McDonnell RF-101C Voodoo
The F-101 Voodoo was originally built as an escort fighter for USAF strategic bombers. Unfortunately for the Voodoo, the jet bombers coming on the line for the USAF--the B-47, B-52, and B-58--didn't require escorts. The F-101 was a good aircraft without a mission. The USAF began building the F-101A as a low-level strike fighter, because if there was one thing the Voodoo had, it was high speed at all altitudes. This led the USAF to consider: would the F-101 make a good tactical reconnaissance aircraft?
In response, McDonnell rebuilt two of the YF-101A prototypes as RF-101A testbeds. This replaced the fighter nose with a more "chisel" design that contained six cameras instead of radar and cannon. The RF-101A turned out to be a superb reconnaissance aircraft, and entered production on a limited basis. Further variants were developed from later Voodoo versions, namely the purpose-built RF-101C, which entered service in 1958.
The RF-101 gave the USAF its first supersonic reconnaissance aircraft, and largely replaced the RF-84F Thunderflash and RT-33A Shooting Star. Pilots liked its speed and responsiveness; it was capable of genuine aerobatics in the hands of a good pilot. RF-101s would first be used by the Republic of China Air Force (Taiwan), either flown by ROCAF or CIA pilots, over the Chinese mainland; the USAF's first combat usage would be the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. The RF-101's dash speed was such that it was tough to intercept, though not impossible.
This was found to be true over Vietnam as well, where the RF-101 was the backbone of USAF tactical reconnaissance until the later years of the war. The Voodoo's speed at altitude made it impervious to flak, and even the MiG-21 could not keep up with it. However, the RF-101s often had to get down low to "get the pictures," and that meant that barrage flak could bring down Voodoos. SAMs were also a threat at higher altitudes. After losses began to mount, the RF-101s were camouflaged, which helped some, but also slightly lowered their top speed. 39 RF-101s were lost over Vietnam.
With the age of the aircraft beginning to tell, the Voodoo was gradually relegated to second-line units, replaced by the RF-4C Phantom II. Some soldiered on in Air National Guard units, but all the RF-101s were gone by 1979. A handful remain in museums.
56-0214 joined the USAF in 1958, and was assigned to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Laon, France; the 66th later moved to RAF Upper Heyford, UK in 1966 when France withdrew from NATO. It returned stateside in 1969 to serve with the 363rd TRW at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, but was only with the 363rd a short time before going to the Air National Guard, first with the 189th TRG (Arkansas ANG) at Little Rock AFB, and then with the 186th TRG (Mississippi ANG) at Key Field. It was retired in 1979 and was donated to the Pima Air and Space Museum in 1982.
56-0214 is looking a bit worn: the Southeast Asia camouflage has faded, and her tail numbers are nonexistent. Most of the aircraft around it have been recently restored, so 56-0214 probably won't have much longer to wait.
Astute followers of my page may notice that the career history for 56-0214 is virtually identical to the other RF-101C I photographed in 2019--56-0229, on display at the Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB, Georgia.
McDonnell RF-101C Voodoo
The F-101 Voodoo was originally built as an escort fighter for USAF strategic bombers. Unfortunately for the Voodoo, the jet bombers coming on the line for the USAF--the B-47, B-52, and B-58--didn't require escorts. The F-101 was a good aircraft without a mission. The USAF began building the F-101A as a low-level strike fighter, because if there was one thing the Voodoo had, it was high speed at all altitudes. This led the USAF to consider: would the F-101 make a good tactical reconnaissance aircraft?
In response, McDonnell rebuilt two of the YF-101A prototypes as RF-101A testbeds. This replaced the fighter nose with a more "chisel" design that contained six cameras instead of radar and cannon. The RF-101A turned out to be a superb reconnaissance aircraft, and entered production on a limited basis. Further variants were developed from later Voodoo versions, namely the purpose-built RF-101C, which entered service in 1958.
The RF-101 gave the USAF its first supersonic reconnaissance aircraft, and largely replaced the RF-84F Thunderflash and RT-33A Shooting Star. Pilots liked its speed and responsiveness; it was capable of genuine aerobatics in the hands of a good pilot. RF-101s would first be used by the Republic of China Air Force (Taiwan), either flown by ROCAF or CIA pilots, over the Chinese mainland; the USAF's first combat usage would be the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. The RF-101's dash speed was such that it was tough to intercept, though not impossible.
This was found to be true over Vietnam as well, where the RF-101 was the backbone of USAF tactical reconnaissance until the later years of the war. The Voodoo's speed at altitude made it impervious to flak, and even the MiG-21 could not keep up with it. However, the RF-101s often had to get down low to "get the pictures," and that meant that barrage flak could bring down Voodoos. SAMs were also a threat at higher altitudes. After losses began to mount, the RF-101s were camouflaged, which helped some, but also slightly lowered their top speed. 39 RF-101s were lost over Vietnam.
With the age of the aircraft beginning to tell, the Voodoo was gradually relegated to second-line units, replaced by the RF-4C Phantom II. Some soldiered on in Air National Guard units, but all the RF-101s were gone by 1979. A handful remain in museums.
56-0214 joined the USAF in 1958, and was assigned to the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Laon, France; the 66th later moved to RAF Upper Heyford, UK in 1966 when France withdrew from NATO. It returned stateside in 1969 to serve with the 363rd TRW at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, but was only with the 363rd a short time before going to the Air National Guard, first with the 189th TRG (Arkansas ANG) at Little Rock AFB, and then with the 186th TRG (Mississippi ANG) at Key Field. It was retired in 1979 and was donated to the Pima Air and Space Museum in 1982.
56-0214 is looking a bit worn: the Southeast Asia camouflage has faded, and her tail numbers are nonexistent. Most of the aircraft around it have been recently restored, so 56-0214 probably won't have much longer to wait.
Astute followers of my page may notice that the career history for 56-0214 is virtually identical to the other RF-101C I photographed in 2019--56-0229, on display at the Museum of Aviation at Robins AFB, Georgia.