This Day in McDonnell Voodoo History: July 10

In 1953, McDonnell formally began work on a new centerline store, the Model 96, carrying a MK 5 weapon to be mounted on the F-101A.  Far more destructive than any fighter weapon before it, the Model 96 store would allow the VooDoo to support SAC B-36, B-47, and B-52 bombers by destroying Soviet radar sites, interceptor bases, forward strategic bomber bases, and antiaircraft sites that lay in the path of the bomber streams. 

Photo: Early drawing of F-101/XW-5 proposal.  Notice F-88 style inlets as seen on original F-101A mockup, but with production "T-tail" design.  The tail was reconfigured well before the new store was considered for the Voodoo.

Photo Credit: Department of Energy.