Subject: Number 101 in the Series--McDonnell F-101 Voodoo (2 of 10)

From: [email-masked]
Date: 15 Nov 93 17:21:51 GMT

>From [email-masked]

Back in January of 1953, the USAF had asked McDonnell to develop an 
unarmed photographic reconnaissance version of the F-101A as a 
possible replacement for the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash.  This work 
was initiated under Weapons System WS-105L.  

While under construction, the 16th and 17th F-101A airframes (54-149 
and 54-150) were set aside for conversion to unarmed photographic 
reconnaissance configuration under the designation YRF-101A.  They 
retained the J57-P-13 engines of the fighter-bomber version but had a 
redesigned and longer nose housing four cameras designed for 
low-altitude photography.  In addition, two high-altitude cameras were 
mounted behind the cockpit in place of the ammunition boxes of the 
fighter variant.  The dual-mode inflight refuelling system of the 
fighter version was retained, but the internal fuel tank arrangement 
was revised slightly resulting in a slightly reduced fuel capacity of 
2250 gallons.  

Thirty-five production versions were built under the designation 
RF-101A.  The RF-101A became the USAF's first supersonic photographic 
reconnaissance aircraft.  The first RF-101A was delivered to the 17th 
Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance 
Wing at Shaw AFB in South Carolina on May 6, 1957 as a replacement for 
the subsonic RF-84F.  The last RF-101A machines were delivered in 
October of 1957.  Following the delivery of the 35th RF-101A, 
production switched over to the RF-101C version, 166 examples of which 
were built.  

The photographic cameras carried by the RF-101A consisted of a long 
focal-length Fairchild KA-1 framing camera, one vertical and two side 
oblique Fairchild KA-2 framing cameras, and one CAI KA-18 strip 
camera.  Since this equipment was initially scarce or even completely 
unavailable, many of these early RF-101As were initially delivered 
without a full set of cameras, which severely limited their 
picture-taking capability.  Gradually, however, this equipment was 
eventually delivered and installed and the RF-101As were finally made 
fully capable of carrying out their primary missions.  

On November 27, 1957, four RF-101As undertook *Operation Sun-Run* and 
set several new transcontinental speed records.  They took off from 
Ontario, California and flew to McGuire AFB in New Jersey, being 
refuelled in flight by KC-135As.  Two of the aircraft landed at 
McGuire, while the other two flew back to California and landed at 
March AFB.  In the flight, 1st Lieut Gustav Klatt set an new eastbound 
coast-to-coast record of 3 hours 7 minutes 43 seconds (average speed 
of 781.7 mph) and Captain Robert Sweet set a new westbound 
coast-to-coast record of 3 hours 36 minutes, 33 seconds (average speed 
of 677.7 mph) and set a new Los Angeles->New York->Los Angeles round 
trip record of 6 hours 46 minutes 36 seconds (average speed of 721.85 
mph).  In December of 1957, an RF-101A flew from Tachikawa AFB in 
Japan to Hickham AFB in Hawaii in 6 hours 3 minutes to set a 
point-to-point record.  

RF-101A/C aircraft of the 363rd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing flew 
vital reconnaissance missions over Cuba during the Missile Crisis of 
October 1962, confirming and then monitoring the Soviet missile 
buildup on that island.  The first missions over Cuba took place on 
October 23, 1962, and 15 pilots from the 363rd were awarded 
Distinguished Flying Crosses during that action.  

The RF-101A, like its fighter stablemate, logged an excellent safety 
record with the USAF.  The F/RF-101A had the distinction of having the 
lowest first-year accident of any operational fighter in USAF history.  

Beginning in November 1959, ex-USAF RF-101As were operated by the 
Chinese Nationalist Air Force.  A total of eight RF-101As were 
acquired by the Nationalist Chinese and were used for routine 
photographic reconnaissance work as well as for making covert spy 
flights over the mainland.  The last CNAF RF-101A was retired in the 
late 1970s.  One CNAF RF-101A (54-1505, Chinese serial number 5660) is 
preserved in a museum on Taiwan.  

One RF-101A was transferred to the Air National Guard in 1966.  

By June of 1970, accidents, cannibalization, and transfers had 
depleted the active USAF fleet to 14 RF-101As.  Six of these were 
being used exclusively for training.  During the following year, all 
of the remaining RF-101As were retired from USAF service.  

Serials of the RF-101A: 

54-149/150 	McDonnell YRF-101A-10-MC Voodoo 
54-1494/1496 	McDonnell RF-101A-20-MC Voodoo 
54-1497/1507 	McDonnell RF-101A-25-MC Voodoo 
54-1508/1518	McDonnell RF-101A-30-MC Voodoo 
54-1519/1521 	McDonnell RF-101A-35-MC Voodoo 

Specification of the RF-101A: 

Two Pratt & Whitney J57-P-13 turbojets, 10,200 lb.s.t. dry and 15,000 
lb.s.t. with afterburner.  Dimensions: wingspan 39 feet 8 inches, length 
69 feet 4 inches, height 18 feet 0 inches, wing area 368 square feet.  
Maximum speed 1012 mph at 35,000 feet.  Initial climb rate 46,600 
feet/min.  Service ceiling 55,800 feet, combat ceiling 51,540 feet.  
Normal range 1100 miles, maximum range 2195 miles.  Weights: 25,335 
pounds empty, 47,331 pounds gross, 39,495 pounds combat weight, 50,000 
pounds maximum takeoff.  Maximum internal fuel load was 2250 US 
gallons.  A total of three under-fuselage drop tanks could be carried, 
bringing maximum fuel load to 3150 US gallons.  The RF-101A was 
unarmed.  

Sources:

  McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920: Volume II, Rene J.
  Francillon, Naval Institute Press, 1990.

  United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and
  Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.

  The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.

  Fighters of the United States Air Force, Robert F. Dorr and
  David Donald, Temple Press Aerospace, 1990.

  American Combat Planes, Third Enlarged Edition, Ray Wagner, Doubleday,
  1982.

  Post-World War II Fighters, 1945-1973, Marcelle Size Knaack,
  Office of Air Force History, 1986. 

Joe Baugher		AT&T Bell Laboratories   	
2000 North Naperville Road      Naperville, Illinois 60566-7033