RF-101 Voodoo Units in Combat

Osprey Combat Aircraft #127

by Peter E. Davies

McDonnell's F-101 Voodoo series was in many ways the most interesting of the 'Century Series' fighter programmes 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. This study tells the combat stories of this extraordinary aircraft, highlighting the difficulty of the missions on which it was sent and the courage of its pilots.

151 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 21, 2019

Reviews

[Shrike58 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all of Osprey's variegated series I'd argue that "Combat Aircraft" tend to be the best bang for the buck, particularly as they're now covering some of the less over-done aircraft. Case in point is the booklet in question where the author has uncovered a great deal of information on the technology of the Voodoo's recon package to go along with the deployment and operations of this aircraft; highly recommended.

Originally written: June 1, 2019.

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 2019, 'RF-101 Voodoo Units in Combat' is number 127 in the popular Osprey Combat Aircraft series of aviation books. In this volume, the RF-101, that is the recon variant of the F-101 Voodoo long range fighter, gets the attention it deserves. Not surprisingly, the bulk of the book is devoted to the RF-101 in use during the Vietnam War, with some added coverage of its use in various brinkmanship incidents like Cuba. The Vietnam text tends to be a long string of anecdotes about RF-101 aircraft being shot down or barely surviving AAA damage, but the repetition did not bother me - I just enjoyed reading a book that was well supported by pics many in colour.

[Matthias Noch · Rating 4 out of 5]

All you can expect for a book of just 96 pages. I think it covered the topic well enough, but if you are looking for a detailed operational history of the RF-101 over Vietnam, you must buy another book.