Voodoo Warriors: The Story of the McDonnell Voodoo Fast-jets

by Group Captain Nigel Walpole OBE BA RAF (Ret’d)

During the mid-1950s the United States Air Force was given its most powerful single-seat, two-engine fighter to date. The Voodoo would be deployed before the end of that decade in the tactical nuclear bomber and tactical reconnaissance roles world-wide, and in homeland defense with the two-seat, all-weather variant. In December 1957 it took the World Air Speed Record to Mach 1.6 - over one and a half times faster than the sound barrier.

This book looks at the evolution of the original design and its introduction into service. Chapters cover operations in Korea, Vietnam, the Cuban Crisis and in Europe during the Cold War years. Many first-hand accounts from pilots are included and the authors own experiences with the aircraft are given with fascinating insight. The Voodoo was an elegant, mean-looking fighting machine that epitomized fast flying in the fifties and sixties. It continues to be a revered airplane.

Genres: Aviation, Military Fiction, History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Philip Hollenback · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd say this was really more of a 2.5. There was just too much miltary jargon and boring plane detail in this book to make it really exciting.

[Roy Szweda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Voodoo lived in the shadow of its better-known McDonnell-Douglas plane, the legendary F4 Phantom but it has a special place for me - it was based at our local airfield, Upper Heyford so we saw them on a daily basis. Every year they put on an Open House so we got to see these noisy monsters up close. A cherished memory for me was rushing out of the house to see a very unusual formation of a tanker plane "towing" several of these Mach 2 jets. Wow what a racket, one you wish you had a camera to record but it is there in my memory bank forever.
There are few books on this mechanical marvel and its men so I was pleased to spot and read this one.
Osprey also have a book on the recce variant in Vietnam.
Previously I wondered it maybe that it is because the Voodoo was largely for photo-recce. Not much chance of air to air kills beloved of some books. Not that we should forget or decry their contribution as a trip to Wikipedia will attest for anyone who wants to know more. But better still get this book and find out how they did what they did under some very trying circumstances. Very dedicated and brave men who served their country to the best of their abilities happy to take these high-performance but user-friendly planes into the heart of darkness and hazard.
Unlike its contemporaries the 101 was out of the headlines simply because it was rugged and dependable, its crews loved it. Here you will discover how much they cared for it and it cared for them. A unique perspective from an exchange pilot that is well illustrated and compiled. One to savour and revisit I think. Meanwhile, a final salute to those guys who thrilled my schooldays and helped keep us safe.

[Lawsmom · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, this is not a book for ladies, I had been searching for a book that would describe to Our grandsons, what Grandpa did in his airplane. And this book, sealed the deal. I didn't want to buy a hard cover until I found out what it really contained. Well, I certainly found out. 14 members of the 15 Tac Recon squadron. All of whom were stationed with us, from 1962 -1965.

[Aidan Mc Carthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book.
Full to the brim of all things Voodoo, with a number of aircraft profiles thrown in for good measure.
Not many books available on the Voodoo, this is good one…

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Voodoo Warriors. I have read many books in this genre and hold them to a high standard. this one possibly more than others because the author is from another force that operates quite differently from the USAF. lt is clear though that not only is he well on top of the topic but also that he has maintained many of the relationships he formed in the Voodoo community as an exchange pilot.

Voodoo Warriors tells both the story of this very important aircraft in the overall context of the Cold War and it's finest hours in South East Asia, and of pilots and ground crews who flew this jet and kept it flying. all the major variants are covered as are the main operators.

The text is well-written and entertaining, interspersed with many personal anecdotes. The only reason that it took me so long to complete this book is that I usually only read my Kindle when I am waiting on my lunch order at the Chateau to cook. It is definitely a book that I will reread, one that I can recommend to others with an interest in aviation history, and one that encourages me to seek out other works by the same author.

[Horatiu · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real eye opener on the operation of a fighter rather unknown for me.
I especially liked the SEA parts. Fabulous book for all Military airplanes aficionados.