The RF-101A was compatible with both types of midair refuelling that were in use at the time. There was a retractable
refuelling probe in the nose to engage the probe-and-drogue system carried by the KB-50J, and a receptacle behind the pilot's
cockpit to accept the flying boom of the KC-97 and KC-135.
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. The nose camera system
had a battery-powered elevator to lower the cameras to retrieve the film packs. When the cameras were not installed, the
wedge-shaped nose provided excess stowage space for cargo or personal effects.
Since the camera equipment was initially quite 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 new 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 under a project code-named Operation Boom Town and were used for
routine photographic reconnaissance work as well as for making covert spy flights over the mainland. The mainland
government claims to have shot down two of these aircraft. 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. The RF-101A served briefly with the 154th TRS of the
Arkansas Air National Guard and with the 127th TRG of the Michigan ANG.
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:
54-0149/0150 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
56-0155/0161 McDonnell RF-101A-35-MC Voodoo
Specification of the RF-101A:
Engines: 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.
Performance: 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.
Armament: The RF-101A was unarmed.
Armament: The RF-101A was unarmed.
McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920: Volume II, Rene J.
Francillon, Naval Institute Press, 1990.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Armament, Bill Gunston,
Orion, 1988.
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.
McDonnell F-88/F-101 Voodoo Variant Briefing, Robert F. Dorr, Wings
of Fame, Vol 1, 1996.
Webmaster's note: All of the information above is provided by a friend of the FISRG, Joe Baugher (jbaugher@worldnet.att.net)
