Following the F-111 retirement in Dec 10, the Australian Government agreed to fund and retain several aircraft, crew modules and the F-111C simulator at various RAAF Bases and museums throughout Australia. An F-111 Disposals Team, lead by WGCDR Clive Wells, was formed within DMO and managed the task superbly. Several F-111Cs and modules were successfully restored and delivered in pristine condition. After much discussion, the Chief of Air Force (AVM Geoff Brown, AO; former OC82WG) decided that all aircraft would be painted in their original camouflage and adorned with both 1 and 6 SQN markings.
The remaining 23 F-111s were buried at the Thiess landfill site in Swanbank, Ipswich, QLD, Australia. Whilst controversial to some, the alternative was to return the aircraft to Davis-Monthan AFB “Boneyard”, Tuscon, Arizona, under United States ITAR regulations that controls the manufacture, sale, and distribution of defense articles.
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More links @ RAAF A8 General Dynamics F111A/C/G & RF111C – ADF Serials website
The last F-111 Disposals Team trip, taking A8-130 to Hawaii
