Davies, Peter E./Laurier, Jim (Illustr.) RF-101 Voodoo Units in Combat

This study tells the combat stories of the extraordinary RF-101, highlighting the difficulty of the missions on which it was sent and the courage of its pilots. McDonnell's F-101 "Voodoo" series was in many ways the most interesting of the "Century Series" fighter programs of the 1950s, partly because the type's design and intended mission changed radically during a 40-year career. Originally designed as a fighter-bomber, it was converted to be a reconnaissance aircraft, serving alongside the U-2 and RF-8 "Crusaders" during the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War. Although it gained a reputation as a difficult aircraft to handle, the jet's supersonic speed and newly-developed camera suite enabled it to conduct vital low-altitude photo-reconnaissance missions over heavily-defended target areas. In combat, the RF 101 was usually "first in-last out" for strike missions. This made it a ready target, with a solo aircraft flying straight and level to gather target photo evidence at low altitude offering enemy gunners plenty of opportunity to shoot the "Voodoo" down.

Although it was known as a difficult aircraft to handle, the aircraft's supersonic speed and newly developed camera equipment enabled it to carry out important photographic reconnaissance missions at low level over heavily defended target areas. In combat, the RF-101 was generally intended as a "first-in-last-out" on air-to-ground attack missions. This made it an easy target for enemy air defences: a single aircraft flying straight and level to collect target photos at low altitude, giving enemy gunners plenty of opportunity to shoot down.