The McDonnell F-101 Voodoo (1954-1961): The F-101 Voodoo evolved from McDonnell’s XF-88 long range fighter developed for the U.S. Air Force in the late 1940s. The F-101 flew for the first time on September 29, 1954, and went supersonic on its first flight. Three versions of the Voodoo were built: fighter/bomber (F-101 A/C), long-range interceptor (F-101B), and photo-reconnaissance (RF-101 A/C). The Air Force Command’s Strategic, Tactical, and Air Defense used the multi-mission Voodoo. The F-101 set a speed record in 1957 if 1,207 mph and could fly 1,500 miles without refueling. Reconnaissance Voodoos played a critical role in the Cuban missile crisis of 1962, flying low-level supersonic missions to provide conclusive evidence of the Soviet buildup in Cuba. One Voodoo skimmed so low over the island that it almost hit a volleyball being tossed by a Russian technician during a game. Production of all versions of the Voodoo totaled 807.