falcon air-to-air missiles,
[Taylor 1995, pp. 236–237.] the Voodoo never used such weapons operationally.
It was fitted with four 20mm
M39 cannon, with one cannon often removed in service to make room for a
TACAN
A tactical air navigation system, commonly referred to by the acronym TACAN, is a navigation system initially designed for naval aircraft to acquire moving landing platforms (i.e., ships) and later expanded for use by other military aircraft. It p ...
beacon-receiver.
The F-101 set a number of speed records, including: a JF-101A (the ninth F-101A modified as a testbed for the more powerful J-57-P-53 engines of the F-101B) setting a
world speed record of 1,207.6 mph (1,943.4 km/h) on 12 December 1957 during "Operation Firewall",
[Dorr 1995, p. 173.] beating the previous record of 1,132 mph (1,811 km/h) set by the
Fairey Delta 2 in March the previous year. The record was then subsequently taken in May 1958 by a
Lockheed F-104 Starfighter
The Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is an American single-engine, supersonic interceptor. Created as a day fighter by Lockheed as one of the " Century Series" of fighter aircraft for the United States Air Force (USAF), it was developed into an ...
. On 27 November 1957, during "Operation Sun Run," an RF-101C set the Los Angeles-New York City-Los Angeles record in six hours and 46 minutes, the New York to Los Angeles record in three hours and 36 minutes, and the Los Angeles to New York record in three hours and seven minutes.
["Operation Sun Run".](_blank)
''National Museum of the United States Air Force''. Retrieved: 7 February 2008.
A total of 77 F-101As were built, only 50 of which were ever used operationally while the remainder were used exclusively for experimental work.
[Davies 2019, p. 14.] They were gradually withdrawn from USAF service starting in 1966.
[Knaack 1982, pp. 140–141.] Twenty-nine survivors were converted to ''RF-101G'' specifications with a modified nose, housing
reconnaissance
In military operations, military reconnaissance () or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, the terrain, and civil activities in the area of operations. In military jargon, reconnai ...
cameras in place of cannons and radar. These served with the
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia (United States), militia of each U.S. ...
through 1972.
[Dorr 1995, p. 187.][Knaack 1982, p. 141.]
RF-101A
In October 1953, the USAF requested that two F-101As be built as prototype YRF-101A tactical reconnaissance aircraft.
[Greenhalgh 1979, p. 3.][Davies 2019, p. 16.] These were followed by 35 RF-101A production aircraft.
[Dorr 1995, p. 174.] The RF-101A shared the airframe of the F-101A, including its 6.33
''g'' (62 m/s²) limit, but replaced the radar and cannons with up to six cameras in the reshaped nose.
[Peacock 1985, pp. 78, 80.][Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 3-4.] Various electronics were incorporated at the request of TAC.
[Knaack 1982, p. 143.] Like all other models of the F-101, it had provision for both flying boom and probe-and-drogue
in-flight refueling capability, as well as for a
buddy tank that allowed it to refuel other aircraft.
[Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 9-10.] It entered service in May 1957,
[Peacock 1985, p. 80.] replacing the
RB-57 Canberra.
On 6 May 1957, the RF-101A entered service, the first unit to operate the type being
363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, stationed at
Shaw AFB
Shaw Air Force Base (Shaw AFB) is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located approximately west-northwest of downtown Sumter, South Carolina. It is one of the largest military bases operated by the United States, and is under the jurisdict ...
, South Carolina.
[Knaack 1982, pp. 143-144.][Davies 2019, pp. 17-18.] On July 15, 1958, the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing deployed 8 RF-101s to
Incirlik Air Base
Incirlik Air Base () is a Republic of Turkey, Turkish air base of slightly more than 3320 ac (1335 ha), located in the İncirlik quarter of the city of Adana, Turkey. The base is within an urban area of 1.7 million people, east of the city ...
during the
1958 Lebanon crisis
The 1958 Lebanon crisis was a political crisis in Lebanon caused by political and religious tensions in the country that included an American military intervention, which lasted for around three months until President Camille Chamoun, who had re ...
to support the
Marine landing in
Beirut
Beirut ( ; ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, just under half of Lebanon's population, which makes it the List of largest cities in the Levant region by populatio ...
to form a composite air strike force with
B-57s,
RB-66s,
C-124s,
F-100s, and
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed Corporation, Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 w ...
