C.J.

Here is an extract about 111's in SEA.

Looking I can't find any FB's. All were F's.

You will notice they lay the blame for poor performance to lack of
operational testing. Word that came down through command channels was
as I said in prior post.

Quote

In March 1968, 6 F-111A's left Nellis AFB to participate in the
Vietnam War under project Combat Lancer, the project was a disaster
for the F-111 which saw them being pulled out in November after losing
a considerable number of F-111's. One of the major reasons of the loss
was that the F-111 had not completed its operational test program and
its entry to the war was premature. The F-111 did not see action again
in the Vietnam War until September 1972. The F-111 finished its
deployment in 1973 when the cease fire was signed, the F-111 has flown
more then 3000 sorties and is cable of carrying 5 F-4 phantoms bomb
load and doesn't need any fighter escort or ECM support aircraft. The
F-111 proved to be a superior strike fighter for the USAF but now,
most F-111models are not in service with the USAF anymore. Although
the F-111 did not have an official nickname until its retirement, the
F-111 was commonly known as "Aardvark" for its long nose.

Unquote

They talk abaut 3000 sorties. This is can't be in SEA (?) and must be
the number of sorties during the lifetime of the F-111 with USAF?

On the story from your friend.

The two seated fighters that went 'out country' we

F-100 (Wild Weasel)
F-105 (Wild Weasel)
F-4

All used individual chutes. Could have been one of these A/C?

Lower tech A/C were used on the 'trail': B-26, A-1, T-28, etc.

Big John
Pilot ROCAF


On Mon, 19 Jan 2004 19:08:52 -0800, "C J Campbell"
wrote:


"Big John" wrote in message
.. .
| John
|
| There was a small group (6 or so) of 111's sent to SE Asia. Not sure
| if the were based in SVN or 'Out Country'? Believe 'out country'.
|

Most web sites detailing the F-111's history say that the F-111A was used
for tactical bombing, but they agree that the FB-111 never went to SEA.

The guys have convinced me, though, that the pilot who told me the story
must have been flying some other aircraft.