DOC Voodoo Warriors: The Story of the McDonnell Voodoo Fast-jets by Nigel Walpole in History

Review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Two stars simply because the binding is complete garbage. 3.25 Stars as a RF/F-101 NarrativeBy JCALFirst; two stars simply because the quality of the binding is complete garbage. It's difficult to open the book and I expect the spine to start splitting soon.Please do not buy this book if you're looking for a nuts and bolts description of the Voodoo or looking to super detail a model. It's not what the author intended this volume to be.3.25 stars as a RF/F-101 Narrative. Strong points include excellent coverage of the CF-101 and Southeast Asia including the POW experience. This is a great volume for former Voodoo squadron members; or perhaps those who might have a loved one mentioned somewhere within its pages.Overall a solid and sometimes "over detailed" look at the service history and the personalities of the Voodoo at the squadron/organizational level. Development; systems; structures and other technical details normally covered in a book about an airplane are particularly thin in this volume.I get the feeling this book was written mostly as a response to requests received during reunions. If that was the case this volume succeeds admirably.Except for squadron archivists; people involved with the Voodoo itself; or those who are preserving its operational history; I can't recommend the book. However; eighty plus reviews does show there is still a fair amount of interest in the RF/F-101.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. When I was a kid I built models of all the operational Century Fighters including the Super Sabre; The Dart and DaggerBy DMWFredVoodoo ReviewCompellingThe F-101 Voodoo is probably one of the least well known of the Century Series. When I was a kid I built models of all the operational Century Fighters including the Super Sabre; The Dart and Dagger; the Star Fighter and of course the Thud. But there was no model of the F-101 in the stores until many years later and then only briefly. I was a kid during the Vietnam war and I knew of all the tankers; the Naval fighters and Recce aircraft; Vigilantes and Destroyers and eventually the F-111. But I had no idea of the existence of the F-101. Recce for me was the U-2 and the Sr-71 only and some of the converted naval planes.I have no explanation as to why so little focus was given to the 101 especially since at least in SEA the number of flight hours accumulated far surpassed all other single Recce aircraft. Perhaps it was because this was “behind the scenes” secret work. I more suspect it was because the Voodoos were not looked at as combat aircraft- no guns and no bombs! What a mistake that is! The author continually refers to the pilots as “fighter pilots” and while they were not dog fighters; the Voodoo’s were most certainly combat aircraft even if they were not performing the roles for which they were originally designed.Historically of course there were the color series books mostly devoted to modelers but there was not a good consolidated history that included both technical details and personal stories from those who flew and serviced the aircraft. The later especially is rarely included in aircraft histories. I loved this book because it was complete although at times seemed a bit plodding and long. Part and parcel with that is the fact that it is unlikely anyone will do more justice to the operational service of the Voodoo ever again. So be it- this book is all you need.I so appreciate the author’s extensive coverage of the topic. It does justice to the plane and the men who flew it and frankly; it is sad to me that I had to wait until I was in my mid 50’s to find how important this aircraft was in the history of our country and its various conflicts both hot and cold.A story once well told will negate the need for others. As I said above I doubt anyone will attempt a more complete version of the Voodoo story. And because of this work there is no need for one.Many thanks to the author for an exceptional work about an exceptional aircraft and the very brave unsung men who flew it.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Early Century Series FightersBy Woodrow R. MosherNot enough is written about the early Century series fighters. For instance; this is the 1st book I have read about the F-101. There is plenty to read about the F-100 but the F-101; F-102; F-104 and F-106 is sadly lacking. Anyway; back to the book. I think is was a good mix of short stories. The stories about different AF bases and how the Squadrons were run in those days was very interesting. I was an F-100 mechanic across Lambert Field from McDonnell Douglas in those days and will never forget the 1st time I saw a Voodoo take off. It was a Happy Hooligan Voodoo that had stopped at our Air Guard Base for fuel and I was used to watching F-100's take off and use our whole runway and this F-101 takes off and has to pull the throttles back on take off too keep from over speeding the landing gear. Pretty impressive to say the least. Anyway; a excellent book and I would like to see more books on these older jets.