The General Dynamics F-111 resulted from the Tactical Fighter Experimental (TFX) project of 1961, in which an attempt was made to create a swing-wing fighter for several roles for the US Navy and US Air Force. After edging out a Boeing design, General Dynamics teamed up with Grumman so that the latter firm, an experienced builder of carrier-based aircraft, could build the F-111 variant seen as early as 1961 as a replacement for the US Navy F-4 Phantom. The first USAF General Dynamics F-111A flew on 21 December 1964 and the first US Navy Grumman F-111B went aloft on 18 May 1965. Although its variable-geometry configuration was the principal advancement found in the F-111, the swing-wing worked perfectly from the outset. But the F-111B proved too heavy and in other ways unsuited to carrier-deck operations and was cancelled in May 1968 after only nine airframes had been delivered.
In addition to 17 F-111As for development work, 141 went to Tactical Air Command, with first deliveries to the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing at Nellis AFB, Nevada beginning in 1968. These were powered by two 8392kg afterburning thrust Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-3 turbofans. In March 1968, six F-111As of the wing's 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron under Colonel Ivan H. Dethman were rushed to Takhli, Thailand, to begin combat operations against North Vietnam. The first three aircraft launched on the first three missions vanished for ever, although the detachment later flew 55 missions successfully. The USAF discovered, as a prisoner of war from this deployment would later confirm, that a tailplane problem caused uncontrollable pitch-up and roll. This failure in the flying control system caused the aircraft to break up in flight without North Vietnamese assistance! A separate fatique problem caused wing spar cracks and, in 1969, resulted in the loss of an F-111A when its wing was torn off. In 1969, the entire fleet of 300 aircraft was grounded while an exhaustive structural review programme remedied these problems.
FB-111
The Strategic Air Command's FB-111A, operating with two wings, is a very long-range variant powered by two 9230kg afterburning thrust Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-7 turbofans, with modified inlets, long-span wing, and provision for nuclear or thermonuclear weapons or up to 50 340kg HE bombs; 76 FB-111As were built.
The EF-111A, officially named Raven but called 'Electric Fox', is a Grumman conversion of the airframe, resulting in a dedicated tactical jamming system and electronic warfare aircraft. Painted off-white and distinguished by a large fincap radome housing receiver antennae, the EF-111A flew in production form on 28 June 1981 and entered service with a USAF unit in England in 1984.
Twenty-four F-111C 'Aardvarks', the informal nickname for all fighter-bomber variants were delivered to Australia in 1973 after lengthy delays. The F-111C differs from the F-111A model in having a longer-span wing and stronger landing gear. Four F-111Cs have been converted to the reconnaissance role and the remainder, like many USAF 'Aardvarks', are being equipped with Pave Tack pods for laser acquisition of ground targets.
The F-111D, F-111E and F-111F are variants of what has become a
highly specialised long-range strike aircraft ideal as a counter to the Soviet Sukhoi Su-24 and as a means of hitting targets in eastern Europe from the British Isles. These variants are located respectively at Cannon AFB, New Mexico, RAF Upper Heyford and RAF Lakenheath, England. Production amounted to 96 F-111D, 94 F-111Es and 106 F-111Fs.
The F-111H was a proposed strategic bomber once perceived as an ideal interim step for the 1980s when it appeared that the Rockwell B-1 had been cancelled. The F-111K was the intended version for the UK's Royal Air Force. Neither was built, and total production amounted to 562 airplanes.
The F-111 crew sits side-by-side, the pilot (aircraft commander) routinely referring to his weapons systems officer as a YOT ('you over there'). Both are enclosed in a capsule which separates from the aircraft in an emergency, a proven escape system which obviates the need for ejection seats. When F-111s returned to North Vietnam in 1972, this two-man, terrain-hugging attack system proved eminently successful, a success repeated during the 1986 raid on Tripoli by F-111Fs flying from RAF Lakenheath. F-111s will remain part of the NATO commitment for years to come, though some will be replaced around 1990 by the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Eagle.
Mountain Home AFB 1976-1979 with a side trip to Nellis AFB to support operation Ready Switch. We brought the A models up from Nellis and sent the Fs to RAF Lakenheath. I hated to see the Fs go, Mountain Home got the bad end of that deal. I was an Automatic Flight Controls and Instrument Specialist, I also saw the introduction and implementation of POMO, Production Orientated Maintenance Organization.
On my last day in the air force, I got to sit in an F111-C at Richmond RAAF base, NSW Australia. I'd been a member of 22 (City of Sydney) Sqn. for around 12 years. It was an incredible experience.
