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.
Gila Bend, Arizona is the only place in the world where two RF-101s are on display, and both aircraft have remarkably similar histories. This is 56-0130, which entered service in 1965 with the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at RAF Upper Heyford, UK. In 1969, it was reassigned to the 363rd TRW at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, where the USAF began concentrating its remaining RF-101Cs before retiring them from active duty. It finished its career with the 188th TRG (Arkansas ANG) at Fort Smith, but only flew with that unit for less than a year before it was retired for good in 1970. It made its way to MASDC at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona in 1976, and was then donated to the town of Gila Bend for display. Why it and its "stablemate," 56-0112, ended up at Gila Bend is unknown, as the small USAF auxiliary field at the town never flew RF-101s.
Nonetheless, it is good to see that a few of these unique aircraft remain. 56-0130 is displayed on the south side of the airport entrance--Gila Bend's airport is tiny (there was no one there the day I visited in June 2020). The Arizona sun has faded some of its markings and it lacks engines (which would've been removed at MASDC), but otherwise, the dry air has preserved 56-0130 better than most.
Shortly after taking this picture, a F-16 from Tucson came over at high altitude. We watched him do some runs over the nearby Goldwater Air Force Range before he headed for home.
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.
Gila Bend, Arizona is the only place in the world where two RF-101s are on display, and both aircraft have remarkably similar histories. This is 56-0130, which entered service in 1965 with the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at RAF Upper Heyford, UK. In 1969, it was reassigned to the 363rd TRW at Shaw AFB, South Carolina, where the USAF began concentrating its remaining RF-101Cs before retiring them from active duty. It finished its career with the 188th TRG (Arkansas ANG) at Fort Smith, but only flew with that unit for less than a year before it was retired for good in 1970. It made its way to MASDC at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona in 1976, and was then donated to the town of Gila Bend for display. Why it and its "stablemate," 56-0112, ended up at Gila Bend is unknown, as the small USAF auxiliary field at the town never flew RF-101s.
Nonetheless, it is good to see that a few of these unique aircraft remain. 56-0130 is displayed on the south side of the airport entrance--Gila Bend's airport is tiny (there was no one there the day I visited in June 2020). The Arizona sun has faded some of its markings and it lacks engines (which would've been removed at MASDC), but otherwise, the dry air has preserved 56-0130 better than most.
Shortly after taking this picture, a F-16 from Tucson came over at high altitude. We watched him do some runs over the nearby Goldwater Air Force Range before he headed for home.