McDonnell F-101 Voodoo, Page 1

Intro F-101A RF-101A F-101B CF-101B&F RF-101B F-101C RF-101C F-101F RF-101G RF-101H

Voodoo in Canadian service, CF-101B, CF-101F

In 1959, the Canadian government cancelled work on the Avro CF-105 Arrow advanced Mach-3 all weather interceptor, opting instead for a surface-to-air missile defense based on the IM-99 Bomarc long-range missile. It soon became apparent that the cancellation of the Arrow project was a mistake, and that Canada would need a manned long-range all-weather interceptor capable of supersonic performance. In order to fill in the void left by the cancellation of the Arrow, the Canadian government decided to adopt the F-101B Voodoo.

The Canadian Voodoos were all ex-USAF machines rather than new builds. The first deliveries of Voodoos to Canada were under Operation Queens Row. A first batch of 56 F-101Bs was delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force (later renamed the Canadian Armed Forces) between July of 1961 and May of 1962. The first batch of Canadian Voodoos included 25 F-101B-115-MCs and 31 F-10B-120-MCs, all of them from a 1959 fiscal year production lot. In Canadian service, they were designated CF-101B. The CF-101Bs were virtually identical to the USAF F-101B, including the nose inflight refuelling probe which was never used tactically by RCAF Voodoos.

In addition, Canada also received ten F-101F two-seat operational trainers. These included four F-101F-116-MCs and six F-101F-121-MCs. These were virtually identical to the F-101B interceptor, and were fully combat-capable. In Canadian service, they were designated CF-101F.

In Canadian service, these CF-101Bs and Fs were assigned Canadian serial numbers using the last three digits of their USAF serials prefixed by the number 17 (for example, 59-391 became 17391).

The first 45 CF-101Bs and CF-101Fs entered service on November 13, 1961 when No. 410 Squadron based at Ottawa began conversion to the type. Other RCAF squadrons to acquire the Voodoo were No. 409 "Crossbow" (later "Nighthawk") Squadron based at Comox, British Columbia, No. 414 "Black Knights" Squadron based at North Bay, Ontario, No. 416 "Black Lynx" Squadron based at Bagotville, Quebec, and No. 425 Squadron "Alouette" Squadron based at Chatham, New Brunswick. No. 414 Squadron at North Bay was the Operational Training Squadron for the type.

In 1970-71, the 46 surviving CF-101Bs and CF-101Fs from the initial batch delivered to Canada were traded to the USAF for 56 refurbished and modernized F-101B interceptors and ten new F-101F operational trainers under Operation Peach Wings. These ex-USAF Voodoos were from earlier production batches, but had been upgraded with infrared sensors and improved fire control systems as part of Project *Bold Journey*. In Canadian service, this new batch of 66 Voodoos were assigned consecutive serial numbers in the 101001 to 101066 range, with the ten CF-101Fs being given the numbers 101001/101007, 101022, 101024 and 101052. These modernized Voodoos remained in service with Nos. 409, 410, 416, and 425 Squadrons until replaced by McDonnell Douglas CF-18A/Bs in the early 1980s.

The CF-101s carried the same armament as did their USAF counterparts-- two AIM-4D Falcons and up to two AIR-2A Geniers. The Falcons were programmed to be launched in salvo, the second firing a half-second after the first. The improved AIM-26B later replaced the AIM-4. It was never officially confirmed that the nuclear-tipped Genie was a CF-101 weapon, but Canadian crews often trained with this weapon and it is generally believed that Canadian Voodoos operated with live Genies under a dual-key arrangement for the release by the US of the nuclear warheads should the need arise.

Two Canadian Voodoos were equipped as specialized electronic countermeasures aircraft and used as ECM aggressor aircraft in training. One was an ex-Canadian Armed Forces CF-101F (serial number 101006), whereas the other was an ex-USAF F-101B (58-0300) which had been specially purchased in 1982 and given the Canadian serial number 101067. These two aircraft were given the unofficial designation EF-101B in Canadian service.

The last CF-101B left Canadian Armed Forces service in 1985. The two EF-101B (101006 and 101067) aggressor training aircraft serving with No. 414 Squadron lasted a little while longer, and were retired in 1986, finally bringing the era of the Voodoo to a close.

CF-101B serial number 101021 is on display at the Calgary Aerospace Museuem. 101035 is mounted on a pedestal at Abbotsford Airport in Vancouver, BC. 101057 is on a pylon at the Canadian Forces base at Comox, with 101030 being nearby chained to a pad.

Serials of Canadian Voodoos:

