F-111s in Desert Storm (ep. 183)

It wasn’t the use of Durandal, it was the JP233 which our Tornado GR1s deployed - a very different runway denial weapon. Still, Jeff is correct in explaining how the RAF’s necessity to fly low attack runs over Iraqi airfields, lead to heavy losses forcing a change of tactics. Respect to Jeff and his colleagues of the USAF. Great interview.

First thoughts.... love the beard. Its like he still has the helmet on and means business

Great interviews! I live in New Hampshire and F111s were a Frequent sight at Pease.

Great podcast.

Small correction though, the RAF Tornado employed JP233 and for the most part the crews did not fly directly down the runway. They never had Durandel, it was never in the RAF's ORBAT. Six were shot down throughout the war, with at least two of those being at medium level.

F-111A = "Whispering Death"

This was one of my favourite episodes, a couple of real characters.

I wonder if these two guys were in the flight of 3 or 4 that buzzed Stork Barracks Illesheim, Germany sometime 88'. One of the coolest things I've ever seen.

When I was ten, in the late 80's, I went to an airshow in Mountain Home and sat in an F-111 with two crew members. Very memorable for me. I wonder if either of these guys might have been there.

Just a question to anyone, all the 9/11 attackers were from Saudi Arabia, why in the hell did we attack Iraq, Sabam Hussain was the only one keeping Iran in check, and also the radical Muslims like ISIS, Iran, etc. We have not learned a lesson yet.

Wonderful Podcast👍

I live in central pa, at the edge of the great divide. The air force had a practice ground attack target about 50 miles east of where i lived. They flew nape of the earth all the time through here in the early 1970s.
I was sitting on a hilltop in a red oak grove squirrel hunting one day.
Nice & quiet, serene, sitting there on the ground leaning against a tree on top of the highest hill around. Just beautiful.

All a sudden the dried leaves started floating up in the air. About the time im wondering WTF and stood up, the sound hit and i fell back down. i seen the ass of a jet several hundred yards away dissapearing.

One of these crazy bastards flew over me at tree top level and just absolutely dusted my ass. The whole woods was shaking. 😂
Glad i was young with a strong heart. 😂 as a kids afterwards, i was like, well that was cool as hell. 😝

About 1995, while coming home from work on interstate 80, i see a dot heading my way on a long straight stretch while crossing the great divide. Right when it got to me, they dipped the nose right at me.
An A10 used me for a mock gun run. Know that funny feeling in your guts on a roller coaster as a kid?
Im telling you, looking at the nose of an A10 coming right at you, And already knowing what that bird is capable of when its angry, caused an instant pucker factor of 10+. 🤮.
Im a veteran US Army tanker, and it was Time to go change my shorts. 😂

Great show guys. I loved it. 👍
🇺🇸 SALUTE 🇺🇸

CAFB, 86-90, 27th Civil Engineering Squadron, Refer shop.

Woah! Looks like Harrison Ford flew F-111s 👍

I had the pleasure of working for the contractor that overhauled the burners of the Tf30-P100 in the F111F. Was a great experience!!

I have vivid memories from 50 years ago of seeing Royal Australian Air Force F-111s doing after burner low passes over Richmond RAAF base in Sydney. The mixture of sheer awe, thunder and fear made a great impression. Listening to the accounts of the canyon running sorties were a great thrill. Thank you so much for this amazing interview!

F-111s

That was extremely neat Thank You!

I worked avionics on the f-111f model. Had some interesting times with that. Let me help you to understand something, the f-111f did have software. It was the padding on the seats for the Pilot and WSO.
There were flight computers, but they were heavily dependent on analog equipment.
Probably the most advanced system was when we just started to test the Pave Tac and by that time they were already deciding that the F model was going closer to any action, and that the a model was going to come up to Mountain Home and be retrofitted into the EF model.
And to the guy that went to red flag in the f4, it's interesting that the F4 is original designation was the f-110 so he did finally graduate to the better airplane LOL

Watch out for Asad Khalil.

Loved listening to this. My father was on the ground in 91 (UK forces). I’m always amazed by his stories, especially how low-tech it actually was, especially for navigation — his role had him issued an “intruder pass” (interesting bit of paper) and rolling all over the front in a requisitioned Toyota Land Cruiser (originally used an Army Land Rover until it blew). He had to navigate the Saudi desert which in parts was featureless, flat and hard as concrete, using bearings and stars. They’d get to the general area they were supposed to be, would jump out of the vehicle, lay on the ground and look at the horizon looking for tents / scrim netting which otherwise invisible in the dark unless you could get the sky to silhouette them.