. During October 1962, RF-101As from the 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing performed reconnaissance sorties over Cuba during the
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis, also known as the October Crisis () in Cuba, or the Caribbean Crisis (), was a 13-day confrontation between the governments of the United States and the Soviet Union, when American deployments of Nuclear weapons d ...
. Allegedly, the aircraft's performance over Cuba highlighted its shortcomings as a reconnaissance aircraft, motivating a series of modifications to improve its performance.
[Knaack 1982, pp. 147-148.] All USAF RF-101As were phased out of service during 1971.
[Knaack 1982, p. 145.]
During October 1959, eight RF-101As were transferred to
Taiwan
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...
, which used them for overflights of the Chinese mainland.
[Greenhalgh 1979, p. 26.][Knaack 1982, p. 144.] These ROCAF RF-101A were modified with the RF-101C vertical fins and air intake; this intake was used to cool the drag chute compartment and eliminated the five minute limit on using the afterburners on the RF-101A. Two were reportedly shot down.
F-101B / CF-101B / EF-101B

In the late 1940s, the USAF had started a research project into future
interceptor aircraft
An interceptor aircraft, or simply interceptor, is a type of fighter aircraft designed specifically for the defensive interception role against an attacking enemy aircraft, particularly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Aircraft that are c ...
that eventually settled on an advanced specification known as the
1954 interceptor. Contracts for this specification eventually resulted in the selection of the
Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, but by 1952 it was becoming clear that few parts of the specification other than the airframe would be ready by 1954; the engines, weapons, and fire control systems were all going to take too long to get into service. Thus, an effort was started to quickly produce an interim supersonic design to replace the various subsonic interceptors then in service, and the F-101 airframe was selected as a starting point.
[Knaack 1982, pp. 150–151.]
Although McDonnell proposed the designation ''F-109'' for the new aircraft (which was to be a substantial departure from the basic Voodoo),
[Dorr and Donald 1990, p. 187.] the USAF assigned the designation F-101B.
[Knaack 1982, p. 151.] It was first deployed into service on 5 January 1959, with the
60th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
The 60th Fighter Squadron is a United States Air Force unit that is part of the 33d Fighter Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida; It is tasked with training pilots on the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II.
History World War II
Activated in ...
.
[Knaack 1982, p. 152.] Production of this model ended in March 1961.
[Knaack 1978, p. 153.] The Voodoo featured a modified cockpit to carry a crew of two, with a larger and more rounded forward fuselage to hold the
Hughes MG-13 fire control
radar
Radar is a system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), direction ( azimuth and elevation angles), and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It is a radiodetermination method used to detect and track ...
of the F-102. It had a data link to the
Semi-Automatic Ground Environment
The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) was a system of mainframe computer, large computers and associated computer network, networking equipment that coordinated data from many radar sites and processed it to produce a single unified image ...
(SAGE) system, allowing ground controllers to steer the aircraft towards its targets by making adjustments through the plane's autopilot. The F-101B had more powerful Pratt & Whitney J57-P-55 engines, making it the only Voodoo not using the −13 engines. The new engines featured a substantially longer afterburner than J57-P-13s. To avoid a major redesign, the extended afterburners were simply allowed to extend out of the fuselage by almost 8 ft (2.4 m). The more powerful engines and aerodynamic refinements allowed an increased speed of Mach 1.85.
The F-101B was stripped of the four M39 cannons and carried four AIM-4 Falcon
air-to-air missile
An air-to-air missile (AAM) is a missile fired from an aircraft for the purpose of destroying another aircraft (including unmanned aircraft such as cruise missiles). AAMs are typically powered by one or more rocket motors, usually solid-fuel roc ...
s instead, arranged two apiece on a rotating pallet in the fuselage weapons bay.
The initial load was two GAR-1 (AIM-4A)
semi-active radar homing
Semi-active radar homing (SARH) is a common type of missile guidance system, perhaps the most common type for longer-range air-to-air and surface-to-air missile systems. The name refers to the fact that the missile itself is only a passive dete ...
and two GAR-2 (AIM-4B)
infrared-guided weapons with one of each carried on each side of the rotating pallet. After the first two missiles were fired, the door turned over to expose the second pair. Standard practice was to fire the weapons in SARH/IR pairs to increase the likelihood of a hit. Late-production models had provision for two 1.7-kiloton MB-1/AIR-2 Genie nuclear rockets on one side of the pallet with IR-guided GAR-2A (AIM-4C) on the other side. "Project Kitty Car" upgraded most earlier F-101Bs to this standard beginning in 1961.
