Porcine* Perambulations

What happened to Australia's Pigs?

 

 

TYPE
SERIAL
DEL
C
P
M
T
D
B
 REMARKS
F-111A
63-9768
28JAN95
Training Aid. Shipped to Sydney on HMAS Kanimbla. Arrived Brisbane on HMAS Tobruk ex Sydney on 28JAN95. Named City of Graham. Third pre-production aircraft with ejection seats. Interred 22NOV11.
F-111A
67-0106
06NOV99
Shipped to Australia minus wings and tailplanes on container ship Kapitan Konev arriving Melbourne on 06NOV99. Tested to destruction by Defence Science & Technology Organisation, Melbourne, Vic.
F-111A/C
A8-109
20AUG82
Flew on last day. Preserved at Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, Wollongong. Delivered on 08APR13.
F-111A/C
A8-112
15JAN83
Fin and rudder delivered to Beenleigh RSL, QLD SEP12. Rest of airframe interred 23NOV11.
F-111A/C
A8-113
23MAY82
Preserved at Australian Aviation Heritage Centre, Darwin. Delivered on 16JUN13.
F-111A/C
A8-114
23MAY82
Fin and rudder delivered to Defence Force School of Signals, Simpson Barracks, Watsonia MAY15. Rest of airframe interred 24NOV11.
F-111C
A8-125
01JUN73
Flew on last day. Preserved at RAAF Museum, Point Cook. Delivered on 27MAY11.
RF-111C
A8-126
01JUN73
Flew on last day. Preserved at Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre (AAHC). Delivered on 07JUN12.
F-111C
A8-127
01JUN73
Crashed (#7) at Guyra, NSW on 13SEP93. Fatal. FLTLT Jeremy McNess and FLTLT Mark Cairns-Cowan.
F-111C
A8-128
01JUN73
Crashed (#6) at Tenterfield, NSW on 02APR87. Fatal. FLTLT Mark Fallon and FLGOFF William Pike.
F-111C
A8-129
01JUN73
Flew on last day. Preserved at Queensland Air Museum, Caloundra. Delivered on 21MAY13.
F-111C
A8-130
01JUN73
Preserved at Pacific Aviation Museum, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Delivered on 06SEP13. See Note 4.
F-111C
A8-131
26JUL73
Crew module delivered to Moorabbin Air Museum, Melbourne on 28JUN13. Interred 23NOV11.
F-111C
A8-132
26JUL73
Preserved at the South Australian Aviation Museum, Adelaide in ARDU markings. Originally located at RAAF Base Edinburgh, SA. where it was delivered on 12AUG11. A8-132 arrived at SAAM on 16MAY19 to replace A8-134 which was subsequently relocated to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
F-111C
A8-133
26JUL73
Crashed (#2) at Evans Head, NSW on 29SEP77. Fatal. Unsuccessful ejection. SQNLDR John Holt and FLTLT Phil Noordink.
RF-111C
A8-134
26JUL73
Preserved at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Originally delivered to the South Australian Aviation Museum, Adelaide on 17MAR13. On 20APR18 it was announced that A8-134 would be transferred to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra by mid 2019. As a replacement, SAAM will receive A8-132 from Edinburgh. A8-134 departed SAAM for the AWM on 24MAY19. The aircraft was repainted grey by Douglas Aerospace at Wagga Wagga in SEP/OCT 2023 and returned to storage in Canberra.
F-111C
A8-135
26JUL73
Flew on last day. Crew module delivered to Caboolture Warplane Museum on 24JUN13. Fin and rudder displayed outside No 82 Wing HQ at Amberley. Rest of airframe interred 23NOV11.
F-111C
A8-136
26JUL73
Crashed (#1) at Guyra, NSW on 28APR77. Successful ejection. CAPT William Baker (USAF) and FLTLT David Clarkson. Stripped crew module delivered to RAAF Museum, Point Cook in JUN13 for restoration and display as a classic variant (1973). Approx 95% of missing items were supplied.
