Ellsworth Air Force Base in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
F-101B Voodoo
Partners in the Cold War: The Royal Canadian Air Force
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
1. F-101B Voodoo Marker
Jets like this one—and like the F-102 to your right—served as interceptors: they defended the nation's borders against aerial attack. But although they were designed for our Air Force, American aerospace companies also supplied our allies. F-101s (designated CF-101s) were the primary air defense for the Royal Canadian Air Force for over 20 years. In the Voodoo, Canadian pilots intercepted Soviet planes testing North American defenses.
NORTH AMERICAN AEROSPACE DEFENSE COMMAND
In 1957, the United States and Canada integrated their air defense forces under a single command based in Colorado. NORAD is most famous for its operations center buried inside Cheyenne Mountain, but is also an enduring symbol of Canadian-American partnership.
The Cheyenne Mountain Complex protects the United States. Security Forces Airmen protect the complex.
A Canadian CF-101 Voodoo intercepts a Soviet TU-95 Bear bomber flying near North American airspace.
Canada and the U.S. partnered to operate the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line: 63 radar sites above the Arctic Circle.
CF-101 crews responded to warning signals sent by radar
this page online
DATA CARD
Top speed mph · 1,100
Crew · 2
Range · Continental
Payload · 4 air-to-air missiles, or 2 missiles and 2 Genie nuclear rockets
Erected by South Dakota Air and Space Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Cold. A significant historical year for this entry is 1957.
Location. 44° 8.001′ N, 103° 4.336′ W. Marker is in Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, in Pennington County. Marker and aircraft are on static display at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2890 Davis Drive, Ellsworth AFB SD 57706, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in West River, in the Badlands, and in Greater Rapid City. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
2. F-101B Voodoo and Marker
Another marker is no longer nearby. Rockwell B-1B "Lancer" (was within shouting distance of this marker).
Regarding F-101B Voodoo. Although an official field museum of the US Air Force Heritage Program and is adjacent to Ellsworth AFB main gate, the museum does not require access onto the base.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
3. F-101B Voodoo
Credits. This page was last revised on October 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 7, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
