The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) deployed six of its F-111 Cs to Nellis AFB, Nevada, for the last time in late January to take part in Exercise Red Flag. The RAAF plans to retire its F-111s in 2010. One of the aircraft on the final US deployment, F-111C A8-113, made history earlier in its flying career with the US Air Force when it flew the last official combat mission of the Vietnam War. Assigned to the 474th Tactical Fighter Wing, the aircraft deployed from Nellis to TakhliAB, Thailand, in 1972. On August 15,1973, Col Thomas Lacy and Maj Bill Erickson flew the F-111 to hit a target in Cambodia only minutes before the official bombing halt ended combat operations in the theatre. All six F-111Cs deployed to Nellis were from 6 Squadron, based at RAAF Amberley, Queensland. F-111C A8-113 is pictured on final approach to Nellis during the recent Red flag exercise. This was the last visit of RAAF F-111s to the United States.
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