[Donald 2003, p. 55.][Knaack 1982, pp. 152-153.]

Between 1963 and 1966, F-101Bs were upgraded under the Interceptor Improvement Program (IIP; also known as "Project Bold Journey"), being outfitted with a fire control system enhancement against hostile
ECM and an
infrared sighting and tracking (IRST) system in the nose in place of the in-flight refueling probe.
[Peacock 1985, p. 95.]
The F-101B was produced in greater numbers than the F-101A and F-101C, with a total of 479 being delivered by the end of production in 1961.
[Dorr 1995, p. 175.] Most of these were delivered to the
Air Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command was a major command (military formation), command of the United States Air Force, responsible for air defense of the continental United States. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air De ...
(ADC) beginning in January 1959.
The only foreign customer for the F-101B was Canada, where it was locally referred to as the
CF-101 Voodoo.
[Dorr 1995, p. 178.]
The F-101B was withdrawn from ADC service between 1968 and 1971, with many surviving USAF aircraft transferred to the Air National Guard (replacing F-102s), serving until 1982.
[Knaack 1978, pp. 154-155.] The last Voodoo in US service (F-101B-105-MC, AF Ser. No. ''58-300'') was finally retired by the
2nd Fighter Weapons Squadron at
Tyndall AFB
Tyndall Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located east of Panama City, Florida. The base was named in honor of World War I pilot 1st Lt. Frank Benjamin Tyndall. The base operating unit and host wing is the 325th Fighter Wing (3 ...
, Florida on 21 September 1982.
F-101C / RF-101H
The F-101A fighter-bomber had been accepted into TAC service despite a number of problems. Among others, its airframe had proven to be capable of withstanding only 6.33 ''g'' (62 m/s²) maneuvers, rather than the intended 7.33 ''g'' (72 m/s²).
[Knaack 1982, p. 139.] An improved model, the F-101C, was introduced in 1957. It had a 500 lb (227 kg) heavier structure to allow 7.33-''g'' maneuvers as well as a revised fuel system to increase the maximum flight time in
afterburner
An afterburner (or reheat in British English) is an additional combustion component used on some jet engines, mostly those on military supersonic aircraft. Its purpose is to increase thrust, usually for supersonic flight, takeoff, and combat ...
.
[Dorr 1995, p. 181.] Like the F-101A, it was also fitted with an underfuselage pylon for carrying nuclear weapons, as well as two
hardpoints for
drop tanks
In aviation, a drop tank (external tank, wing tank or belly tank) is used to describe auxiliary fuel tanks externally carried by aircraft. A drop tank is expendable and often capable of being jettisoned. External tanks are commonplace on modern ...
.
A total of 47 F101Cs were produced.

Originally serving with the
27th Tactical Fighter Wing at
Bergstrom AFB, Texas, the aircraft was transferred in 1958 from TAC to the
81st Tactical Fighter Wing, part of
United States Air Forces in Europe
United may refer to:
Places
* United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community
* United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community
Arts and entertainment Films
* ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film
* ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...
(USAFE) which operated three squadrons from the twin RAF air stations
Bentwaters &
Woodbridge.
[Knaack 1982, p. 142.] The
78th Tactical Fighter Squadron was stationed at Woodbridge, while the 91st and 92nd were stationed at Bentwaters. The 81st TFW served as a strategic nuclear deterrent force, the Voodoo's long-range putting almost all of the
Warsaw Pact
The Warsaw Pact (WP), formally the Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance (TFCMA), was a Collective security#Collective defense, collective defense treaty signed in Warsaw, Polish People's Republic, Poland, between the Sovi ...
countries, and targets up to deep into the Soviet Union within reach.
Both the A and C model aircraft were assigned to the 81st TFW and were used interchangeably within the three squadrons. Operational F-101A/C were upgraded in service with
Low Angle Drogued Delivery (LADD) and Low Altitude Bombing System (LABS) equipment for its primary mission of delivering nuclear weapons at extremely low altitudes. Pilots were trained for high speed, low-level missions into Soviet or Eastern Bloc territory, with primary targets being airfields. These missions were expected to be one-way, with the pilots having to eject behind Soviet lines.
The F-101C never saw combat and was replaced in 1966 with the
F-4C Phantom II.
Thirty-two aircraft were later converted for unarmed reconnaissance use with the ''RF-101H'' designation. They served with Air National Guard units until 1972.
