F-101 Voodoo history and anecdotes

USAF F-101B mentions

Just been reading the book “MiG Alley to Mu Ghia Pass” which is essentially the operational history of Cecil G. Foster. It’s a light read (148pp trade paperback) about a Korean War F-86 ace, who also flew F-4 from Danang during the Vietnam conflict. In between, he commanded a F-101B squadron (29th FIS) in the continental USA. The F-101 only occupies 2 short chapters in the book, but does include mention of emergency deployment during the Cuban Missile Crisis with nuclear weapons (Genie Air-to-Air “rockets”, unguided so not really missiles). It’s more anecdotal, as told from the author’s viewpoint, rather than a technical analysis, but all the same very readable on a bus ride in the morning.

Regards, …geoff

USAF F-101B mentions

Just been reading the book “MiG Alley to Mu Ghia Pass” which is essentially the operational history of Cecil G. Foster. It’s a light read (148pp trade paperback) about a Korean War F-86 ace, who also flew F-4 from Danang during the Vietnam conflict. In between, he commanded a F-101B squadron (29th FIS) in the continental USA. The F-101 only occupies 2 short chapters in the book, but does include mention of emergency deployment during the Cuban Missile Crisis with nuclear weapons (Genie Air-to-Air “rockets”, unguided so not really missiles). It’s more anecdotal, as told from the author’s viewpoint, rather than a technical analysis, but all the same very readable on a bus ride in the morning.

Regards, …geoff

F-101 Voodoo History and anecdotes

As a flt line mech in ADC in the early 60’s, we were trained on cross servicing of all ADC types. We often serviced “Deuces and “Voodoos all though we were a “Dart unit. This included our Brothers to the North,CAF. I dont recall any real oddities with the “One-Oh-Wonder” besides refueling sequence and the rotary weapons door which allmost ate a MX guy one day. Stayed well away from the intakes at all times. Loved the Dzus fastners, we had Camloks.:dev2:

For some nice F-101A film footage, check out the episode “Operation Mushroom” in the Steve Canyon television series, available on DVD from http://stevecanyondvd.blogspot.com/

What a great drawing!
Sorry I’m a bit late with this……..been on holiday in the south of France, in the Cold and the rain!!

This is an old ink dot pic I did of a F-101A, possibly the one pictured earlier at Edwards AFB.

…which kind of reminded me that the Voodoo did carry 4 x M39 cannon originally, seem to think that one of the cannons was usually removed for some reason, nav kit or something?

I would consider the single seat F-101 (as opposed to the original concept of the XF-88) combat variants to be tailored towards long-range high-performance tactical nuclear or conventional strike aircraft for Tactical Air Command, similar to the F-105..

The official USAF history* indicates that as early as March 1952, McDonnell suggested the aircraft be configured as a strike aircraft in addition to the SAC requirement. (This somewhat contradicts the “conventional wisdom” that the strike model was a last-minute switch to find a role for the type after the SAC escort fighter cancellation in 1956).
TAC was happy to get something faster than the F-84F currently in that role (although the As and Cs were limited to nuclear strike only) and McDonnell was happy for the business.
The RF-101 came about around December of 1956 when the RF-104 and RF-105 concepts were cancelled.
Since 101As has a lighter airframe limited to 6.33-Gs, I guess it made sense to convert the type to recce so the fuinal bacth of As were scheduled to come off the line as RFs.

The 102 & 106 were more in line for ADC as long-range stand off interceptors, as were the two seat F-101Bs, complete with the SAGE ground control system and Falcon missiles.

Exactly….there wass no need to dogfight the 101B, it was going to face bombers. BTW: Anyone know if the Soviets ever planned to have long range escort fighters accompany their bombers? I’ve never heard of any plans to do so.

*Encyclopedia of U.S. Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems, Vol. 1 Post World War II Fighters, by M.arcelle Knaack. 1978

I’d guess the 101’s job was to shoot missiles at fairly long range.
Considering it had no gun or close range AAMs, that’s about all it could do.

I would consider the single seat F-101 (as opposed to the original concept of the XF-88) combat variants to be tailored towards long-range high-performance tactical nuclear or conventional strike aircraft for Tactical Air Command, similar to the F-105.

The 102 & 106 were more in line for ADC as long-range stand off interceptors, as were the two seat F-101Bs, complete with the SAGE ground control system and Falcon missiles.

PhantomII
I’d guess the 101’s job was to shoot missiles at fairly long range. EDIT: I’m referring to the 101B interceptor.
Considering it had no gun or close range AAMs, that’s about all it could do.
And remember, its job was to go Bear hunting, not mix it up with fighters.

