Home

American Combat Planes of the 20th Century is an incredible reference for anyone who is interested in any American Combat Plane History. There are 758 pages and 1700 b/w photos in this substantial labor of love by Ray Wagner, who has been passionately researching and writing about aircraft for over 50 years. Whether you are already familiar with his past works, or just discovering this accomplished author for the first time... This is the book that you've been waiting for!

If you'd like to see the book's Table of Contents ... Click here. You can also browse the entire Index Section to get an idea of the extensive amount of information that is covered within this book.

Search our site for other combat planes. A- 1 Eaton A- 4 Skyhawk A- 6 & A- 7 Air Weapons AV- 8 to A- 10 A- 20 Havoc A- 22 Martin Maryland A- 23 Martin Baltimore A- 24 Douglas A- 26 Douglas Invader Attack Planes B- 2A, F-111, F-117 Stealth B- 17 Flying Fortress B- 24 Liberator B- 25 North American B- 26 Marauder B- 29 Superfortress B- 32 Dominator B- 35 Flying Wing B- 36 B- 47 Stratojet B- 50 Boeing B- 52 Stratofortress B- 57 Canberra B- 58 Hustler Biplanes Biplanes, Army Pursuits Bombers, B- 70 to Stealth Bombers, First Big Curtiss Falcon CO- 1 DH- 4 De Havilland F3D- Douglas Skyknight F3H- McDonnell Demon F4D- 1 Skyray F4F Grumman Wildcats F- 4U Corsair F6F Grumman F7F Grumman F7U Vought F9F G. Cougar F9F G. Panther F- 16 Fighting Falcon F- 84 F- 86 Sabre F- 89 to F-94 F- 100 to F-108 First Fighters Flying Boats GAX Iraq to Afghanistan Martin Bombers Missile Era Fighters Navy Fighers Navy Flying Boats O- 2 Douglas P- 35 Seversky P- 36 to 42 Curtiss P- 38 Lightning P- 39 Airacobra P- 40 Line P- 47 Thunderbolt P- 51 Mustang Fighter P- 61 Black Widow P- 63 Kingcobra P- 79 to P-81 P- 82 Twin Mustang SB2C Helldiver TBF-TBM Avenger Thomas-Morse Torpedo Planes V- 11 Vultee XB -28 XP -48 / 77

Bombers from B-70 to Stealth

F-111A, F-111D, F-111F, F-111H

Page 3

The F-111 becomes more deadly, 1969 to 1986
The USAF ordered F-111Ds on May 10, 1967, with an improved Mark II avionics system and engines, but delayed development led to an interim F-111E model, using the F-111A’s engine and radar, but with new air inlets to improve engine operations at high altitudes. GENERAL DYNAMICS F-111F (347thTFW, 1975)

The first of 94 F-111E models replaced the F-111A on the delivery line in August 1969, entering operations with the 27th TFW on September 30. After the grounding and rework period until July 1970, the Fort Worth factory delivered the remaining F-111Es to the 20th TFW in England, which received the first of 79 in September 1970. By May 28, 1971, the last F-111E was accepted.

The first F-111D was flown May 15, 1970 with a 12,840-pound thrust TF30-P-9, but the remaining 95 had to wait for their advanced APQ-128 terrain-following radar and APQ-30 attack radar. Deliveries delayed to July 1971 were not completed until February 28, 1973. They served the 27th TFW at Cannon AFB, New Mexico, until 1992.

The last new production model, the F-111F, was ordered July 1, 1970, but the new P-100 engines were delayed so that the first 49 entered service with the 347th TFW in September 1971 with TF30-P-9 engines and APQ-144 radar. The 25,100-pound thrust P-100 engines became available in 1972 and 106 F-111Fs were completed by November 1976 at a 10.3 million dollar unit price. Including SAC’s FB-111As, 563 F-111 series aircraft were built. GENERAL DYNAMICS F-111F (347thTFW, 1975)

The proposed FB-111H was a bomber design offered in 1977 as a substitute for the high-cost B-1A program. Using the same General Electric F101 engines and radar systems, it was claimed to provide most of the same capabilities as the B-1A, when using air refueling, at less than half the cost. However, the Defense Department was committed to the cruise missile concept for future strategic deterrence.

Two F-111As were converted to EF-111A ECM aircraft by a January 30, 1975, contract with Grumman, who used its EA-6B experience to fit complete tactical radar jamming ALQ-99E gear in a canoe-shaped belly radome and a large fin tip pod for the ECM receivers. After tests of a fully modified prototype began May 17, 1977, the Air Force ordered 40 F-111A aircraft converted to the EF-111A configuration with APQ-160 attack radar.

Delivered from November 1981 to December 1985 and named the Raven, the EF-111A reached operational capability with the 390th Electronic Squadron, 366th TFW, in December 1983. Improved TF-30-P-9 engines and electronics were installed in EF-111As by 1989.

After the F-111F was transferred to the 48th TFW in England in March 1977, the M61A gun was replaced in 1980 by an Pave Tack AVQ-26 pod so that infrared and laser designators could guide weapons like the 2,000-pound GBU-10 or 500-pound GBU-12 bombs. An ALQ-131 ECM pod was also added for protection.

Operation El Dorado Canyon was a reprisal for terrorist attacks that launched 24 F-111F and five EF-111As from England against targets in Libya on April 14, 1986. Inflight refueling allowed 96 Mk 82 and 64 GBU-10 bombs to be carried to Tripoli’s airfield, a barracks compound and a terrorist training camp, often aimed by the new Pave Tack pods.

[ B- 24 / Home ] [Back] [Continue to next page]

Want information on other Combat Planes? Search the rest of our site.