F-111C Aircrew

Aircrew Lists

How many aircrew flew aussie F-111s?     Answer = 393

From the F-111 program inception in 1966 until the last 6SQN F-111C/G operational conversion course (OPCON) in May 2008, 393 aircrew have earned their place on the ‘F-111C Aircrew Honour Roll’.   Aircrew names are arranged in chronological order when they first flew the F-111.  Where more than one aircrew is on the same course, they are listed alphabetically by surname.     F-111C Aircrew Honour Roll Alphabetical

  • 200   Pilots (PLT)

  • 153    Navigators (NAV)

  •   21    Air Combat Officers (ACO)

  •   16    Weapons System Officers (WSO)

  •     2    Air Electronics Officers (AEO)

  •     1    Flight Test Engineer (FTE)

Exchange Aircrew – USAFEX and RAFEX

Not all aircrew are Australian, the list also includes USAF and RAF exchange officers who came to ‘Oz’ and flew with 1SQN or 6SQN:

  • 11   USAF Exchange PLTs (previous F-111 or F-15E Strike Eagle experience)

  • 16  USAF Exchange WSOs (previous F-111 or F-15E Strike Eagle experience)

  •  8   RAF Exchange PLTs (previous Buccaneer or Tornado experience)

  •  8   RAF Exchange NAVs (previous Buccaneer or Tornado experience)

Concurrently, select Australian F-111C PLTs and NAVs flew with USAF (F-111, RF-4C or F-15E) and RAF (Buccaneer or Tornado) Squadrons

  • 10 RAAF exchange PLTs posted to United States

  • 18 RAAF exchange NAVs posted to United States

  • 8 RAAF exchange PLTs posted to UK and/or Germany

  • 10 RAAF exchange NAVs posted to UK and/or Germany

Checkout out FLTLT Tony Wilkinson’s F-111 Recollections 1969 – 1975   TWILK  – the first aussie NAV on F-111A exchange at Nellis AFB, Nevada

F-111C All Aircrew Master List

Whilst the ‘F-111C All Aircrew Master List’ spreadsheet lists 445 aircrew, a closer examination shows two triplicates, John Emery and Chris Lake, and multiple duplicates:

  • Nine PLTs and 15 NAVs who did 6SQN OPCONs previously flew F-111s in the ‘early days’ during 1966-72

  • Eight PLTs and five NAVs did two 6SQN OPCONs

  • Ten F-111C NAVs and one ACO subsequently earned PLT wings:

    • Steve Clarke, Leigh Beaman, Tiger Meadows, Phil Townshend, Teddy Blair,
      Marty Huet and Shannon Kennedy       re-roled as F-111C PLTs
    • Darryl Redding (RIP) re-roled as a Caribou PLT
    • Bing Kelly & Mark Johnson re-roled as C-130 PLTs
    • Anna Moore re-roled as a KC-30 PLT

Note:  F-111C Aircrew who returned on later tours did full F-111C OPCONs until No 23 CSE, thereafter tailored F-111C Refresher Courses

Aircrew Snippets                  

  • F-111C Chiefs & Commanders (1,2 & 3-star ranks)
  • Seven F-111C PLTs later became Air Marshals; Chief of the Air Staff or Chief of Air Force:
    • Evans, Newham, Funnell, McCormack, Shepherd, Brown & Davies
  • One F-111C NAV later became Air Marshal (John Harvey)
  • F-111C Execs (CO 1SQN, CO 6SQN & OC 82WG)
  • The two Air Electronics Officers (AEO) were Jim Graham & Mick Nott; 1 OPCON
  • Two RAAF Exchange Aircrew, Ham Reis & Rick O’Ferrall, did their F-111 OPCONs on US Exchange, not with 6SQN
  • 10 USAFEX PLTs were already F-111 qualified and did F-111C refresher training with 6SQN
  • One USAFEX PLT, Tom Gill, did 22 OPCON
  • 13 USAF WSOs were already F-111 qualified and did F-111C refresher training with 6SQN
  • Three USAF WSOs (ex F-15E Strike Eagles) did full OPCONs with 6SQN
  • Eight RAF PLTs (ex Buccaneer or Tornado) did full OPCONs with 6SQN
  • Eight RAF NAVs (ex Buccaneer or Tornado) did full OPCONs with 6SQN
  • Ten former F-111C NAVs later graduated as RAAF PLTs
  • One former F-111C ACO later graduated as RAAF PLT
  • Female F-111 aircrew restrictions were lifted in 1997
  • No Female PLTs graduated on the F-111C; since Mel Brauman’s suspension off 45 OPCON in 1997, no female PLTs were posted to fly the F-111C
  • Two Female NAVs graduated on 48 OPCON; Aroha Fifield and Brooke Chivers
  • NAVs became Air Combat Officers (ACO); wearing full wing brevets from 51 OPCON in Aug 2002
  • Five Female ACOs graduated between 51-61 OPCON:
    • Sue Youngman, Anna Moore, Zales Munro-Rustean, Julia Phillis and Adele Merriman
  • Two Brothers flew the F-111C, Tony and John Wilkinson
  • One Father and Son flew the F-111C, Trevor and Ricko Owen
    • TC flew the first F-111C ferry flight, A8-125, to RAAF Amberley on 1 Jun 73
    • RickO flew the last F-111G ferry flight, A8-512, to RAAF Amberley on 10 May 94

6SQN OPCON Photos – First & Last Course