This Day in McDonnell Voodoo History: June 21

In 1955, the USAF requested a study of the use of the radically new General Electric J79 turbojet in the F-101, developed for the new Lockheed YF-104A Starfighter and the forthcoming Convair B-58A Hustler, both capable of Mach 2 performance using the new engine.  In time, the first F-101A, 53-2418, would be bailed to G.E. for modification and flight testing with J79 engines.  

On the same date in 1967, the VooDoo suffered its first loss to a surface-to-air missile when Capt. Robert Patterson was shot down by an SA-2 Guideline near the border with Laos.  Five more missiles were fired at rescue forces, which were able to successfully rescue Capt. Patterson. 

Photo: Patterson's RF-101C, 56-0085, during better days with the 45th TRS in the early 1960s.
Photo Credit: D. Ostrowski via Mark Nankivil.