F-111C
A8-137
28SEP73
Crashed (#4) Ohakea, NZ on 24AUG79. Successful ejection. FLGOFF Mark Kelly and FLTLT Al Curr. Module to Rockwell (USA) for AUP development. Module returned to Amberley for software development as Laboratory Integration Mockup. Module & fin/rudder preserved at AAHC.
F-111C
A8-138
28SEP73
Flew on last day. Preserved at RAAF Amberley. Towed to the main gate on 18DEC15.
F-111C
A8-139
28SEP73
Crashed (#5) into sea off Moruya, NSW 28JAN86. Fatal. FLTLT Stephen Erskine and CAPT Gregory Angell (USAF).
F-111C
A8-140
28SEP73
Crew module delivered to Aviation Heritage Museum, Perth on 02JUN13. Fin and rudder delivered to South Arm RSL Sub-Branch, Tasmania on 03FEB15. Rest of airframe interred 24NOV11.
F-111C
A8-141
28SEP73
Crashed (#3) in Hauraki Gulf, NZ on 25OCT78. Successful ejection. WGCDR Dave Rogers and FLTLT Pete Growder. A New Zealand diver died during recovery of the wreckage. Crew module at Amberley.
F-111C
A8-142
28SEP73
Preserved at RAAF Base Wagga Wagga, NSW. Delivered on 14JUN12.
RF-111C
A8-143
04DEC73
Damaged in a belly landing at Amberley on 18JUL06 and not repaired. A fin and rudder displayed as A8-143 at the RAAF Amberley Bowls Club is actually from A8-281. This is the only F-111 artefact displayed with an incorrect serial number. This is a result of sentiment attached to A8-143 as an RF-111C and its spectacular arrested belly landing. Airframe interred 23NOV11.
F-111C
A8-144
04DEC73
Interred 23NOV11.
F-111C
A8-145
04DEC73
Interred 23NOV11.
RF-111C
A8-146
04DEC73
Reconnaissance pallet delivered to the Australian War Memorial in NOV13. Fin and rudder delivered to the Dandenong RSL, VIC. As of FEB19 the tail is still in storage but it is expected to go on display within the next six months at the Cranbourne RSL Sub-Branch. Rest of airframe interred 24NOV11.
F-111C
A8-147
04DEC73
Preserved at Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome, NSW. Delivered on 05AUG13.
F-111C
A8-148
04DEC73
Preserved at Fighterworld, Williamtown, NSW. Delivered on 05MAY13.
F-111G
A8-259
26OCT93
Interred 22NOV11.
F-111G
A8-264
15FEB94
Interred 23NOV11.
F-111G
A8-265
28SEP93
Interred 21NOV11.
F-111G
A8-270
28SEP93
Interred 22NOV11.
F-111G
A8-271
18JAN94
Interred 23NOV11.
F-111G
A8-272
10MAY94
Preserved at RAAF Museum, Point Cook. Delivered on 01MAY09. The Boneyard Wrangler.
F-111G
A8-274
10DEC93
Interred 23NOV11. Fin and rudder preserved at Amberley AHC painted light blue with 6SQN crest and battle honours to mark the 90th anniversary of 6SQN in 2007.
F-111G
A8-277
29MAR94
Interred 21NOV11.
F-111G
A8-278
10MAY94
Interred 22NOV11.
F-111G
A8-281
10DEC93
Fin and rudder displayed at the RAAF Amberley Bowls Club but painted as A8-143 (which see). This fin is fitted with strip lights which were not fitted to the F-111C. Rest of airframe interred 22NOV11.
F-111G
A8-282
29MAR94
Interred 23NOV11.
F-111G
A8-291
26OCT93
Crashed (#8) at Pulau Aur Island, Malaysia on 18APR99. Fatal. FLTLT Anthony Short and SQNLDR Stephen Hobbs.
F-111G
A8-506
18JAN94
Interred 22NOV11.
F-111G
A8-512
10MAY94
Made the last F-111G flight on 03SEP07. Fin and rudder delivered to HQJOC, Bungendore, NSW, MAY15. Rest of airframe interred 23NOV11.
F-111G
A8-514
15FEB94
Interred 22NOV11.

