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| The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo was the inevitable follow-on to the company's XF-88 and was intended for the same purpose. Though the 1950 penetration fighter competition among XF-88, XF-90 and YF-93A resulted in no production contract, the Strategic Air Command still wanted an aircraft conceived from the outset as an escort fighter, its F-84F being seen as only an interim solution. McDonnell's design team under Herman Barkey responded with the heaviest single-seat fighter ever built. Powered by two 5307kg Pratt & Whitney J57-P-13 turbojets, the F-101 would carry four 20mm cannon plus three Hughes GAR-ID or GAR-2A Falcon missiles or 127mm high-velocity aircraft rockets (HVAR) mounted on rotary bomb doors. The first F-101A flew on 29 September 1954 at St Louis, and exceeded Mach 1 on its maiden flight. This was a production craft, there being no service-test machine. SAC dropped its requirement and the 77 F-101As built went to the Tactical Air Command. The first delivery was made 2 May 1957 to the 27th Tactical Fighter Wing. Seven of these airframes were later designated JF-101A while being used for temporary tests.
The first of two YRF-101A service-test reconnaissance Voodoos flew on 10 May 1956, followed by 35 RF-101A airframes delivered to TAC's 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Shaw AFB, South Carolina. The reconnaissance Voodoo had a lengthened nose with space for downward or oblique cameras and other sensors. An RF-101A was shot down during the Cuban missile crisis of October 1962.
The F-101B was the tandem two-seat all-weather interceptor version of the Voodoo for the Air Defense Command, powered by two 5438kg thrust afterburning J57-P-55 turbojets. The first F-101B flew on 27 March 1957 at St Louis. For long-range intercept, it could carry two Douglas MB-1 Genie nuclear unguided rockets as well as three Falcons. Deliveries began on 18 March 1959 to the 60th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. Eventually, the F-101B equipped 16 ADC squadrons, guarding against the Soviet bomber threat to North America. The JF-101B designation was applied to two machines used for temporary tests. One NF-101B was structurally modified for development work. Very late in their careers, with reconnaissance Voodoos still needed long after the interceptor variant was retired, 22 of the two-seat airframes were converted to RF-101B. The TF-101B was a version of the interceptor with full dual controls.
ANG units operated the F-101B between 1970 and 1982. This Voodoo flew with the 179th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, Minnesota ANG in 1973.
The F-101C single-seat tactical fighter differed from the F-101A primarily in having the capability to carry a US tactical nuclear weapon, and 47 were delivered to TAC. The RF-101C, the first of which was flown 12 July 1957, was an improved development of the RF-101A; 166 went to TAC squadrons. The USAF began operating the RF-101C in South East Asia in 1964 and suffered its first combat loss on 21 November 1964 when an RF-101C of the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron was shot down over Laos. Though not as much publicised as other combat types, the RF-101C remained in combat until 1970. No fewer than 31 airframes were lost in battle, plus another six to operational causes. In the mid-1960s, a few RF-101Cs served with the Nationalist Chinese air force, flying clandestine missions over the mainland.
Other Voodoo variants were the F-101F, the USAF designation for the CF-101F interceptor operated by Canadian forces; the RF-101G, a conversion of high-hour RF-101A airframes for reconnaissance duties with the Air National Guard; and the RF-101H, another reconnaissance conversion. One F-101B appeared briefly on the US civil register, as N8234, used for thunderstorm research by Colorado State University. A few CF-101Fs remain in service with Canadian forces for electronic warfare operations. Total production was 807 Voodoos.
