USA F-111.net F-111 Aardvark OZ
F-111D
Last Updated 30 January, 2008

F-111D-return
F-111Ds returning from an exercise at Cannon AFB circa 71-74, photo George Matteson

Type
USAF S/N
Location/Remarks
F-111D
68-0085
 First flew 15 May 67, delivered to USAF 30 June 1970. Used as test aircraft at Edwards AFB and at McClellan AFB. Completed 1359 flights and 2451.8 hours. (info from reference book.) Don Logan's F-111 Aardvark Stripped at AMARC 13 November 1990 -
1st image courtesy of Cedric Mitchell
2nd image courtesy of Mike Kaplan
No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
Appeared at the George AFB, Open House, 30th October 1988; - Edwards AFB - 6512th Test Squadron
F-111D
68-0086
 AMARC 6 May 1992
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-0087
 AMARCNo longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
F-111D
68-0088
 AMARC 26 June 1992
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-0089
 AMARC No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
F-111D
68-0090
 First F-111D with full Mark II avionics. Delivered to Cannon AFB NM on 1 Nov 71.
Delivered to AMARC 25 November 1992
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-0091
 AMARC 10 July 1992.
Image courtesy of Matt Ellis
F-111D
68-0092

AMARC 26 May 1992. 
2006 - The Yanks Air Museum has just acquired F-111D, serial 68-0092. The Yanks Air Museum is located in Chino California and you may see our website at www.yanksair.com
After 20 years in the desert sun at DM the bird is not in the best of shape, but we will gear up to do a cosmetic restoration.
We are seeking any information available this specific aircraft. We know that she spent her entire service career with the 27th TFW at Cannon...was '0092 assigned to more then one of the Squadrons during that time? Was it deployed overseas? We are also seeking recollections of crews (both aircrews and ground crews) regarding this aircraft.
We are also seeking any photographs of 68-0092.
We would also like to invite any experienced F-111 hands who might be willing to volunteer some time and knowledge to assist us with our efforts to make '0092 presentable.

Please contact Nat Richards at yanksairmusuem@aol.com or call at 909-597-1735

IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-0093
 The aircraft was delivered to the USAF on 26 January 1972. It was ititallyassigned to 524th TFS 27th TFW.  While assigned to the 522nd TFS, the aircraft crashed and was destroyed 1920hrs MST, 3 October 1977 37 miles southwest of Clovis on the Alan Parker Ranch near Floyd NM during night practice bombing. Killed were CAPT Richard L. Cardenas (age 26) and CAPT Steven C. Nelson (age 26). Callsign CRAZY 46 crashed on downwind of the range pattern.  No ejection attempt was made.   The aircraft had a total of 301 flights with 851.5 flight hours when lost. (info from Don Logan's F-111 Aardvark reference book, Doc Servo and Jeff)
Airshow at Cannon AFB 19'71-74. Image courtesy of George Matteson
F-111D
68-0094
 AMARC 2 September 1992
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-0095
 Major fire 1975. (Doc Servo) AMARC 3 June 1992.
No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).

Image courtesy of Wayne King - Cannon AFB from 1976-1979, Aerospace Recovery unit 27th EMS
F-111D
68-0096
 AMARC 23 September 1992.
Image courtesy of Tom-Long - 524th-TFS-27th TFW Cannon AFB NM - August -1986
F-111D
68-0097
 AMARC 11 September 1992.
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-0098
 Crashed and destroyed 8 June 1988 at Melrose Range near Cannon AFB (Ben Marselis) Callsign CUBID 1.
Captains Glenn E. Troster and Michael A. Barritt both killed. The aircraft was a "blue tail", that is, belonged to the 523rd TFS when lost.
F-111D
68-0099
 AMARC 20 May 1992. No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-0100
 AMARC 18 September 1992.
Image courtesy of Matt Ellis
F-111D
68-0101
 AMARC 26 February 1991. No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
F-111D
68-0102
 AMARC 8 May 1992. No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
F-111D
68-0103
 AMARC 8 July 1992.
F-111D
68-0104
 AMARC 18 December 1992.

