Kingsley Field

F-101 VOODOO AT KINGSLEY FIELD — Klamath County Museum’s Photo of the Week for Dec. 22, 2024, is an undated image that shows a McDonnell F-101 Voodoo being guided into a hangar at Kingsley Field. It appears that the jet was returning to the hangar after night operations, and the signalman is telling the pilot to stop. Each of the three buildings seen in the photo are still in use on the base. McDonnell began work on the jet that eventually became the F-101 in 1946, utilizing jet propulsion data captured from the Germans in World War II. After a number of iterations and variants, production began in 1954. The Voodoos first arrived at Kingsley on April 1, 1959. Originally conceived as a bomber escort, the Voodoo transitioned into the role of fighter, capable of effective air-to-air combat and limited bombing operations. Another variant existed for the purpose of reconnaissance. An accident occurred in June 1963, when an F-101 piloted by Harold Smith developed a problem at 30,000 feet. When the issue grew worse, Smith and his copilot ejected. The jet crashed roughly 22 miles north of Kingsley Field. Tragically, Smith’s parachute did not open and he was later found deceased. The F-101’s time at Kingsley Field officially ended December 31, 1969, and it was replaced by the F-106 Delta Dart.

 Klamath County Museum

100 years ago

Streets of Klamath Falls today were transformed to a skating rink when a heavy downpour of rain, starting last night and lasting till the early hours of the morning, was followed by a sudden drop in temperature which caused a freeze before the rain drained from the streets.

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