McDonnell F-101 Voodoo — Dark Magic in the Sky

By Peter Suciu

The technological leap forward in military aircraft during the early stages of the Cold War simply can’t be overstated. Aircraft design performance increased at paces not seen before or since, and the result is that some truly cutting-edge fighter planes came and went in quick succession, with some being mere footnotes in aviation history.

Two F-101B Voodoo aircraft in flight near Niagara Falls during exercise Sentry Castle ’81. The aircraft were assigned to the 136th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, New York Air National Guard. Image: NARA

One warplane that shouldn’t be forgotten, however, is the McDonnell F-101 Voodoo, which was by far among the most capable fighters of its day. Based on the XF-88 Voodoo prototype that was first flown in October 1948, it was originally conceived as a long-range escort for the Strategic Air Command bombers, only to evolve into a long-range interceptor. It further was developed to serve as a nuclear strike aircraft and a tactical reconnaissance aircraft.

McDonnell F-101A Voodoo over Texas — A single-seat McDonnell F-101A in a training flight from Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas. Image: U.S. Air Force

In its day, the F-101 was noted for being able to fly higher, faster and farther than nearly anything in the air, and it had more “kill” potential than that of its contemporaries.

Origins of the Voodoo

Though known primarily for its service in the 1950s and 1960s, the design of the warplane actually began just as the dust was settling after the Second World War. The aircraft that was to become the F-101 evolved from the aforementioned McDonnell XF-88, a long-range fighter developed for the United States Air Force in the latter half of the 1940s. The original concept called for the Voodoo to serve as a long-range bomber escort — where it would have flown alongside the Boeing B-29 Superfortress and Convair B-36 Peacemaker.

early F-101 Voodoo prototype — In 1956, this F-101 Voodoo prototype underwent testing by the United States Air Force and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). NACA was the predecessor of NASA. Image: NARA

The single-seat F-101A made its maiden flight on September 29, 1954, and it quickly began to set records for speed, distance and altitude. By all accounts, it proved to be the perfect plane for the job.

early F-101 Voodoo prototype NASA photo — Another view of the F-101 Voodoo prototype during testing. This would lead to the F-101A fighter that entered service a year later. Image: NARA

Yet, even as it was being developed, high-speed, high-altitude jet bombers — notably the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress — began to enter service. As a result, there was less need for escort fighters, and the high-speed Voodoo evolved accordingly. Instead of providing escort to U.S. bombers, the F-101 was introduced to fill tactical and air defense roles — a duty for which it was equally well-suited.

first F-101A Voodoo in service — Shown here is the first production McDonnell F-101A Voodoo fighter (S/N 53-2418) at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. Image: U.S. Air Force

Production of the F-101A moved forward, with the first Voodoo entering service in May 1957. It has been noted for being the first production fighter capable of exceeding 1,000 mph in level flight — and on December 12, 1957, an F-101A set a world speed record of 1,207 mph. That flight came just weeks after the four Voodoos flew from Shaw Air Force Base (AFB), California, to New York, during Operation Sun Run, breaking the transcontinental flight record. They flew it in just three hours and seven minutes, while averaging 781.74 miles per hour.

Truly Black Magic

Instead of escorting bombers, the Voodoo took on a fighter-bomber role. The aircraft’s long-range put nearly all of the Warsaw Pact countries in Europe, along with targets up to 500 miles deep within the Soviet Union, within the aircraft’s 2,000-mile range.

F-101A with drag chute during landing — F-101A Voodoo during landing. The fighters used a drag chute to help slow the aircraft during landing. Image: U.S. Air Force

Beginning in 1958, the United States Air Force operated three squadrons of F-101 Voodoos from Royal Air Force (RAF) bases in the UK, serving as part of the strategic nuclear deterrent force.

The Voodoo was equipped with the then-cutting-edge Low Altitude Bombing System (LABS) for the delivery of nuclear weapons, while it could carry the Mk 28 thermonuclear bomb. Other operational nuclear payloads that could be carried by the F-101 reportedly included the Mk 7, Mk 43 and Mk 57 ordnance.

US Air Force airmen load ordnance on F-101 Voodoo — U.S. Air Force weapons handlers practice weapons loading onto a F-101 at Hector International Field, North Dakota, for the upcoming competition. Image: U.S. Air Force

Special Magic — F-101B Voodoo

The success of the F-101A models led to the development of a two-seat all-weather interceptor variant designated the F-101B.

F-101B Voodoo on NORAD mission — A left rear view of an F-101 Voodoo aircraft in flight. The aircraft was assigned to the 107th Fighter Interceptor Group, New York ANG, North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) Image: NARA

It required a significant modification to the aircraft, which included a larger and more rounded forward fuselage to hold the Hughes MG-13 fire control radar that was initially used in the F-102 Delta Dart.

master sergeant completes pre-flight inspection of F-101B tail section — A master sergeant performs a preflight check of the tail section of an F-101B Voodoo aircraft. Image: NARA

The changes were so significant, in fact, that McDonnell had at one point proposed designating the aircraft the F-109.