56-0253                 McDonnell F-101F-61-MC Voodoo
                                to Canadian Armed Forces as 101001 in 1970/71
56-0260                 McDonnell F-101F-66-MC Voodoo
                                to Canadian Armed Forces as 101002 in 1970/71
56-0262                 McDonnell F-101F-66-MC Voodoo
                                to Canadian Armed Forces as 101003 in 1970/71
56-0274/0277            McDonnell F-101F-71-MC Voodoo
                                0277 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101004 
                                        in 1970/71
56-0304                 McDonnell F-101F-81-MC Voodoo
                                to Canadian Armed Forces as 101005 in 1970/71
56-0324                 McDonnell F-101F-81-MC Voodoo
                                to Canadian Armed Forces as 101006 in 1970/71
56-0328                 McDonnell F-101F-81-MC Voodoo
                                to Canadian Armed Forces as 101007 in 1970/71
57-0268/0270            McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo
                                0268 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101008
                                        in 1970/71
57-0272/0274            McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo
                                0273 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101009
                                        in 1970/71
57-0284/0286            McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo
                                0286 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101010
                                        in 1970/71
57-0288/0291            McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo
                                0289 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101011
                                        in 1970/71
57-0293/0296            McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo
                                0293 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101012
                                        in 1970/71
                                0296 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101013
                                        in 1970/71
57-0298/0301            McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo
                                0298 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101014
                                        in 1970/71
                                0299 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101015
                                        in 1970/71
57-0303/0306            McDonnell F-101B-85-MC Voodoo
                                0303 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101016
                                        in 1970/71
                                0305 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101017
                                        in 1970/71
                                0306 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101018
57-0313/0316            McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
                                0314 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101019
                                        in 1970/71
                                0315 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101020
                                        in 1970/71
57-0318/0321            McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
                                0321 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101021
                                        in 1970/71
57-0323/0326            McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
                                0323 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101023
                                        in 1970/71
57-0333/0336            McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
                                0334 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101025
                                        in 1970/71
57-338/341              McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
                                0340 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101026
                                        in 1970/71
                                0341 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101027
                                        in 1970/71
57-343/346              McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
                                0346 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101028
                                        in 1970/71
57-348/351              McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
                                0351 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101029
                                        in 1970/71
57-353/356              McDonnell F-101B-90-MC Voodoo
                                0354 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101030
                                        in 1970/71
57-358/364              McDonnell F-101B-95-MC Voodoo
                                0358/0360 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101031/
                                        101033 in 1970/71
                                0362/0364 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101034/
                                        101036 in 1970/71
57-366/371              McDonnell F-101B-95-MC Voodoo
                                0366 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101037
                                        in 1970/71
                                0368/0369 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101038/
                                        101039 in 1970/71
57-373/378              McDonnell F-101B-95-MC Voodoo
                                0373/0375 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101040/
                                        101042 in 1970/71
57-380/385              McDonnell F-101B-95-MC Voodoo
                                0380/0382 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101043/
                                        101045 in 1970/71
                                0384 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101046
                                        in 1970/71
57-387/392              McDonnell F-101B-95-MC Voodoo
                                0388 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101047
                                        in 1970/71
                                0391 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101048
                                        in 1970/71
57-394/399              McDonnell F-101B-95-MC Voodoo
                                0395/0396 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101049/
                                        101050 in 1970/71
                                0398 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101051
                                        in 1970/71
57-415/420              McDonnell F-101B-100-MC Voodoo
                                0418 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101053
                                        in 1970/71
                                0420 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101054
                                        in 1970/71
57-422/427              McDonnell F-101B-100-MC Voodoo
                                0424 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101055
                                        in 1970/71
                                0426 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101056
                                        in 1970/71
57-429/448              McDonnell F-101B-100-MC Voodoo
                                0429 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101057
                                        in 1970/71
                                0431/0434 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101058/
                                        101061 in 1970/71
                                0441/0444 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101062/
                                        101065 in 1970/71
57-450/452              McDonnell F-101B-100-MC Voodoo
                                0551 to Canadian Armed Forces as 101066
                                        in 1970/71
58-298/303              McDonnell F-101B-105-MC Voodoo
                                0300 to Canadian Forces in 1982 as 101067.
                                It is now in a museum in Minneapolis.
59-0391/0392            McDonnell F-101B-115-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17391 and 17392 in 1968
                                        upon return to USA, converted to
                                        RF-101B.
59-0393                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17393 in 1968 
59-0394/0399            McDonnell F-101B-115-MC Voodoo
                                all to RCAF as 17394/17399 in 1968
59-0400                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17400 in 1968.
59-0401/0406            McDonnell F-101B-115-MC Voodoo
                                all to RCAF as 17401/17406 in 1968.
59-0407                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17407 in 1968.
59-0408/0412            McDonnell F-101B-115-MC Voodoo
                                0408/0411 to RCAF as 17408/17411 in 1968.
59-0426/0436            McDonnell F-101B-115-MC Voodoo
                                0433/0436 to RCAF as 17433/17436 in 1968.
59-0437                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17437 in 1968.
59-0438/0440            McDonnell F-101B-115-MC Voodoo
                                all to RCAF as 17438/17440 in 1968.
59-0441/0442            McDonnell F-101B-120-MC Voodoo
                                both to RCAF as 17441/17442 in 1968.
59-0443                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17443 in 1968.
59-0444/0448            McDonnell F-101B-120-MC Voodoo
                                all to RCAF as 17444/17448 in 1968.
59-0449                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17449 in 1968.
59-0450/0453            McDonnell F-101B-120-MC Voodoo
                                all to RCAF as 17450/17453 in 1968.
59-0455/0459            McDonnell F-101B-120-MC Voodoo
                                455/457 to RCAF as 17455/17457 in 1968.
                                459 to RCAF as 17459 in 1968.  
59-0460                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17460 in 1968.
59-0461/0465            McDonnell F-101B-120-MC Voodoo
                                0461 to RCAF as 17461 in 1968.
                                0463/0465 to RCAF as 17463/17465 in 1968.
59-0466                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17466 in 1968.
59-0467/0471            McDonnell F-101B-120-MC Voodoo
                                all to RCAF as 17467/17471 in 1968.
59-0472                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17472 in 1968.
59-0473/0477            McDonnell F-101B-120-MC Voodoo
                                475/477 to RCAF as 17475/17477 in 1968.
59-0478                 McDonnell F-101F-116-MC Voodoo
                                to RCAF as 17478 in 1968.
59-0479/0483            McDonnell F-101B-120-MC Voodoo
                                all to RCAF as 17479/17483 in 1968.

Sources:

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)

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