Image courtesy of Matt Ellis
F-111D
68-0105
 Crashed and destroyed 2121hrs MST, 20 March 1973 3 miles north of Holbrook AZ in Navajo country (near the meteorite crater). FATAL. (collision with F-111D 68-158)
Killed were MAJ Richard L. Brehm (age 37) and MAJ William T. Halloran (age 25)
Witnesses saw three fire balls.(Doc Servo and Jeff)
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-0106
 AMARC 11 September 1992.
Image courtesy of Raffael at Aeroslides.com
F-111D
68-0107
 AMARC 19 November 1992.
F-111D
68-0108
 AMARC 18 September 1992.
F-111D
68-0109
 Crashed and destroyed 16 February 1979 near Melrose Bombing Range 15 miles west of Melrose NM.
(Doc Servo and Jeff) Maj Philip Westfal (Ret.) writes: F-111D 68-109 (?) I also recall we lost one in 79 at Melrose during our very first night-lotoss mission. Crew made it okay.
Pilot had paddled-off the TFR on pull-up, but because the pilot had small hands, he had a problem hanging on the pickle button and the TFR paddle at the same time--his finger slipped off, the TFR went into the fly-up mode, he got disoriented, and punched. After the program was suspended until the investigation was concluded, I was the WSO on the SECOND crew to try night lotoss--fortunately my AC had a bigger hand . . . . As a post scriptum, the paddle switches were later extended to accommodate smaller-handed pilots.
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F-111D
68-0110
 Crashed and destroyed 27 January 1982 McClellan AFB CA. (Doc Servo)
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F-111D
68-0111
 AMARC 11 February 1991. No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).

Image courtesy of Robert Unwin
Seymour Johnson AFB - USA - North Carolina, October 27, 1990
F-111D
68-0112
 AMARC 5 August 1992.
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-0113
 523rd TFS aircraft Crashed and destroyed 1855hrs MST, 23 December 1973 near Cannon AFB NM (35 miles west of Clovis / 12 miles west of Melrose Range / 3/4 miles north of US 60-84). Killed were CAPT William K. Delaplane III (age 29) and LT Robert J. Kierce (age 25) (Doc Servo and Jeff)
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F-111D
68-0114
 AMARC 23 May 1992. No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
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F-111D
68-0115
 Mishap 21 January 1988. AMARC 15 July 1992. (Doc Servo)
Appeared at Bergstom AFB TX Air Show on the 5th August 1978
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F-111D
68-0116

AMARC 24 April 1992. No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
523d TFS
Image taken 21st August 1982 courtesy of Alan Gayler.
F-111D
68-0117
 AMARC 11 February 1991. No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
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F-111D
68-0118
 AMARC 5 June 1992.
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F-111D
68-0119
 Crashed and destroyed 1030hrs MST, 6 February 1980.
Mid-air with a Cessna Tu-206A Stationair II sn N7393N. (Doc Servo and Jeff)
Killed were: pilot-Captain Roy W.Westerfield, 34 years old; and nav-Second Lt.Stephen P.Anderson, 23 years old.
Civilian casualties were Mr. John R, Russell and Mr. Homer D. Douglas. (Doc Servo and Jeff)
Accident occured at about 5800 feet. F111 captain initiated ejection at about 1300 feet (sic AGL) but the capsule's chute did not have the necessary 2000 feet to deploy, and capsule struck ground nose down on left side, bounced 30 feet and ended up upside down. Crew killed on impact. (Joe Swierupski)
See aditional notes - (note pad txt file)
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-0120
 AMARC 10 September 1991.
Shown here at NAS Whidbey Island Naval Station
Image courtesy of the DVIC website.
F-111D
68-0121
 AMARC 4 November 1992.
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-0122

AMARC 10 November 1992
1st image courtesy of Robs kawasaki web site - appeared at RAF Greenham Common Air Show on the 31 May 1980