[Knaack 1982, p. 146.]
RF-101C
Using the reinforced airframe of the F-101C, the RF-101C first flew on 12 July 1957,
entering service in 1958. Like the RF-101A, the RF-101C had up to six cameras in place of radar and cannons in the reshaped nose and retained the bombing ability of the fighter-bomber versions.
[Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 12-15.] As it was intended to be flown unarmed, various passive defensive systems were incorporated, including the AN/APS-54
radar warning receiver
Radar warning receiver (RWR) systems detect the radio emissions of radar systems. Their primary purpose is to issue a warning when a radar signal that might be a threat is detected, like a fighter aircraft's fire control radar. The warning can ...
.
[Greenhalgh 1979, p. 19.] It lacked a true all-weather capability due to the USAF choosing to eliminate the AN/APN-82 electronic navigation system planned for it.
[Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 10-11.] 166 RF-101Cs were built, including 96 originally scheduled to be F-101C fighter-bombers.
On 27 November 1957, during Operation Sun Run, an RF-101C piloted by then-Captain Robert Sweet set the Los Angeles-New York City-Los Angeles record in six hours and 46 minutes, and New York to Los Angeles record in three hours and 36 minutes. Another RF-101C, piloted by then-Lieutenant Gustav Klatt, set a Los Angeles to New York record of three hours and seven minutes.
The RF-101C saw service during the Cuban Missile Crisis and soon followed the
North American F-100 Super Sabre
The North American F-100 Super Sabre is an American supersonic jet fighter aircraft designed and produced by the aircraft manufacturer North American Aviation. The first of the Century Series of American jet fighters, it was the first United ...
s in October 1961, into combat when RF-101s from the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing deployed to south east Asia, performing reconnaissance flights over
Laos
Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR), is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and ...
and
Vietnam
Vietnam, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), is a country at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of about and a population of over 100 million, making it the world's List of countries and depende ...
.
[Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 21-25.] Operations in this theatre quickly exposed the need for nighttime reconnaissance, for which the aircraft was not originally equipped to perform.
[Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 40-41.] The 1964 Project "Toy Tiger" fitted some RF-101C with a new camera package and a centerline pod for photo-flash cartridges. Some were further upgraded under the Mod 1181 program with automatic control for the cameras. Some officials remained dissatisfied with the RF-101C's nighttime photographic capability.
[Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 41-43.][Knaack 1982, p. 147.]
The RF-101C acted as
pathfinder
Pathfinder, Path Finder or Pathfinders may refer to:
Aerospace
* ''Mars Pathfinder'', a NASA Mars Lander
* NASA Pathfinder, a high-altitude, solar-powered uncrewed aircraft
* Space Shuttle ''Pathfinder'', a Space Shuttle test simulator
Arts and ...
s for F-100 bombers during early strikes in the theatre.
[Knaack 1982, p. 148.] The RF-101C sustained losses during the conflict, the first loss to enemy ground fire was recorded in November 1964, although close calls occurred as early as 14 August 1962; North Vietnamese air defenses became increasingly effective over time.
[Greenhalgh 1979, pp. 43-44.][Knaack 1982, p. 149.] From 1965 through November 1970, its role was gradually taken over by the RF-4C Phantom II. In some 35,000 sorties, 39 aircraft were lost, 33 in combat, including five to
SAMs, one to an airfield attack, and one in air combat to a
MiG-21
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (; NATO reporting name: Fishbed) is a supersonic jet aircraft, jet fighter aircraft, fighter and interceptor aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan, Mikoyan-Gurevich OKB, Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. Its nicknames in ...
in September 1967. The RF-101C's speed made it largely immune to MiG interception. 27 of the combat losses occurred on reconnaissance missions over North Vietnam. In April 1967, ALQ-71 ECM pods were fitted to provide some protection against SAMs. Although the Voodoo could again operate at medium altitudes, the added drag and weight decreased the RF-101's speed enough to be vulnerable to the maneuverable (and cannon-equipped) MiGs and thus require fighter escort.
After its withdrawal from Vietnam, the RF-101C continued to serve with USAF units through 1979. In service, the RF-101C was nicknamed the "Long Bird"; it was the only version of the Voodoo to see combat.
In total 166 were built.
