The F-111s Stored in Museums
Following the RAAF F-111’s retirement in December 2010, the Australian Government agreed to fund and retain several F-111 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.
- 12 F-111s were preserved and loaned to museums throughout Australia
- One F-111C, A8-130, was later donated to the Pacific Aviation museum, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
- Six crew modules, including the three that successfully ejected, were donated
- The F-111C simulator is preserved at RAAF Point Cook
- One RF-111C was later inducted into the Australian War Memorial to recognise their secret aerial reconnaissance service during Operation WARDEN, East Timor
Several F-111Cs and modules were successfully restored and delivered in pristine condition. After much discussion, the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geoff Brown, AO and former OC82WG, decided that all aircraft would be painted in their original camouflage and adorned with both 1 and 6 SQN markings.
Decision to Preserve or Bury ?
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.
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