2nd image copyright Michael Baldock

3rd image courtesy of Mike Neil - 522FS, 27FW taken on 12/06/92 at RAF Boscombe Down
F-111D
68-0123
 AMARC 20 November 1992.
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-0124
 AMARC 25 April 1991. No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
Image courtesy of George Matteson.
F-111D
68-0125
 Delivered to the USAF on 18 September 1972. 524th TFS. Crashed 1415hrs MST, 11 September 1987.
Bill Hammond was stationed at Cannon AFB and witnessed the crash from his vantage point at the bomb dump.
Bill says that " The jet impacted about 1 3/4 miles from the end of runway 22 at CAFB. The crew were practicing single engine approaches and the engine that was providing thrust flamed out. A well known fact about the Vark is that the engines don't have very good response to rapid throttle movements. I saw the A/C wallow around for several seconds before the capsule separated. The ejection was initiated at about 200 feet (maybe) and the parachute barely opened before impact. The airframe impacted on the right wing and cartwheeled several times before coming to a rest upside down. The vertical tail broke off in the ground...."Crew ejected safely.
PILOT Maj John Sides/ WSO Maj. Russell Striker. Call sign--Captor 11 (Doc Servo and Jeff)
The aircraft had accumilated 1444 flights and 3494.2 flight hours at it's time of loss. (info from Don Logan's F-111 Aardvark reference book). Module was owned & rebuilt by Chris Woodul, since sold to collector in 2005
F-111D
68-0126
 Delivered to the USAF 26 September 1972.  Yellow markings on tail are of 524th TFS, 27th TFW Cannon AFB. retired with 3657.5 hours.(info from Don Logan's F-111 Aardvark reference book.)
Stripped at AMARC(image courtesy of Cedric Mitchell. AMARC 8 April 1991.No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-127
 Major fire after crash landing 2245hrs MST.
Franken Vark. Damage repaired by using the aft of 70-2407.
Image via Philippe Colin

AMARC 25 November 1992. (Doc Servo and Jeff)
F-111D
68-128
 AMARC 1 July 1991. No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-129
 AMARC 26 March 1991. No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
F-111D
68-130
 Crashed and destroyed 23 August 1990 5nm SW of Cannon AFB NM. Crew ejected OK. (Doc Servo, Dan Skidmore)
(21 October 1988 source: Ben Marselis)
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-131
 'CC' 522TFS 27TFW Crashed and destroyed 23 August 1990.(Doc Servo) Location of the crash was near Holloman AFB, New Mexico. Cause was failure of the port generator control unit, which led to loss of control. Both crew, Major Richard Davidage and Major Valdimar Smith, ejected safely. October 2001 edition of AirForces Monthly via Julian Gray Moffatt
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F-111D
68-132
 522nd TFS. Crashed and destroyed 1720hrs, 17 March 1988 at Cannon AFB on single engine emergency landing. Crew ejected OK.
Pilot 1st Lt Phillip E. Walgren / WSO Maj. Jurgen Neuman (German AF) (Doc Servo and Jeff)
Image via Philippe Colin
F-111D
68-133
 Written off from engine fire, Cannon AFB. Ground Trainer.
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-134
 AMARC 16 December 1991.
F-111D
68-135
 AMARC 20 April 1992. No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
F-111D
68-136
 AMARC 20 April 1992. - Franken Vark. Aft fuselage, centre body and engine nacelle rebuild as a result of engine fire. (Antony Vardanega) No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
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F-111D
68-137

AMARC 13 November 1992.

Image courtesy of http://www.31atsg.it/AMARC2004.htm
2nd image courtesy of Michael Baldock
F-111D
68-138
 Major fire 20 September 1979. Aft section to AMARC 9 May 1991. MASDC II AMARC (by Martyn Swann and Barry Fryer) shows this aircraft sold to Fritz Enterprises, Taylor, Michigan 1 Apr 97. However the aircraft was scrapped locally at the HVF West yard, Tucson, Arizona.

1st image via Adriaan de Graaff
2nd image courtesy of Steve Tobey - F-111D - 68-0138 - 27th-TFW - 20th April 1986
F-111D
68-139

Crashed and destroyed 1345hrs MST, 14 July 1980 Cannon AFB NM. FATAL.
Killed were MAJ Ulysses S. 'Sam' Taylor (age 36) and 1LT Paul E. Yeager (age 26)
Another F-111D was flying them home on the IFE in formation about 100 higher when 68-139 crashed. (Doc Servo & Jeff)
Maj Philip Westfall (Ret.) writes:
" I recall the accident occurred when Sam got an engine oil-hot light shortly after take-off. He declared an IFE, stayed in the pattern, reduced power to idle on the "bad" engine, but light remained on. Then, following the bold face procedures, he shut down the engine and tried to bring it in for a landing while still heavy. On final, the single engine wouldn't get him to the runway, and with his sink-rate increasing he punched--too late, unfortunately. I don't recall whether he tried to relight the "bad" engine (definitely NOT the normal procedure). We had oil-hot lights frequently during the summer, and most of us knew these were mostly due to the sensors, not the oil temperature itself--but "bold-face" is "bold face."