Was station @ Cannon AFB,NM 27th EMS 1984-1990,delivered a lot of AGE to those birds and had the chance to go tdy twice to Nellis AFB for aircraft support during REDFLAG competition.
I had one or two shares of GD stock as a kid & was invited with my Father out to the Ft. Worth assembly plant at Carswell. Much to my childish delight I was allowed to sit in the cockpit of a completed 111 on the tarmac as I was closely watched by a man in a flight suit. I was admonished not to touch anything but soon became & antsy & then most displeased as the pilot abruptly ended my "toggle tour". I looked at my Dad (probably w tears in my eyes!) & told him to convey to the "rude" Gentlemen that I did not intend to fly the plane anywhere I just wanted to play. The grownups had come to the conclusion that had not been a good idea.
I Imagine there was no chance ordinance involved but given the time frame (1970 + or - 1 year) it could have already had an active ejection capsule & a functioning radar.
1800 hundred hours in the A & E models. Flt Commander, Ops Officer & Squadron commander during my 4 year tour at RAF Upper Heyford 1970-74. Fun plane to fly on low level TFR in the Scottish mountains. Tigers Roar !!!!
Does anyone remember my High Schools Sweeties Father I think He flew these COL.Alexander Butterfield.I served in Vietnam as a Marine Rifleman'68,have always loved Jets @ the USAF and their Daughters(lol)GodSpeed Semper~Fidelis
I've long thought that the root of much of the grief that plagued the F-111 was due to the Air Force's seeming inability to call things by their proper names. The F-111's mission was that of a medium bomber, not a "fighter" in any sense of the word.
Those of you who flew this remarkable aircraft are privileged indeed. What an aeroplane! Being from the UK, it is a real toss-up as to whether I'd liked to see the BAC TSR2 OR the F-111 in RAF service (Both preferably). Sadly, now it has been retired (Just like the excellent F-14 Tomcat) I never got to see it fly. With deep regret, even in 1999, I didn't see any parked on the runway at RAF /USAF base Upper Heyford, they'd been returned to the US by 1996 and retired from USAF service by 1998. I hope to see one static somehwere - must pop along to Duxford!
I just found this interesting summary as I was sitting at the computer using Google... My late husband was Col. Ivan H. Dethman, who in March 1968 took the 6 F-111's over to Takhli as mentioned above. Have you all seen the www.f-111.net website at all - it is quite a nice one. Regards /Marita
Bill Russell, e-mail, 22.11.2023 Marita Romson-Dethman
MRS Dethman, My name is Bill Russell and I live in Clovis NM. In my younger years I was in the 428th TFS in Las Vegas Nevada under the command of your husband Col. Ivan Dethman with Harvest Reaper and Combat Lancer in Thailand. That experience was one of the most rewarding times of my life and cannot begin to tell you the respect of the men that served under him held. To this date I am humbled to have had that experience. As we have all aged I pray this message meets you or your family in a timely manner to allow me and those men under him to express that appreciation !! GOD BLESS, Bill Russell 575-760-8282
As Commander of the 422nd Squadron at Nellis AFB, I had the privilege of participating in a high altitude, high-priority test out of Eglin AFB. We were outfitted with the Gemini pressure suit at Edwards AFB so we could operate above 50,000 feet. During one of the test missions, I made it from New Orleans to Tampa Bay in about 15 minutes (over the gulf of course).
While stationed at SAC Hq, I was immently involved in the FB-111G, a stretch variant of the FB-111A, it was designed to replace the B-1A, cancelled by Pres Carter. Carter cancelled the B-1A program in favor of the stealth bomber, the B-2. Of course not many knew about the new bomber. Later, when Pres Reagan restarted the B-1 (as the B-1B), I got involved with it as a Rockwell employee...for 17 years.
This page has line drawings of the Boeing TFX and a photo of a model: steeljawscribe.com /2007 /11 /30 /flightdeck-friday-tfx-%E2%80%93-a-time-for-turkeys-pt-ii /
MRS Dethman,
My name is Bill Russell and I live in Clovis NM. In my younger years I was in the 428th TFS in Las Vegas Nevada under the command of your husband Col. Ivan Dethman with Harvest Reaper and Combat Lancer in Thailand. That experience was one of the most rewarding times of my life and cannot begin to tell you the respect of the men that served under him held. To this date I am humbled to have had that experience. As we have all aged I pray this message meets you or your family in a timely manner to allow me and those men under him to express that appreciation !! GOD BLESS, Bill Russell 575-760-8282
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