From the Usual Source o' these thangs...
Cute concept for the 'toon, but the reality the image represents is NOT cute. Holbert has it right, too: both parties share blame for this mess we're in.
―:☺:―
More for me than thee:
Baghdad Express Debuts at Shaw: An F-111 Aardvark that once served with the 20th Fighter Wing proudly took its place this week on display at Shaw AFB, S.C., after a lengthy refurbishment by wing technicians. Airmen painstakingly restored the F-111E, nicknamed the Baghdad Express, in the authentic markings it wore during Operation Desert Storm in 1991, according to an Aug. 14 Shaw release. On the previous day, the Aardvark joined the four other 20th FW heritage jets on display at the base. Wing officials plan to formally dedicate the F-111 in a special ceremony next month. The aircraft, serial number 68-0039, flew with the 20th FW from 1970 to 1993 before the unit moved from RAF Upper Heyford, England, to Shaw in 1994, states the release. It had been in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., prior to its transport to Shaw in February. (Shaw report by A1C Krystal Jeffers)
There's a pretty good chance I've seen that ol' Aardvark fly. The 20th TFW at Heyford was my support base during the three years I spent in Ol' Blighty and I made the run from Uxbridge to Heyford quite often. From an old post:
Here's a semi-interesting aside. You'll note Big Ben in the mural above and that's a hat-tip to the 20th's history. Back in the 1980s the 20th Tac Fighter Wing flew F-111s and were based at RAF Upper Heyford in England. I know this because my squadron... the 2119th Communications Squadron, RAF Uxbridge... was attached to the 20th TFW for logistics and administrative purposes. I made weekly trips up to Heyford from Uxbridge back in the day, so I'm well acquainted with the 20th TFW. I find it interesting that SN1 and I share a small bit of USAF history.
(Article from the Usual USAF Source)
When I was stationed @RAF Woodbridge, the 20thTFW was stationed at RAF Weathersfield near Mildenhall in Cambridge in E. Anglia and equipped w. F-100C/Ds. One squadron of theirs, the 79thTFS "Tigers" was reflexed to our base @ "Woody" and sat on the other side of the runway. In 1970 the entire 20thTFW was relocated to UH and later re-equipped w. F-111s when the Upper Heyford Wing of RF4Cs (66thTRW) was disbanded.
ReplyDeleteThe retirement of the F-111 was STRICTLY due to green eye-shade reasons because of high maint costs to make way for the F-22 in the budget. There ARE STILL some mission profiles that the F-11 flew that CANNOT BE ACCOMPLISHED by ANY OTHER aircraft in the AF inventory. Yet another tragic result of budget short-sightedness..
The 27th TFW flew Aardvarks, too (at Cannon, before they transitioned to Lawn Darts and well before the wing was disbanded and became the 27th SOW). I have some linkage to the aircraft, as well, as SN1 was an avionics guy on the laser targeting system on 111s before he went over to the Dark Side.
DeletePS: I should have noted for the historical record that it was while they were at RAF Woodbridge that the 79thTFS "Tigers" started/founded the annual NATO "Tiger Squadron" fly-in of ac from every NATO nation that had a "Tiger" as a squadron emblem. Each ac would compete with special "Tiger" paint jobs covering the entire ac. You ought to google the NATO Tiger events and post some of the pics, Buck, this crowd might appreciate the Big-Cat "Plane PrOn."
DeleteYou ought to google the NATO Tiger events and post some of the pics, Buck
DeleteBlog-Bud Glenn has that niche covered.
I have a couple of co workers who did time at Upper Heyford, although one was in the SAR outfit.
ReplyDelete