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F-111D
68-140
 Damaged, and written-off due birdstrike and fire.
68-140 is now labeled as "The City of Clovis", has the names of all US aircrew lost in combat in the Vark, and was just recently (late 1996) "put on a stick" on the west side of Clovis, NM where US 60/84 enters town (Veterans Park). It's actually a very nice display and you can't miss it coming into town from the west. (Zeitvogel)
Located at the Veterans Memorial Wall.
1st image courtesy of Steve Hyre, aka "Doc"
F-111D
68-141
 AMARC 5 November 1992. - appeared at RAF Greenham Common Air Show on the 31 May 1980
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F-111D
68-142
 AMARC 10 November 1992.
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F-111D
68-143
 AMARC 25 September 1992.
1st image taken at Cannon AFB - 27TFW - 523TFS
2nd image coutesy of Alan Gayler, taken at Luke AFB, Decemeber 1985
F-111D
68-144
 AMARC 24 April 1992.
F-111D
68-145
 AMARC 9 September 1992.
F-111D
68-146
 Delivered to the USAF on 30 November 1972.
Crashed and destroyed 1002hrs MST, 2 September 1977 at near Capulin NM, 10 NM miles south of Des Moins.
The aircraft departed controlled flight, forcing the crew to eject. Both recieved injuries.  The aircraft had logged 259 flights and 743.1 hours when it was lost. (info from Don Logan's F-111 Aardvark reference book Doc Servo and Jeff and Harry Stone)
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-147
 AMARC 1 July 1991.
Seen by Jim Rotramel at the  China Lake  Aircraft Survivability Laboratory in June 1999.  In poor condition.
F-111D
68-148
 Franken Vark. Centre section and aft fuel tank repair as a result of engine fire. (Antony Vardanega)
AMARC 28 August 1992.
F-111D
68-149
 AMARC 17 November 1992.
Image courtesy of Alan Gayler
F-111D
68-150
 AMARC 17 November 1992.
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F-111D
68-151

AMARC 4 September 1992.

Roger Ritter website - http://rogerritter.com/index.html
F-111D
68-152
 AMARC 13 May 1992.
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F-111D
68-153
 AMARC 6 November 1992.

Shown with the 523rd TFS "Crusaders" tail flash
F-111D
68-154
 AMARC 13 May 1992. No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
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F-111D
68-155

AMARC 17 June 1992.

Tail paint work indicating 155 participated in the 1980 GIANT VOICE bombing competition

Adriaan de Graaff Collection
F-111D
68-156
 AMARC 9 September 1992.
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-157
 AMARC 10 June 1992.
Image courtesy of http://www.31atsg.it/AMARC2004.htm 
F-111D
68-158
 Crashed and destroyed @ 2123 hrs MST, 20 March 1973 1 mile north of Holbrook AZ municipal airport in Navajo County (near the meteorite crater). FATAL. (mid-air collision with F-111D 68-105)
Killed were MAJ Student Pilot William Warren Gude (age 39) and CAPT IP David Carl Blackledge (age 30) Both Aircrew had Vietnam War Combat Experience. Witnesses saw three fire balls.
(Doc Servo and Jeff)
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F-111D
68-159
 AMARC 16 September 1992.