TF-101B / F-101F / CF-101F
Some of the F-101Bs were completed as dual-control operational
trainer aircraft initially dubbed ''TF-101B'', but later redesignated ''F-101F''. Seventy-nine new-build F-101Fs were manufactured, and 152 more existing aircraft were later modified with dual controls. Ten of these were supplied to Canada under the designation ''CF-101F''. These were later replaced with 10 updated aircraft in 1971.
RF-101B

In the early 1970s, a batch of 22 former RCAF CF-101Bs was delivered to the USAF and converted into ''RF-101B'' reconnaissance aircraft, each aircraft had its radar and weapons bay replaced with a set of three KS-87B cameras and two AXQ-2 TV cameras. An in-flight refueling boom receptacle was also installed. These aircraft served with the
192d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the
Nevada Air National Guard through 1975. They proved to be relatively expensive to operate and maintain and had a short service life.
Variants

;F-101A: Company designation Model 36W.
Initial production fighter bomber, 77 produced.
[Angelucci and Bowers 1987, pp. 309–310.]
;NF-101A: one F-101A used by
General Electric
General Electric Company (GE) was an American Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in 1892, incorporated in the New York (state), state of New York and headquartered in Boston.
Over the year ...
for testing of the
General Electric J79 engine
;YRF-101A: two F-101As built as prototype reconnaissance models
;RF-101A: Company designation Model 36X.
First reconnaissance version, 35 built.
;F-101B: Company designation Model 36AT.
two-seat interceptor, the most numerous version with 479 built (including CF-101B)
;CF-101B: 112 F-101Bs transferred to
Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...
;RF-101B: 22 former RCAF CF-101Bs modified for reconnaissance use
;TF-101B: dual-control trainer version of F-101B, redesignated ''F-101F'', 79 built
;EF-101B: single F-101B converted for use as a radar target and leased to Canada
;NF-101B: F-101B prototype based on the F-101A airframe; the second prototype was built with a different nose
;F-101C: Company designation Model 36W.
Improved fighter-bomber, 47 built.
;RF-101C: Company designation Model 36X.
Reconnaissance version of F-101C airframe, 166 built.
;F-101D: proposed version with
General Electric J79 engines, not built
;F-101E: another J79 proposal, not built
;F-101F: dual-control trainer version of F-101B; 79 re-designated TF-101Bs plus 152 converted F-101Bs
;CF-101F: Canadian designation for 20 TF-101B/F-101F dual-control aircraft
;TF-101F: 24 dual-control versions of F-101B, re-designated F-101F (these are included in the -F total)
;RF-101G: 29 F-101As converted for ANG reconnaissance
;RF-101H: 32 F-101Cs converted for reconnaissance use
Operators

;
*
Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...
(1961–1968)
*
Canadian Armed Forces
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; , FAC) are the unified Military, military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air commands referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Under the ''National Defenc ...
** Air Defence Command (1968–1975)
** Air Command (1975–1984; historical)
;
*
Republic of China Air Force
The Republic of China Air Force ( Chinese, 中華民國空軍), or the ROCAF; known colloquially as the Taiwanese Air Force ( Chinese, 臺灣空軍) by Western or mainland Chinese media, or commonly referred as the National Military Air Force ...
;
*
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...
*
Colorado State University
Colorado State University (Colorado State or CSU) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Fort Collins, Colorado, United States. It is the flagship university of the Colorado State University Syst ...
CSU Uses F-101B For Storm Study; N8234, nickname, 'the Gray Ghost', on display at Air Combat Museum, Topeka,KS
Retrieved 14 October 2013
Aircraft on display
Following the type's retirement, a large number of F-101s are preserved in museums or on display as gate guards.
Specifications (F-101B)
See also
References
Citations
Bibliography
*
* ''Characteristics Summary, F-101B'', dated 16 August 1960.
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* '' United States Air Force Museum Guidebook''. Wright-Patterson AFC, Ohio: Air Force Association, 1975 edition.
*
External links
McDonnell F-101 Voodoo articles and publications
USAF National Museum site: XF-88 page
*
F-101A/C fact sheet
*
F-101B & F-101B fact sheet
*
RF-101A/C fact sheet
List of static displays, location, serial numbers, and links.
{{Authority control
F-101
The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo is a Supersonic aircraft, supersonic jet fighter designed and produced by the American McDonnell Aircraft Corporation.
Development of the F-101 began in the late 1940s as a long-range bomber escort (then known as a ...
1950s United States fighter aircraft
Twinjets
T-tail aircraft
Mid-wing aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1954
Second-generation jet fighters
Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear