Rf-101 Voodoo Units in Combat

By Peter E. Davies

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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1472829158
• ISBN13: 9781472829153
• Release Date: March 2019
• Publisher: Osprey Publishing (UK)
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 7.1" x 9.6"