Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA9304
RF-101C 'Operation Sun Run' 60163, 363rd TRW, 27th Nov 1957
 
General Background
Using the reinforced airframe of the F-101C, the RF-101C first flew on 12 July 1957, entering service in 1958. Like the RF-101A, the RF-101C had up to six cameras in place of radar and cannons in the reshaped nose and retained the bombing ability of the fighter-bomber versions. 166 RF-101Cs were built, including 96 originally scheduled to be F-101C fighter-bombers.
 
The Aircraft
McDonnell RF-101C-40-MC Voodoo 56-165, Operation Sun-Run #3. For Sun Run, the aim was to simultane- ously set a one-way coast-to-coast speed record and a round trip speed record as well. The route flown was chosen as Los Angeles – New York – Los Angeles, and the participants took off from Ontario AP (CA) and flew to NAS Floyd Bennett Field, a distance of 2418.88 miles, although the officially recognized distance for the record attempt was 2445.90 miles. The record-breaking mission showcased the speed and range of the RF-101C, an improved version of the first supersonic photo reconnaissance aircraft, the RF-101A.
 
This airplane was shot down over North Vietnam, 5 December 1966. The pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Leonard Warren, 20th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 432nd Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, safely ejected and was in radio contact for two hours after parachuting to the ground.