2nd image - F-111D-68-159-27th-TFW-20Aug 1990
F-111D
68-0160
 524th TFTS. - Crashed and destroyed, 12pm on the 14th September 1982 - Wagon Mound.
Killed were
MAJ Howard L. Tallman III (age 38) &
CAPT William R. Davy (age 34)
(Doc Servo - The Mighty Vark)
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F-111D
68-161
 AMARC 7 August 1992.
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F-111D
68-162
 AMARC 26 July 1991. No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
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F-111D
68-163
 AMARC 2 October 1992.
All F-111D's were assigned to 27th TFW CAnnon AFB New Mexico.
1st image via Adrian de Graaff - image taken on deployment to the UK
F-111D
68-164
 Crashed and destroyed 1948hrs MST, 17 October 1984 in Lincoln County NM, 15 miles North of Carrizozo NM. Carrizozo is approx 197 miles southwest of Clovis. Crash site was on the Harkey Ranch. The F-111D hit at the top of a hill 6,200 ft AMSL. (Doc Servo and Jeff)
Info from Clay Cook:
IP Capt 'Tex' Pryor and student Lt Al 'Rip' Torn on first night TF sortie. Speculation was that following a TF fly-up, the crew rolled to 90 degrees angle of bank to bring the nose back down , and then rolled the incorrect way. It should be noted that the F-111D had a monochrome CRT display for the ADI, without the customary blue/brown or grey/black colour distinction. (68-167?)
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F-111D
68-165
 AMARC 19 November 1992.
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F-111D
68-166
 AMARC
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F-111D
68-167
 Crashed and destroyed 1210hrs MST, 10 October 1976 40 miles west of Artesia NM but very near town of Hope NM in Eddy county. 
(Doc Servo and Jeff)
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
GF-111D
68-168
 'CC' 524TFS 27FW Cannon AFB. Write-off fire scrapped. To be placed on weapons range as a target!!
Seen by Jim Rotramel at the  China Lake  Aircraft Survivability Laboratory in June 1999.  In poor condition.
"Air Forces Monthly" has reported that this aircraft was damaged by bird ingestion, probably 15 Sep 1989.  This resulted in the disintegration of the No1 engine and damage to the No2 engine which left it stuck in minimum afterburner. The cockpit was also damaged, which made the crew reluctant to use the escape capsule. It was landed safely at Cannon, but due to the damage incurred it was relegated to GIA status at Cannon. By 1997 it had appeared in a scrapyard across the road from the base: the cockpit capsule had gone to a private collector.
October 2001 edition of AirForces Monthly via Julian Gray Moffatt.
An independent source also indicates that this ac had a Class A birdstrike at some unspecified date.
(info W. John Richardson)
Image courtesy of the Aircraft Resource Center website owned by Steve Bamford
Bill Hammond passed on this image & information in 2002: - SEE NOTES
F-111D
68-169
 AMARC 19 June 1992.
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F-111D
68-170
 AMARC 6 May 1992.
IMAGE NEEDED
F-111D
68-171
 AMARC 16 September 1991.
1st image via Adriaan de Graaff
2nd image ?
3rd image courtesy of Image courtesy of http://www.31atsg.it/AMARC2004.htm
F-111D
68-172
 AMARC 23 September 1992.
Image courtesy of Don Gilham
F-111D
68-173

Crashed and destroyed 18 November 1978 Kingman AZ. (Doc Servo).
Philip Westfal (Ret.) writes:
F-111D 68-173 (?) I think Capt Bauer was the AC in a flight of two. The aircraft developed an engine fire, the crew had time to fly over unpopulated area, had a controlled ejection, crew made it okay. Wing man followed them out to the ejection area.

Images courtesy of George Matteson.