 

C
Crashed in service (8)
P
Preserved Aircraft (13)
M
 Preserved Crew Module (6)
T
 Preserved Tail (Fin & Rudder) (9)
D
Tested to Destruction (1)
B
 Interred at Swanbank (23)

 

The Swanbank Burial Site

The diagram shows aircraft serial number with sequence and date of burial. The diagram was redrawn by Ron Cuskelly with data sourced from the F-111 Disposal Team.

 

The Swanbank Burial Site
(Source: DATO, RAAF Amberley)

 

 

RAAF F-111 SERIAL NUMBERS

F-111C
RAAF
MSN
USAF
A8-125
D1-01
67-0125
A8-126
D1-02
67-0126
A8-127
D1-03
67-0127
A8-128
D1-04
67-0128
A8-129
D1-05
67-0129
A8-130
D1-06
67-0130
A8-131
D1-07
67-0131
A8-132
D1-08
67-0132
A8-133
D1-09
67-0133
A8-134
D1-10
67-0134
A8-135
D1-11
67-0135
A8-136
D1-12
67-0136
A8-137
D1-13
67-0137
A8-138
D1-14
67-0138
A8-139
D1-15
67-0139
A8-140
D1-16
67-0140
A8-141
D1-17
67-0141
A8-142
D1-18
67-0142
A8-143
D1-19
67-0143
A8-144
D1-20
67-0144
A8-145
D1-21
67-0145
A8-146
D1-22
67-0146
A8-147
D1-23
67-0147
A8-148
D1-24
67-0148
F-111A/C
A8-109
A1-154
67-0109
A8-112
A1-157
67-0112
A8-113
A1-158
67-0113
A8-114
A1-159
67-0114
F-111G
A8-259
B1-31
68-0259
A8-264
B1-36
68-0264
A8-265
B1-37
68-0265
A8-270
B1-42
68-0270
A8-271
B1-43
68-0271
A8-272
B1-44
68-0272
A8-274
B1-46
68-0274
A8-277
B1-49
68-0277
A8-278
B1-50
68-0278
A8-281
B1-53
68-0281
A8-282
B1-54
68-0282
A8-291
B1-63
68-0291
A8-506
B1-68
69-0506
A8-512
B1-74
69-6512
A8-514
B1-76
69-6514

 

SOURCES
www.adf-serials.com.au
www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/
www.f-111.net/downloads/acftdata.pdf

 

 

F-111 AIRFRAMES NOT IMPORTED

(These aircraft were not allocated RAAF serial numbers)

USAF
MSN
TYPE
REMARKS
67-0107
A1-152
F-111A
 Identified by RAAF as an attrition aircraft but failed fatigue testing. Sold as scrap ex AMARG on 13AUG08.
68-0246
B1-18
FB-111A
 The forward fuselage was imported as a recruitment display but the remainder of the airframe was sold as scrap ex AMARG on 12AUG08. (See Supplementary Note 2)
66-0015
EF-13
EF-111A
 Acquired as a source of parts. Remainder of airframe sold as scrap ex AMARG on 04SEP13.
66-0046
EF-18
EF-111A
 Acquired as a source of parts. Remainder of airframe sold as scrap ex AMARG on 03SEP13.
66-0051
EF-03
EF-111A
 Acquired as a source of parts. Remainder of airframe sold as scrap ex AMARG on 14FEB13.
67-0038
EF-19
EF-111A
 Acquired as a source of parts. Remainder of airframe sold as scrap ex AMARG on 03SEP13.
67-0091
A1-136
F-111A
 Acquired as a source of parts. Remainder of airframe sold as scrap ex AMARG on 03JAN13.
67-7193
B1-7
F-111G
 Acquired as a source of parts. Remainder of airframe sold as scrap ex AMARG on 07NOV11.
67-7194
B1-8
F-111G
 Acquired as a source of parts. Remainder of airframe sold as scrap ex AMARG on 12DEC11.
68-0260
B1-32
F-111G
 Acquired as a source of parts. Remainder of airframe sold as scrap ex AMARG on 09JAN13.
72-1450
F-80
F-111F
 Acquired as a source of Pave Tack parts. Remainder of airframe sold as scrap ex AMARG on 14JUN10.
73-0710
F-86
F-111F
 Acquired as a source of Pave Tack parts. Remainder of airframe sold as scrap ex AMARG on 22FEB13.

 