I was Aircrew Life Support at the 79th in 1989 and 1990 with these gentlemen.

This was one of the best FPP episodes. Good background on the aircraft and it's mission.

Vince, Thank you for a VERY Interesting discussion of the tactics and capabilities of the "Vark." What I found most surprising was that the "E" model's all-wx attack capability sounds like it was significantly less impressive than the A-6A, let alone the A-6E ! The A6A, with a good crew, could consistently deliver a "lay down" stick of 18 Mk-82s inside a 150' CEP - and that was BEFORE we had the benefit of LGB weapons. Our run-in altitudes at night in benign terrain were commonly 100' AGL or below, hand-flown using the Mk1-Mod0 eyeball and large Radar Altimeter. I think you could put together a great discussion with these two guys and a pilot and B/N from one of the VN-era A-6 squadrons. (The Intruder Reunion is in SAN in April, btw)

So sweet 🛫I worked for ATA, American and FED EX on the Indy tarmac. At Norton AFB 86 to 90. Nice to hear views from the air 🕊️

Ah, mentioned Creech. Met that General in 81 in Austin at Bergstom AFB while at the 12th TIS.. extremely impressive man.. small of stature but filled the room when he visited my work center..

My father flew FB-111 in the mid 70's at Plattsburgh AFB, is there any way I can find out his tail number?

Jeff Guinn is a fantastic story teller.

Great stuff guys. Stationed at Heyford '84-'87. Been to the 'lick several times. Good assignment.

Jtf proven force. Loved sitting in a bunker watching the F111s taking off on afterburners. Much respect to all of you.

I was a crew chief on f 111d at cannon afb. It left me with a true hatred of pilots and officers in general.

Think I'll pick a f111 model to build sounds like a cool aircraft 👍🏽🤠

One of the unfortunate things about the F111 was that none of the variants were built with GE F110 engines. Had those engines been retrofitted, the low level high-speed runs at 600+ kts would have been entirely on mil power. I have read in a wiki that there was a variant proposed with the same engine that the B1 used. The F110 was a much better, similar size engine as the TF-30 engines that were used in both the F14A and all the F111 variants. Bummer... but I doubt those new motors would have made the Pig any easier to fly.

Was a reservist activated for ds in 1990. Worked in mpc for 48 tfw at taif. The af screwed me out of pilot training in 1975. Didn't go, af, after I worked factories in NJ for a year, said tough luck no upt for you. Fyou af. Sounds like i'm still poed, yes I am. Not drunk posting this just poed. Don't trust the af.

Super

Jeff did a great job of describing the problem of bombing with an analog system that was coupled with an auto-TFR airplane. I loved the way he outlined the crew workarounds to establishing a stable altitude in order to solve a given bomb range. Really well done. In modern, or digital airplanes, the weapons computers are computing the solution thousands of times per second, and the pickle button is merely a consent to release button--The computer decides when... Not with the F-111 As and Es. Brilliant stuff.

Enjoyed your show good guys good stories

ACAL = Altitude Calibration

DMPI = Desired Mean Point of Impact.

I did hear rumours of RAAF going make their F111 stealth especially inlets n tail replace with raven version but went F18G option. Love dump n burn at Australian airshow.

Best episode by far Jello, good on you.
From the UK

Really not fond of the myths of Boyd and the fighter mafia

B-52's worked in Turkey in the 50's when new. One problem they ran into was base security as several children were stolen off base. I think Biggs then sent to Guam and England. In that order and Dad left for ABM design at White Sands about that time. We bugged out to the South Pacific in 63.

Great interview! I've seen a few with Jeff and he's got great stories and videos

Are the EWOs pilots also? Capable of flying the plane?

Great interview. I had no idea the 111 was such an animal to fly.

One of the best ones yet❤❤

Re the dump 'n burn... As the closing ceremony of the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia; included fireworks over the Harbour ended an F-111 came in low-level and went vertical over the Harbour Bridge, full afterburner with fuel dump. Like a rocket over thousands of boats and spectators lining the foreshore. SPECTACULAR! Aussies loved the Aardvark...

Great interview, always found the F-111 and its mission profile to be fascinating. Additionally, I’ve always been rather curious about the E variant’s service in DS. Since they weren’t LGB capable like the F variant they haven’t seemed to have quite gained as much attention as the F.

Dudes just living that fanny pack life.

A smooth, polished production setting the bar for conducting interviews, I. E.: thorough preparation, keeping the conversation linear while letting the guests do the talking. Most enjoyable. Would like to have heard about the bunker buster tank barrel load out. Someone tell Guinn Republic built the F-105.