<article><hdr>Aerial shot of an F-101B Voodoo</hdr><body>
<hi style=afpcap>The F-101 was originally conceived as a long range fighter escort for Strategic Air Command, although SAC relinquished this duty to SAC soon aster the aircraft were produced. Further development produced the RF-101 for tactical reconnaissance, and a two seater version for interceptor duties with Air Defence Command (ADC) as the F-101B. The primary weapons system was two Douglas MB-1 unguided nuclear rockets, although the version was capable of carrying three Falcon rockets in the bomb bay was well as a healthy bomb load. To permit a faster rate of climb the afterburner was elongated slightly. ADC had dozens of individual squadrons of F-101B stationed at strategically important locations within the United States as a manned interceptor force. Gradually these were transferred to the Air National Guard, before upgrading to the |F-4 Phantom or F-15 Eagle, and eventually inactivating when the perceived threat diminished.</hi>
