This Day in McDonnell Voodoo History: June 22

In 1950, after the crash of the second XF-88 prototype, the original ship, with new afterburning J34-WE-15 engines, was ferried to Edwards AFB to compete in the penetration fighter “fly-off” against the Lockheed XF-90 and the North American YF-93.  

On this date in 1954, the results of a study for a single-place interceptor to supplement the now badly-delayed Convair F-102B were presented.   Two single-seat F-101A derivatives, the rocket-armed IF-101A and J67-powered IF-101B with a combination of rockets and guided missiles were chosen over the Northrop F-89X and advanced North American IF-100B interceptor proposals.

Photo: Ship No.1 as it had been evaluated in the XF-88A configuration.  Here, it is being removed from storage in January 1952 as both XF-88 aircraft were to be prepared to resume flight testing.

Photo Credit: Greater St. Louis Air & Space Museum