McDonnell Aircraft Co. F-101B "Fighter Interceptor"
F-101B-110-MC s/n 58-0308 USAF project designation number WS-217A, call sign "Echo Kilo"
62nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron, K.I. Sawyer AFB. Gwinn, MI

F-101B,Tail Number 58-0308, nicknamed “Finn Power”, served at K.I. Sawyer AFB from December 1959 to April 1971 with the 62nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS) under the 56th Fighter Wing (Air Defense).

During its time at K.I. Sawyer and known as the “Defenders of SAC”, the F-101B's and 62nd FIS were awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (1967-1969), the Air Defense Command “A” Award for “meritorious achievement” (1968), the Air Force Flying Safety Award (1967) and were the “World Champions” at the 1965 William Tell Competition held at Tyndall AFB, Florida. Entering service in January 1959, 479 F-101B's were built as a two seat, all-weather interceptor used by the Air Defense Command. 79 dual-control “F” Models were also built.

The newer Convair F-106A “Delta Dart” replaced the “Voodoo” in 1971.The F-101B on display at K.I. Sawyer is actually serial no. 58-0291 that was last assigned to Hill AFB, Utah where it was battle damage tested to destruction before being dropped from the USAF inventory in 1982. It was then airlifted to K.I. Sawyer AFB in October of 1982 to become a permanent static display where it was painted and marked to represent serial no. 58-0308.

This aircraft was dedicated on November 27th, 1987 to Mr. Sam Cohodas and all the members of the 62nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron who served at K.I. Sawyer from 1959 until 1971.

This litho has been made for the aircraft maintained by the K.I. Sawyer Heritage Air Museum and is on loan from the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Artwork by Ugo Crisponi
Art. JP-517 size 30x40cm available through www.aviationgraphic.com