While the 106 was a decent dogfighter (that’s why they added a gun later in its life) but that wasnt the forte of the Century Series. Like many other forces, the USAF relied too much on missiles in the late 50s-mid 60s. It wasn’t until Vietnam and the coming of the F-4E that it remembered fighters needed to do more than carry missiles.

Such a pretty and sleek airplane. Great photos!

I know the Voodoo wasn’t much of a dogfighter, but given that Canada also operated the F-5 and F-104, it would be interesting to see if they ever did DACT or were used in practice intercepts for the Voodoos.

Here’s some more. You’re right on the squadron – this was the now disbanded 409th Nighthawk group. I remember them fondly racing through the inland valleys to the west of the Comox airbase. I was a lumberjack working up in the mountains and they would go screaming by at a lower level. Trouble was there was no visibility and I to this day do not know how they navigated their way through the crud.

I believe the CF-101B’s pictured from Comox belonged to the 409th Nighthawks. Used to visit us at McChord back in the 60’s.:diablo:

The following picture seems to be of an early F-101A. Although the serial is hard to make out, I think its 0-32422 (formerly 53-2422) which would make it the fifth F-101A off the production line. Photo taken as recently as 25 March 2010 at Edwards AFB, California, south east of the base and between the B-52’s and the B-47B

This photo is is an unidentified F-101 in a scrapyard in Rosamond, California as recently as 19 March 2010: http://www.flickr.com/photos/basstubert/4783108830/

Also, you will find that THIS link http://www.ody.ca/~bwalker/caf_voodoos_detailed_list.htm is a pretty comprehensive listing and potted history of all the CF-101s that served in Canada .For example

first date: 5 August 1970 – Taken on strength

Ex USAF s/n 56-260, F-101F-66-MC. With No. 410 Squadron and No. 425 All Weather Fighter Squadron, CFB Bagotville, PQ. Flew in 425 Squadron demonstration team in 1972, the Alouette Reds. Became Instructional Airframe 874B on 20 May 1987, used for battle damage repair training at CFB North Bay, Ontario. On display at Lindsay Air Park, Ontario by 1995. At the Ottawa War Museum by January 2006.

last date: 5 August 1992 – Struck off

Is there a preserved F-101A/C?

Regards

Serial number 53-2418 was the first production A-model delivered to Edwards AFB in August 1954. Its maiden flight was on 29 September 1954, with a McDonnell test pilot Robert C. Little. Test flight results: Mach 0.9 at 35,000 ft (10,500 m), with a maximum test speed to Mach 1.4. This aircraft, which is privately owned, has been moved the Evergreen Maintenance Center in Marana, Arizona to undergo restoration for display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. It was previously on display at the Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum.

There a picture of it at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-101. Looks to me to be somewhat faded and sun bleached (but at least she’s rust free!)

This is what she looked like in September 1954, around the time of her first flight:

Did the RF-101B’s have a use for the second seat? I mean all of the other recce variants were single seaters so did they add equipment that required the second seat or was it a similar fit to the RF-101G/H models that were themselves conversions of A/C models.

yes, they had two seats.
I’d imagine the back seater did the same stuff the back seater in the RF-4C did.

I’d imagine the RF-101B recce system was based on the Phantom’s….with so few converted, it just makes sense to use existing parts and systems.

I’d love to read a in-depth article on the RF two-seaters to get answers to these types of questions. Martin-Marietta did the conversions.

Here’s a relevant link you might find to be of interest: http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/scotland/scotland56-0013.htm

“McDonnell F-101C Voodoo 56-0013 of 81st Tactical Fighter Wing, 78th Tactical Fighter Squadron, crashed on Maol Odhar in Western Scotland approximately 15 miles from Fort William 7th May 1964 whilst on a training flight from RAF Bentwaters in Suffolk.”

Scroll down the page and you will see that substantial chunks of wreckage were still there at the crash site in June 2002. More at http://www.aircrashsites-scotland.co.uk/voodoo_maol-odhar.htm

You may also enjoy THIS

Here’s some pics of CF-101B’s based out of Comox, B.C. – circa early ’80’s.

Goose bays Voodoo is a CF101b Did you take any pics of the resident vulcan?

I did but don’t have them to hand at the moment. There’s a set here that were taken last year by somebody else. They’re pretty much identical to my set.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottcan_520/sets/72157626125650795/

There’s other Vulcan and V-Force pictures on the Facebook Group ‘Goose Bay History’ if anyone’s intetrested. Sorry to go off topic btw.

Goose bays Voodoo is a CF101b Did you take any pics of the resident vulcan?

Did the RF-101B’s have a use for the second seat? I mean all of the other recce variants were single seaters so did they add equipment that required the second seat or was it a similar fit to the RF-101G/H models that were themselves conversions of A/C models.