SOURCES
www.adf-serials.com.au
www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Total number of F-111 imported into Australia. (2 F-111A, 4 F-111A/C, 24 F-111C, 15 F-111G)
45
Tested to destruction by Defence Science & Technology Organisation. (1 F-111A 67-0106)
1
Lost in accidents (7 F-111C 127, 128, 133, 136, 137, 139, 141 & 1 F-111G 291)
8
Interred (1 F-111A, 9 F-111C, 13 F-111G)
23
Preserved on RAAF Bases and at the AWM (5 F-111C 125, 126, 134, 138, 142 & 1 F-111G 272)
6
Preserved in non-Government Australian museums (4 F-111C 129, 132, 147, 148 & 2 F-111A/C 109, 113)
6
Preserved at the Pacific Aviation Museum, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (1 F-111C 130).
1
Total number of complete F-111s preserved. This represents 29% of the total imported.
13
Total number of F-111 crew modules preserved (131, 135, 136, 137, 140, 141)
6
Total number of F-111 fins/rudders preserved (112, 114, 135, 137, 140, 146, 274, 281, 512)
9
Total number of F-111 horizontal stabilisers preserved. Donor aircraft are unknown.
One was delivered to The Rock RSL, NSW in SEP16 and another was delivered to No 111 Sqn AAFC, Mt Isa, QLD in AUG15. One has been mounted at RAAF Wagga Wagga which presumably leaves two in storage at Amberley. Another is on display at the Joint Logistics Unit at Amberley but this preceded the disposal project and its source is also unknown.
6

 

SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

 

1
 An additional 12 F-111s of various designations were held for the RAAF at AMARG Davis Monthan, Arizona but never imported into Australia. These aircraft are listed in a separate table above. All were subsequently scrapped in the USA.
2

The forward fuselage of FB-111A 68-0246 was used by the RAAF as a mobile display. Commonly known as the Dauntless Pig, it was on display at the Amberley Aviation Heritage Centre but in November 2014 it was transferred to the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra. Subsequently it was used as a source of parts to restore the cockpit of A8-132 before it goes to SAAM in exchange for A8-134. The remainder of the airframe of 68-0246 was sold as scrap at Tucson, AZ on 12AUG08.

This further explanation was contributed to www.adf-serials.com.au in May 2019 by FSGT David Bell:

F-111G A8-291 suffered a towing accident at Amberley in 1996. The forward fuselage of FB-111A 68-0246 was imported from the AMARG boneyard intended to be used in the repair of A8-291. As things turned out the nose wasn't needed and it was left sitting on a pallet in Hangar 410, its equipment stripped and put into the F-111 spare parts inventory. Later the derelict nose was rescued and restored by volunteers from 23 Squadron. Number 23 Squadron's motto is "Dauntless" so the Dauntless Pig was born. After being mounted on a trailer the Dauntless Pig served as a recruiting aid, it went on display at RAAHC and FAAM Nowra before going into storage at Point Cook. When the trade of A8-132 for A8-134 came about the former had already been converted for gate guard duties. This included a completely stripped out cockpit interior and blacked out glazing. Fortunately Dauntless Pig was able to donate her vital bits to enable A8-132 to be returned to her former glory. Dauntless Pig is now in storage at Wagga.
3
 The crew module of F-111E 68-0040 was imported in July 2012 by a private owner on the Gold Coast.
4
 Characterised by the F-111 Disposal Team as The Final Mission, the fuselage of A8-130 departed Amberley for Hawaii on 06SEP13 on board RAAF C-17A A41-211. Other components were delivered on two earlier RAAF C-17A flights. A8-130 carries crew names under the cockpit - GPCAPT GEOFF BROWN OC 82 WG (left) and WGCDR M.G. SMITH (right). At the time of A8-130's restoration, AIRMSHL Geoff Brown was Chief of Air Force and WGCDR Mike Smith was Commanding Officer of No. 6 Sqn. Of the preserved aircraft, only A8-130 and Point Cook's A8-125 and A8-272 carry crew names. UPDATE: A8-129 at the Queensland Air Museum carries the name of its delivery pilot SQN LDR Wally Walters. This was approved by Director General History and Heritage, AF, AFHQ on 06AUG18 and the name was applied on 10SEP18.
5
 The F-111 Simulator was removed from the simulator building and “rewired” to allow illumination of all the edge-lit control panels. It has been forwarded to Point Cook for display.

 

 

In addition to preserving 13 F-111s and 6 Crew Modules, the F-111 Disposal Team has been very diligent in maintaining a detailed historical record of the final chapter in the history of the F-111 in Australia. We record our thanks to the F-111 Disposal Team who have provided much of the information on this page. The Team officially disbanded at Amberley on 15 November 2013 after a job well done.

 

SOURCES

 

F-111 Disposal Team
From Controversy to Cutting Edge by Mark Lax, Air Power Development Centre, 2010.
www.adf-serials.com
Personal observations by various QAM members, in particular Mick Raftery.
The arrival dates for the F-111Gs were sourced by AVM Dave Dunlop in December 2013 in consultation with the participating crew members and with reference to their log books.