F-111D
68-174
 Delivered to the USAF 31 August 1972. Assigned to the 27th TFW for its entire career. 
On 21 May 1976, the aircraft suffered a fan blade failure during engine run-up prior to takeoff at Cannon AFB.  The burnt wreck was shipped to AMARC for storage.  from there the aircraft remains were later shipped to the General Dynamics restoration Facility at Fort Worth for repair during July 1984. Returned to operational service in November 1987. The aircraft was retired after 2217.0 flight hours.
AMARC 1 August 1979.
AMARC 13 January 1992.
(info from Don Logan's F-111 Aardvark reference book and Harry Stone)
No longer appears on AMARC registry and probably destroyed (2001).
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F-111D
68-175
 AMARC 28 December 1992.
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F-111D
68-176
 AMARC 13 November 1992.
1st image courtesy of Adriaan de Graaff
2nd image courtesy of Steve Tobey
F-111D
68-177
 AMARC 3 November 1992.
Image courtesy of http://www.31atsg.it/AMARC2004.htm
F-111D
68-178
 AMARC 24 June 1992.
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F-111D
68-179
 AMARC 25 September 1992.
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F-111D
68-180
 AMARC 17 July 1992.
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Written by Joseph.f.Baugher
F-111D was the designation given to a more advanced version of the F-111. It was powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney TF30-P-9 engines, each rated at 12,000 lb.s.t. dry and 18,500 lb.s.t. with afterburner. The aircraft were equipped with Mark II microprocessor avionics with improved air-to-air capability. This system was a first generation version of what later came to be known as a "glass" cockpit.
In addition, the F-111D was provided with Triple Plow 2 air intakes, which were intended to correct the F-111's seemingly chronic problems with compressor stall. The Triple Plow 2 intakes were mounted four inches farther from the airframe in order to improve the boundary layer "plow", and the translating cowl was replaced by a series of blow-in doors. These blow-in doors were a set of auxiliary inlets which enabled extra airflow to reach the inlet duct during takeoff or when the engine is at full power but the aircraft is moving slowly.
They are normally sealed closed by spring-loaded doors which are pushed open by air pressure when additional air flow is needed. The Mark II system included 7 major components--an inertial navigation set and attack radar built by the Autonetics Division of North American Rockwell, an IBM computer system, converter and panels by the Kearfott Division of Singer-General Precision, Inc., an AN/AVA-9 integrated display set by the Norden Division of United Aircraft Corporation, a Doppler radar by the Canadian Marconi Company, a horizontal situation display by the Astronautics Corporation of America, and a stores management set by the Fairchild Hiller
Corporation. The main forward-looking attack radar of the F-111D was the APQ-130, with MTI, Doppler beam sharpening, and illumination for
radar-guided AAMs.
The F-111D was ordered on May 10, 1967. The first F-111D (68-0085) flew on May 15, 1970. It was equipped with the new P-9 engines but did not have a complete Mark II system. It was delivered to the Air Force on June 30, 1970, only one day after the lifting of the F-111 delivery hold order imposed after the F-111A crash of December 11, 1969. The F-111D went through a rather protracted development cycle before it was deemed fit for service. There were difficulties in integrating the various complex electronic components with each other. The Autonetics attack radar needed several improvements in its initial design, and the Norden integrated display set required extensive changes. The radar problems required that the radar doppler unit be redesigned, which in turn caused interface problems with the Norden
integrated display set. By late 1969, the Mark II system was still not ready. By mid-1970, the problems with the Norden integrated display set were still not resolved. Several months of acrimonious arguments between Autonetics and Norden followed, Norden claiming that the IDS's original specification was beyond the state of the art. Development problems with the F-111D's advanced avionics caused so many delays that the Air Force decided to acquire the simpler F-111E as an interim version.
It was not until November 1, 1971 that the first F-111D was delivered to the 27th TFW at Cannon AFB in New Mexico, the third TAC Wing to receive the F-111. This aircraft was the sixth F-111D produced (68-0090). It was equipped with a full Mark II avionics system, featuring one of Norden's early IDS productions.
The initial operational capability with the 27th TFW was in September 1972. Eventually, the F-111D equipped the 522nd, 523rd, and 524th Squadrons of the 27th TFW.
Throughout the rest of 1972, TAC's few F-111Ds continued to be crippled by avionics problems. The horizontal situation display was prone to frequent failures, delivery of field ground equipment was late, and depot support was poor. Operational readiness remained low all throughout 1973, and the abort rate of the F-111D was higher than that of other F-111s. It was not until January of 1974 that the F-111D was finally declared operationally ready. 96 F-111Ds were delivered between June 30, 1970 and February 20, 1973. The serials were 68-0085/0180. In 1993, the F-111D remains with the 27th TFW at Cannon AFB.
The RF-111D was a proposed but unbuilt reconnaissance version of the F-111D with very sophisticated avionics. The program was abandoned in
September of 1969 because of lack of funds. Cheaper RF-111As were to be acquired, which were in turn cancelled as well.

Sources:
United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.
General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors, John Wegg, Naval Institute Press, 1990.
Post-World War II Fighters: 1945-1973, Marcelle Size Knaac, Office of Air Force History, 1986.
The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.
The World Guide to Combat Planes, William Green, Macdonald, 1966.
Modern Air Combat, Bill Gunston and Mike Spick, Crescent Books, 1983.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Armament, Bill Gunston, Orion, 1988.
F-111 Aardvark--USAF's Ultimate Strike Aircraft, Tony Thornborough, Osprey Aerospace, 1993.
F-111 Aardvark, Hans Halberstadt, Specialty Press, 1992.

Joe Baugher


All F-111D's were assigned to 27th TFW Cannon AFB New Mexico.

Download sheet showing AF SN# vs GD SN# (36Kb zipped pdf)

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Thanks to Paul Abadesso, Joe Arnold, Clay Cook, Steve Davies, Phil Dunlop, Doc, Mike Kaplan, Steve Kell, Don Logan, Ben Marselis, Cedric Mitchell, Raymund Santos, Paul Simpson, Joe Swierupski, Keith Synder, Bill Thurley, Micheal Valcourt, Ron VanDerWarker and Zeitvogel.

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