 | A three-view drawing (1685 x 1015) |
| CREW | 1 |
| ENGINE | 2 x P+W J-57-P-13, 52.0kN |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 18000-22250 kg | 39683 - 49053 lb |
| Empty weight | 12700 kg | 27999 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 12.1 m | 40 ft 8 in |
| Length | 20.6 m | 68 ft 7 in |
| Height | 5.5 m | 18 ft 1 in |
| Wing area | 43.2 m2 | 465.00 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 1940 km/h | 1205 mph |
| Cruise speed | 950 km/h | 590 mph |
| Ceiling | 15800 m | 51850 ft |
| Range w/max.fuel | 4800 km | 2983 miles |
| ARMAMENT | 4 x 20mm machine-guns, 15 missiles |
| Kathleen Dewhurst, e-mail, 25.07.2017 17:18 Hi, I run and restore an air museum in Palmdale, California and happen to own a F-101B (F) 80324 , that was assigned to the ANG in Arkansas and part of the Pueblo Crisis. Am in the middle if trying to find the right tail flashing and nose are for this group. Anyone have any pictures and stories of my bird would be most helpful. Please contact my email. Thanks, I like getting things historically correct. reply | | Jerry Roberts, e-mail, 16.05.2017 16:58 Robert Roop, froze the buns off too many times doing Mass Loads at Malmstrom AFB. I hated those more than anything. Fast turns were a breeze, slam bam and move on. Yep that got the competitive juices flowing. I still have the lanyard pins from a Genie launch at Tyndall in 1966 when the 29th was there to shoot at drones. I was the Com /Nav shop at Det#1, Even with Nam going I would never trade that life experience for anything. Knew the 101 like a family member. be well sir. reply | | Robert Roop, e-mail, 12.05.2017 02:18 Jerry Roberts, Yes, we loaded 2 Genie and 2 GAR. We had the same auggie crew the whole time I was there, about 2 3 /4 years. We loaded 5 time a month minimum with dummies plus taking turns loading the alert birds with the real things. Fond memories there. reply | | Jerry Roberts, e-mail, 26.04.2017 23:34 Bob Roop, you were a bit ahead of my era, Good to meet someone that loaded the beast. Did you have 2 and 2, 2 genie and 2 Gar on the rails? Auggie loaded for almost 3 years 1965-68 with the same crew. Our crew did the fastest (fast turnaround) recorded in 1967 and got chewed out for it. reply | |
| | Robert Roop, e-mail, 14.04.2017 18:09 I was in the 98th FIS Dover, Delaware 1961-1963 and worked on the radio /Navigation /Data Link /Comm on the F101B. I was also the B man on the loading team. When the Squadron moved to Suffolk Country I was shipped to McClellan AFB in Sacramento, CA and work on the EC121. During the Cuba Crisis I was TDY to Atlantic City with four Voodoos. reply | | Lottie Seaman, e-mail, 16.03.2017 02:47 Gary Long... My father (Billy Sanchez) was also at MacDill during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He taught me a lot about those old fighters when I was a kid and still recognize most of them on sight. :) reply | | Jerry Roberts, e-mail, 13.03.2017 23:04 WHO, among us participated as an auggie B or C men to Load the F-101? If there are any A men weapons guys jump in please.
Bill Clark and I from the 29th FIS DET#1 at Logan Field in Billings Montana(out of Malmstrom AFB) 1965-1968 loaded with an armament guy that we cannot recall his name. We set a record on the 101 for a fast turnaround with LIVE ordnance and would love to give credit where credit is due. Thanks Folks. reply | | Gary A. Long, e-mail, 21.02.2017 01:42 Reference to above mention in the McDonnell F-101 Voodoo. There was a mention of an RF101 Voodoo being shot down during the Cuban Crisis... I was stationed at MacDill AFB Florida from October 1962 to 28 February, 1966, witnessed an RF 101 VooDoo land with no hydraulics, with lots of cannon fire holes in it. Don't know how the pilot brought the bird home, it was in such bad shape. I am pretty sure the shot down RF101 had flown out of MacDill at the time, as I saw an aircraft crew chief in tears, as he waited for his aircraft to return at the end of the runway. It never did. Lots of history and information about the huge amounts of paratrooper birds, 44 of them, I think, lined up at MacDill. Lots of old bombers were parked there as well. As a weapons load team, we mixed gasoline and powdered white phosphorus into napalm drop tanks hanging right on the F84's. Happy we didn't have to send the birds to Cuba... reply | | J. M. Jones, e-mail, 18.02.2017 21:26 Todo,
I was stationed at Suffolk from July 1963 to July 1967 working out of the 2FIS. Who was you Dad. It became the NY Air National Guard in 1972 /73. I also was in the Guard there from 1973 to 2001. Its not a Rescue Wing.. reply | | Jones, e-mail, 06.01.2017 19:38 Hi, I am interested in the RF-101C and wonder whether the engines were as reliable as generally said. Were the engines likely to suffer double flame out on takeoff? One Pilot has said that this was a risk. Rgds. T Jones. tob@tj44.demon.co.uk reply | | Jerry Roberts, e-mail, 06.12.2016 23:47 anyone have a handle on a Dale Johnson with the 29th FIS Malmstrom AFB Great Falls Montana 1 /1965-1 /1968? From Milbank So Dak, It's Appreciated. reply | | Jerry Roberts, e-mail, 04.11.2016 16:46 For anyone that may have passed thru the 29TH FIS at Malmstrom AFB 1965-1968 or you happened to be in Billings,MT and DET#1, I got this info from Tim Bopp and thought I'd share it with you.