F-101B in flight during a North America defense flight — A left side view of an F-101B Voodoo aircraft banking to the left in flight. This plane was part of a North American defensive flight in January 1978. Image: NARA

However, the U.S. Air Force stuck with the McDonnell F-101B Voodoo, even though it had more powerful Pratt & Whitney engines than the base model. Moreover, instead of the four M39 cannons employed on the F-101A, the F-101B was armed with four AIM-4 Falcon air-to-air missiles arranged in pairs in a rotating pallet in the aircraft’s weapons bay.

F-101B Voodoo crew leaves plane after a mission — A F-101B Voodoo aircraft crew leave their aircraft after a mission protecting United States airspace in the early 1980s. Image: NARA

Because of the modifications required, the first of the two-seaters didn’t arrive until January 1959. It should also be noted that the F-101Bs were also produced in greater numbers than the F-101A or the later improved single-seat F-101C. Of the total 785 Voodoos that were produced, 480 were the F-101Bs, with the majority seeing service with the Air Defense Command.

fueling F-101B Voodoo — A U.S. Air Force staff sergeant refuels an F-101B Voodoo aircraft from a fuel truck. Other F-101 fighters are in the background. Image: NARA

Though the F-101A/C was largely retired from service by the late 1960s, the F-101B continued to fly with Air National Guard (ANG) units until September 1982.

loading bombs on F-101 — A U.S. Air Force crew loads training weapons onto a F-101B Voodoo aircraft during the “William Tell” Weapons Competition at Tyndall, Air Force Base, Florida. Image: U.S. Air Force

RF-101 Photo Reconnaissance Aircraft

In addition to serving as an interceptor and nuclear strike aircraft, the U.S. Air Force also operated an unarmed variant as the world’s first supersonic photo reconnaissance aircraft. These RF-101s were used widely for low-altitude photo coverage of missile sites during the 1962 Cuban Crisis, and then in the late 1960s in Southeast Asia.

McDonnell RF-101C in flight over Vietnam in 1967 — This McDonnell RF-101C is shown in flight during a photo reconnaissance mission over Vietnam in May 1967. Image: U.S. Air Force

As noted by the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB), Dayton, Ohio, the development of the unarmed RF-101 began in 1956. A total of 35 RF-101As and 166 RF-101Cs were produced, but in addition, some single- and dual-seat Voodoos were converted to the reconnaissance configuration and redesignated RF-101Bs, RF-101Gs and RF-101Hs later in their operational lives.

RF-101 Voodoo photo reconnaissance training South Korea 1969 — During the Spring of 1969, a Kentucky Air National Guard RF-101 Voodoo makes a reconnaissance run during training in South Korea. Image: Kentucky National Guard

The museum’s collection includes an RF-101C, on display in the Southeast Asia War Gallery, that had participated in Operation Sun Run in 1957. The particular RF-101 Voodoo also flew vital low-altitude reconnaissance during the Cuban Missile Crisis and helped confirm that offensive missile sites in Cuba were being dismantled. The aircraft later served in Southeast Asia with the 45th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. That Voodoo was flight delivered from the 153rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Mississippi Air National Guard at Key Field, Miss., to the museum on Oct. 27, 1978.

During the Vietnam War, the U.S. lost a total of 33 RF-101s in combat, while another six were lost due to other causes.

In Foreign Service

The United States Air Force wasn’t the only operator of the Voodoo. Both Canada and the Republic of China used the F-101.

Canada

Canada’s Air Defence Group, which shared the responsibility for guarding the polar approaches with the United States Air Defense Command, took delivery of 66 Voodoos designated the CF-101. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) operated the aircraft into the late 1980s.

Canadian CF-101 Voodoo fires an air to ground missile in 1982 — A Canadian Air Force CF-101 Voodoo aircraft fires a missile during the combat training exercise William Tell ’82. Image: TSGT Frank Garzelnick/U.S. Air Force

Though the CF-101 never fired a weapon in anger, the Canadian Voodoos were a serious deterrent, and served as Canada’s primary air defense platform, penetrating from Quick Reaction Alert facilities across the nation. From 1961 until 1984, the CF-101’s primary mission was to protect the sovereignty of Canada’s airspace, and each squadron operating the aircraft had two on quick reaction alert 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (for 23 years) without interruption.

Canadian CF-101 Voodoo fighters intercept a USAF B-52 in training exercise — A pair of Canadian Air Force F-101 Voodoo aircraft intercept a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber during combat training exercise William Tell ’80. Image: NARA

Republic of China (Taiwan)

According to the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), four R-101 Voodoos were also supplied to the Republic of China (Taiwan) in 1959 under the Project Boom-Town. The aircraft were flown by Taiwanese pilots and employed to conduct reconnaissance over international waters off the coastline of the Chinese mainland. However, it was later learned that many of the flights penetrated far deeper into the airspace of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

One of the four RF-101s was shot down in August 1961, while the remaining three were also shot down within the next four years. The United States Air Force subsequently supplied Taipei with an additional four Voodoos, which operated successfully over mainland China for several years before operational attrition ended their careers.

Final Thoughts

Today, several dozen F-101s in various configurations are on display at museums in the United States, Canada, the UK, France and Germany.

F-101B fighters in flight over New York — F-101B Voodoo aircraft of the New York Air National Guard in flight over Niagara Falls during exercise Sentry Castle ’81. Image: NARA

Three of the aircraft that conducted the surveillance missions over mainland China are also in museums in Taiwan. These aircraft serve as a reminder of the magic that was the F-101 Voodoo.

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