1/72 Hobbymaster (HA3001) General Dynamics F111A Aardvark (AF 67-065) "Operation Linebacker" Takhli RTAFB Thailand 1972, 474 TFW 429 TFS Black Falcons, U.S.A.F. (Limited Edition of 3500) 2010 Release
When the North Vietnamese invaded South Vietnam in the spring of 1972, the 474th TFW began seeing indications of a possible deployment, since their F-111As were the only combat-ready F-111s at the time. It was decided that when the deployment occurred, a record for the elapsed time between the alert order and the bombs on target would be attempted. The 429th TFS was the first squadron to deploy. They divided into three groups with the first two groups acting as ferry crews moving the aircraft from Nellis to Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. The third group flew directly to Takhli and prepared to fly the first combat missions. The combat crews had about 24 hours of rest before the airplanes arrived. The 12 aircraft deployed on September 27,1972. The record was set with F-111As in combat 55 miles northwest of Hanoi - 33 hours after leaving Nellis. However, one of the aircraft, (67-0078), was lost in the first night of operations. The aircraft made it to the target, but did not return home. The first mission package was scheduled for six aircraft and assigned targets in the western part of North Vietnam. The aircraft had been on the ground about four hours before launching on their bombing missions. Three of the aircraft ground-aborted the mission with equipment failure, the fourth aircraft aborted in the air after ECM equipment failed; the fifth airplane (67-0078) never returned from mission; and the sixth aircraft couldn't get to its primary target and was forced to bomb an alternate.
General Background
The General Dynamics F-111 “Aardvark” entered service in 1967 as a medium-range aircraft designed for interdiction and tactical strikes. The F-111 was used as an all-weather attack aircraft capable of low-level penetration of enemy territory. It also could be used for reconnaissance and electronic warfare. Some unique features are variable geometry wings, the 2 crew members s at side by side in an escape capsule, internal weapons bay; terrain following radar and afterburning turbofans. The USAF retired their last F-111 in 1998 but the RAAF still use theirs.
The Aircraft
When the North Vietnamese invaded South Vietnam in the spring of 1972 The 429th TFS was the first squadron to deploy. For the 429th the deployment occurred in two phases of 12 aircraft with each phase arrivin g at Thailand’s Takhli RTAFB in early October 1972. During the six months of Operation Constant Guard, Linebacker and Linebacker II that took place from September 28, 1972 until March 1973 the 429th along with the 430th flew over 4,000 combat sorties with only six losses.