Mersereau, Gage M. Col. Gage Marston Mersereau joined his fighter pilot buddies in the sky on April 3, 2012. He passed in peace and flew on to his next journey with his family by his side. Colonel Mersereau served in the US Air Force for 29 years as a decorated fighter pilot. Colonel Mersereau was born on March 11, 1931, in Buffalo, New York. He graduated from Waite High School in Toledo, Ohio, in 1949. He entered the Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps program following graduation from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, in 1953. His USAF career included two assignments as a base commander, one in Billings, Montana, and the other in Syracuse, New York. He served our country in Vietnam as an A-1 pilot in 1968 and 1969, where he was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross. His career also included assignments in Athens, Greece and Rome, Italy. He retired from Luke Air Force Base in January, 1981, with decorations which included the Bronze Star and the Legion of Merit. Following his retirement from the USAF, Gage worked as a flight instructor at the Airline training Center in Goodyear, AZ. He also owned a Pitts Special aircraft in which he competed and taught aerobatics. reply | | Dave Romesburg, e-mail, 22.10.2016 02:51 Was 46250 at Suffolk co AFB 1967. Loved the Voodoo to work on. Took early out due to family emergency. Lost track of rest of 462's I worked with who were great and talented. Hope they made it home safe. I did rum into to two vets who assembled the 2A's at an Arizona Festival but they worked at different bases. Good memories! reply | | Bill Milliken, e-mail, 15.09.2016 00:03 My dad flew the F-101 out of Laon France circa late 50s to early 60s. He died a few years ago. His name is Gordon Milliken. I have a black and white of him standing outside the jet. He later flew the F-4C for recon in Vietnam 1967-1968 out of Camron Bay. I always figured he flew recon out of France, but I am trying to confirm this and also figure out which model he flew. Does anyone have any information? reply | |
| | Timothy Bopp, e-mail, 14.09.2016 09:12 To Jerry Roberts,
I was assigned to 29FIS Det. 1, 1967-1968 left when 106s brought in. I worked in AGE,became a friend and flew a number of times with Maj Gage M. I was the one who got the Det. in trouble for purposely breaking the sound barrier just before passing over the cliff at the edge of Billings. When Mayor Fraizer complained, Gage couldn't very well do anything to me because he was in the plane with me and was the one who taught me how and where to do it to get the best shock wave back on the town. Did you participate in the Yellowstone river floatilla? If you want to communicate contact me at timothyf.bopp@yahoo.com reply | | duane schmidt, e-mail, 28.08.2016 19:15 i was a crew chief on 90-283 c flight, in 60 to 1962
was a very good bird. i thing of the good airman in
the 29th. it was good times reply | | p.bender, 25.08.2016 17:01 also crew chief on rf101c out of 15 trs kadena ,Okinawa.
1963 for the recaord. we lived in a tent city in the graveyard across from gen. ky's villa . very interesting reply | | Jerry Roberts, e-mail, 16.05.2016 17:51 JL Brown, I was a B man auggie loader on the 101 at Malmstrom and at Det#1 for 2+ years. That book would have been an armament troop teams bible. If that is what your trying to find reply | | JL Brown Jr, e-mail, 11.05.2016 10:26 Art Harrell, does anyone know if he still has a ATR-2A genie rocket load trainer? If anyone know where bouts one can be found,
Either AIM-4F or G, or a ATR-2A trainer, please let me know
Thanks. Brownie reply | | Jeff Kolln, e-mail, 07.02.2016 04:58 I have couple questions for anyone that may have knowledge of the 27th FBW F-101 aircraft. First the Fire Wall aircraft was 53-2426, but there was a "spare" aircraft also sent, does anyone know the number of the aircraft. Also I am trying to find which squadrons the following aircraft belonged to at Bergstrom? The Wing history does not show them; 56-028, 56-029, 56-033, 56-034, 56-035, 56-038, and 56-039. reply |
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