Entering service in 1957, McDonnell's Voodoo proved to be a versatile machine. Originally designed as a single seat, long range supersonic escort fighter for SAC, it was instead picked up by Tactical Air Command as the F-101C strike-fighter armed with "nukes". Its only conventional ordnance being its cannons as it was not wired for bombs or rockets. These fighter bomber versions had a short life, being rapidly replaced by F-105s in the same mission.
The Fighter Voodoos gave way to the photo-recon versions which excelled in low altitude high speed reconnaissance and earned high marks in that role during the VietnamWar. The RF-101s were so popular that they were not retired until 1975 even though RF-4C photoPhantoms were available by then.
In 1959, a two seat, all weather interceptor model, the F-101B was fielded. It was armed with three Falcon missiles and two Genie rockets. By virtue of its long range and superior speed, Voodoo units quickly augmented the F-102 in NORAD and the F-101B was selected by the Canadian Air Force to be its main interceptor. The Voodoos were excellent interceptors and only retired from the U.S. Air Defense Command in 1983.
F-101B Voodoo
Mach Riders: Great Supersonic Jets of the '50s Aircraft Briefings
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© Copyright 1991 by J.D. Webster
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