08/31/2019. Remarks by Fernando Hoyos: "Rodrigo Navarro, who has investigated in situ this particular aircraft's mission, says the F-101 was part of a scientific expedition to Tenerife (Canary Islands) backed by the USAF and implemented by McDonnell Aircraft to get data and photographs from a Sun's total eclipse in October 1959 which was going to be observable from the vantage point of the Canary Islands. The aircraft was adapted for its unusual role with scientific instruments in place of the radar equipment (which had been removed) and special photographic cameras placed in the cockpit.

This particular warplane was selected for the task because of the need to take the photographs from a height of 45000 feet -where the atmosphere is thinner- and at a supersonic speed -to counteract the Moon's movement. The F-101 left the St. Louis, Missouri factory, where its transformation had taken place, and following a route through Canada, Azores, and Morocco, arrived at Tenerife on the 26th of September, 1959, ready for the October the 2nd total eclipse event. Two cargo planes, a C-130 Hercules and a C-124 Globemaster were used as support for the eleven member expedition."