My apologies for the multitude of posts on this particular
subject. It seems that I either can't remember all my questions at one
time, or one question leads me to think of another one.
AAMs...
     According to nearly every reference source I've seen, the F-101B
Voodoo could carry 2 AIR-2 Genie AAMs and (depending on the source)
either 3 or 4 AIM-4 Falcons. If so, how in Hades was this achieved.
    The only quasi-good reference I have for this is a 1/48th scale
model of the 101B. It includes two AIM-4s and two AIR-2s on a flat
plate-like rotating magazine. The Falcons are mounted on semi-recessed
davets on one side of the magazine, with the Genies mounted on raised
hard points on the other side.
     Another reference is a etching of a RCAF CF-101B of the 409th
Nighthawk Squadron on the cover of an issue of Aviation Historian
c.197X. It shows this magazine in a vertical - half turned/rotated -
stance (as opposed to it's usual horizontal stance).
     From these references, I "assume" the magazine was a flat
two-sided affair that rotated along a centerline axis. Therefore,
if each side of the magazine could accomodate two missiles, and since
the Voodoo never had underwing hardpoint attachments, then how could a
total of five/six AAMs be carried.
     Given the contradictions here, I've generally assumed that it was
an either or situation. Namely that it could carry 2 AIM-4s and 2
AIR-2s OR 4 AIM-4s total at any one time. However, given the number of
references that state the plane was capable of carrying six missiles
at the same time, I can't help but wonder if my assumptions might be
wrong.
     So...was it an either/or arrangment, or did the plane have some
sort of triangular shaped drum magazine that accomodated the extra two
AAMs on yet another side.
"The Gentleman in the Back Seat".....
     What was the role of the Defensive System Operator or EWO in the
F-101B Voodoo? For that matter...what in Hades IS the *proper* AF
lingo for this crewmember?
     My guess (which is about all I can seem to do these days) is that
he served in a similar role to a US Navy Radar Intercept Officer (RIO)
- radar, radio, observation, and fire control operations (not to
mention giving the pilot someone to talk to). However, in an old bird
like the 101B, was target aquisition and release handled solely by the
gentleman in the back seat, or did the pilot also have weapons release
capability (say for example the IR guided AIM-4s).
     The reason I ask is that (again) "from what I understand"... 1)
all target aquistion and weapons release in the AF's early "Night
Fighters" (ie, the Northrop F-89 and Lockheed F-94) was handled solely
by the "back seater". Yet, in newer aircraft, such as the USN's F-14,
fire control can be handled by both the pilot and RIO. 2) Since the
101 came about before the invention of the HUD, I'm not for sure if a
Voodoo driver could target missiles using it's older "gun sight"
(which is sort of an oxymoron in my opinion considering the B model
Voodoo didn't have any guns!)
Derek (/\)akefield
iscandar@chatter.com
... WIZZO'S jam it faster, deeper, and more powerfully  
--- Blue Wave v2.12 [NR]
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