The saga of F-101B 58-0328

[Chris Brame]

Thanks to Leon (Woodsy Airfield) for the story and photos.

(courtesy millionmonkeytheater.com)

Cleveland Air Route Traffic Control Center Acquisition of F-101B 58-0328

During the summer of 1977, Leon Cleaver learned of the Atlanta Center having an F-100 on display and suggested to the Chief that an aircraft would be a nice addition here at the Oberlin facility. Chief Ryan discussed the matter with our Military Liaison Officer Arnie Gersten and it was agreed to start the acquisition effort. In February 1978, the Cleveland Center was notified that an F-101 was available. The F-101B was flown from Fargo, North Dakota in "Happy Hooligans" 178th FIS markings to Portland, Oregon and then to Mansfield ANGB, Ohio during the spring of 1978.

Air National Guard personnel stripped what they could, including the engines. In the meantime, the 307th Transportation Company of Birmingham, Alabama had agreed to airlift the plane from Mansfield to Oberlin - a distance of some 40 miles. A static lift of the Voodoo was made via crane, and the weight of the aircraft was found to be at 20,000 pounds - at the limit of the CH-54A, so an additional 1,000 pounds of weight was found and removed. The F-101B was weighed again and the weight of 19,000 pounds was satisfactory.

The lift was made on June 13, 1978 with two refueling stops - Ashland and Wellington, Ohio - enroute. The Voodoo was displayed at the Center until its condition went downhill and an authorization for its removal was made in 1992. The Army's 179th ANG CH-47 Chinook removed the F-101 to the Mid-State Airport, Philipsburg, Pennsylvania.

At Mansfield prior to removal (with Jason), June 4, 1978.




C.G. check early morning at Mansfield, 6-13-78.

Meanwhile, the CH-54A was on its way up after a slight delay:



S/N 67-18414 (now N238AC with Erickson Air Crane)


Cleveland Center personnel interviewing Skycrane crew. L-R: CW03 Woody Strozier, pilot; SSG John Bowden, flight engineer; CW03 Dave Williams, co-pilot.


Chase helo OH-58A s/n 70-15611 (Per Baugher: to N12045 but NTU).


Flying into position for test lift - 11:00 AM 6-13-78.


After test lift and weight check, liftoff at 1:00 PM.


Pointing into the wind...


...now pointing backwards. Taken just east of Gilford's.


Just before touchdown at Center.


Coming in over the parking lot (note Leon is listed on the display committee).


A few seconds after touchdown. Note the folks watching from the roof; I'd like to see their photos!


On display in front of the Center, July 26, 1978.

Leon did some research on the aircraft, contacting Paul Stevens, an expert on the F-101 whose work he had seen in the AAHS Journal. From Mr. Stevens' response:

July 25, 1978

Dear Leon,

Many thanks for your information and photos of your local F-101B.

F-101B-110-MC c/n 700 on contract #34918 approved 3-28-58.
Delivered to 18th FIS Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota on June 30, 1960.
Transferred to the 75th FIS at Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan on October 31, 1969.
Transferred to the 119th Fighter Group 178th FIS North Dakota ANG, Fargo, North Dakota on November 14, 1969.

The 178th transitioned from F-101B/Fs to F-4Ds during the summer of 1977 and stood down F-101 alert on July 5, 1977. I don't have any information on the exact date she went from ND (Happy Hooligans) to Oregon and received the "23" side number. It is quite obvious this aircraft was not to be used in a long range basis because it was not repainted in Oregon markings. It is common for them to run out any remaining airframe hours on a PI (ed. note: What's a "PI"?) and to exchange low time engines for high timers before being flown out for storage/disposition such as 58-0328.

58-0328 was a very good aircraft and had no accidents/incidents and no serious maintenance problems having accumulated in the order of 4,000 airframe hours. I don't have any exact figures but 4,000 to 4,300 would be very close.

Enclosed is a 616 copy of a USAF PR shot in 18th markings without the squadron insignia and a couple b/w prints as marked on the back of each. I trust this material will satisfy your requirements.

Thanks for your interest in "My airplane."

Sincerely, Paul


(ed. note: Volk Field, Wisconsin, November 3, 1968)

Many years pass, and as so often happens with these display aircraft:


Lorain, Ohio Morning Journal, September 18, 1992.


Lorain, Ohio Morning Journal, September 19, 1992.
Off we go again.

So where is 328 today? Not sure. It did spend some time at Mid-State Regional Airport in Philipsburg, PA; here's a photo from 2003 by Paul Freeman (scroll down about 3/4 of the page):
http://www.members.tripod.com/planes_fr ... rts_PA.htm

A Google Earth flight over the airport shows no Voodoo now. The most recent photo that shows up is from January 2011 on Flickr:

(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Ted Nichols/Released)
It's listed here as being at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA. I've buzzed the area a bit with Google Earth, and though I've found an F-102 and a C-130 on outdoor display, the trail of this F-101 goes cold here.

So there you have it. Anyone know the fate of 328?
Thanks for viewing and thanks again to Leon for the story and photos!

[ChrisK48]

Check this location on Google Earth. Imagery date 4/24/2013.

40.444408° -76.555190°

This photo shows the aircraft as of November, 2009.

http://www.airfighters.com/photo/42331/ ... o/58-0328/

[Chris Brame]

Aha!



Thanks, Chris!

Photographer Remarks: The powers that be do not have the heart to put this airframe out on the range. There is talk of it going to a local VFW where it will be cleaned up and put on display.

Hope the fort - or somebody - will make an effort to spruce 328 up and display it properly.
Looks like there's also a Cobra just SW of it - maybe the one from Mid-State?

[Woodsy Airfield]

I figured WIXer's would come forward with current information. As Chris says, lets hope a more permanent display situation is on tap for 328.

[Nathan]

I live about 3 hours from there and been by the F-102 many times. Perhaps a road trip is in order and I'll get some info and post it. I had no idea there was a F-101 there!

Thanks for the story!

[Rajay]

Anyone else notice that the newspaper article about the CH-54 Skycrane lift operation referred to it as a "2.5 Billion dollar aircraft"?

[Woodsy Airfield]

Nathan - Since you've been by the Fort, are the F-102 and other displayed aircraft accessible to the public or are they inside a fenced in area. My son and I may be heading to Gettysburg in near future and a deflection up towards Fort Indiantown Gap wouldn't be too far...

Rajay - AHH! Those specialty reporters....I missed the $$$ amount also...

[Nathan]

Yes before you could just drive in and walk up to them. But things could have changed. The C-130 is new to me. I would call first before, just in case. Don't want any base police after ya.

[Nathan]

Yes before you could just drive in and walk up to them. But things could have changed. The C-130 is new to me. I would call first before, just in case. Don't want any base police after ya.

[Woodsy Airfield]

Good idea Nathan...Thanx for info...Leon

[myteaquinn]

Not the best pictures, scanned from prints. The last time that I saw 58-0328 9/19/1992

[ALOHADAVE]

I'm looking for an F-101 expert, someone who would know the history of several serial number F-101s. anybody got a reference?