 

* Porcine: (poor-sign) adjective: of, relating to, or like a pig. Latin porcinus, from porcus pig.

 

 

Compiled by Ron Cuskelly

 

 

Issue
Date
Remarks
30
23APR24
 A8-134 was repainted grey in SEP/OCT 2023 by Douglas Aerospace at Wagga Wagga and returned to storage in Canberra.
29
25MAY19
 A8-134 departed from SAAM on 24MAY19.
28
18MAY19
 A8-132 was delivered to SAAM on 16MAY19.
27
08MAY19
 Added further information on the so-called Dauntless Pig. See Supplementary Note #2 above.
26
11FEB19
 Added a table cross-referencing RAAF serials with Manufacturer's Serial Numbers and USAF serials. Also added a table of airframes that were acquired for parts but not imported.
25
08FEB19
 The tail from A8-146 is in storage in Cranbourne but eventually it will be displayed at the Cranbourne RSL Sub-Branch.
24
06FEB19
 Official sources at Amberley have confirmed that the fin and rudder displayed as A8-143 is actually from A8-281. The fin and rudder from A8-143 were buried with the rest of the aircraft at Swanbank. The tail displayed as A8-143 is fitted with strip lights which confirms that it is from an F-111G.
23
15JAN19
 The total number of preserved tails (i.e. fin & rudder) was previously stated as 10 although there were only 9 identities quoted. This anomaly has been corrected with the total adjusted downwards to 9. However, there remains the possibility that the tail from A8-281 still exists. This is subject to confirmation.
22
08SEP18
 The blue fin and rudder at the AAHC is identified as having come from A8-274.
21
31JUL18
 Main table reformatted for greater clarity. Also added crew names for non-fatal accidents.
20
21APR18
 A8-134 will be transferred to the AWM by mid 2019. A8-132 will be moved from Edinburgh to SAAM to replace A8-134.
19
21JUN17
 The unidentified blue tail in the AAHC is thought to have come from an F-111G before the disposal project. The FB-111A nose section known as the Dauntless Pig is now on display at the FAA Museum at Nowra.
18
18JUN17
 Added details of displayed fins and horizontal stabilisers. Thanks to GPCAPT Dave Richardson.
17
28APR17
 The fin and rudder from A8-135 is displayed outside No 82 Wing HQ at Amberley.
16
23APR17
 The fin and rudder from A8-140 was delivered to the South Arm RSL Sub-Branch in Tasmania on 03FEB15 for incorporation into a memorial wall.
15
21DEC15
 A8-138 was towed to the main gate at RAAF Amberley on the evening of 18DEC15. The following day the aircraft was moved into its new shelter.
14
25APR14
 Added a plan of the Swanbank burial site drawn with information supplied by the F-111 Disposal Team.
13
21DEC13
 The arrival dates for the F-111Gs have been amended. Dates shown previously were a mixture of delivery dates in the US and arrival dates in Australia. In the case of A8-512 the delivery/arrival date was previously unknown. The dates now showing in the table are all arrival dates at Amberley. This information has been sourced by AVM Dave Dunlop in consultation with participating crew members and with reference to their log books. Also added a correction that in addition to A8-130, Point Cook's A8-125 and A8-272 also carry crew names. Thank you Dave.
12
07DEC13
 Added a note that A8-512 made the last flight by an F-111G on 03SEP07.
11
29NOV13
 Updates thanks to the F-111 Disposal Team.
The forward fuselage of FB-111A 68-0246 is displayed at the AAHC (See Note 2).
The F-111 Simulator has gone to Point Cook (see Note 5).
The crew module from A8-136 will be restored to 1973 configuration.
10
28NOV13
 Added the burial dates thanks to the F-111 Disposal Team.
9
18NOV13
 Added details of additional preserved F-111 components thanks to the F-111 Disposal Team. Delivery date of A8-506 corrected from 14JAN93 to 14JAN94.
8
04SEP13
 Added details of the departure of A8-130. See Note 4 above.
7
22AUG13
 Announced this day that A8-130 has been gifted to the Pacific Aviation Museum, Hawaii.
6
06AUG13
 Added delivery date of A8-147.
5
04JUL13
 Revised layout. Also added delivery dates of crew modules from A8-131 & 135.
4
23JUN13
 Revised presentation of preserved crew modules.
3
16JUN13
 Added delivery date of A8-113.
2
21MAY13
 Added delivery date of A8-129.
1
09MAY13
 Original issue.