(DVICphoto)

The 380th Bomb Wing joined forces with the 509th Bomb Wing to set another first for the Strategic Air Command during a Red Flag exercise at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho in 1980. The purpose of the deployment was to integrate Pease and Plattsburgh's FB-111A crew members and maintenance personnel into conventional munitions deployment. At the time, Red Flag was the Tactical Air Command's realistic training program which allowed aircrews to experience simulated combat situations not encountered during normal training missions. This kind of exercise provided aircrews with a convincingly real setting for encountering their first "combat" missions. Nearly 12,000 aircrews have been trained in Red Flag between 1975 and 1980.

The 380th and 509th Bomb Wings participated from June 4 to June 13. The head maintenance officer for the joint venture was Maj. Thomas Zavorskas from the 380th AMS and was in charge of 74 Organizational, Avionics, Field and Munitions Maintenance workers; people from Supply and mission debriefing from Pease and Plattsburgh. FB-111A flightcrews from the 528th/529th Bomb Squadron and the 4007 Combat Crew Training squadron flew under the one-team concept with FB-111A aircrews from Pease AFB. Ten flightcrews were sent from Plattsburgh to take part in this exercise.

According to Lt.Col. Raymund O'Mara, 380th Bomb Wing Detachment commander for the exercise, this was the first time FB-111 crew members and maintenance personnel had ever trained in conventional combat situations. "I feel this Red Flag was very successful," said Colonel O'Mara. "We had Plattsburgh aircraft flying in Pease formations and vice versa. It was also very impressive to see Plattsburgh and Pease maintenance personnel work together. We also had the added benefit of working with TAC crews from Mountain Home," added Colonel O'Mara. "We were able to gain knowledge from their extensive experience in conventional munition delivery."

 Capt. Michael Kenny, a 528th BMS pilot stated,"This exercise was unique and historical. SAC is nuclear deterrent force and never before has the FB-111A been used for conventional purposes." According to Captain Kenny, this exercise was more realistic than other Red Flag exercises because there was a heavier concentration of planes in the air at the same time, making the missions more realistic. "It was interesting working with Pease and other aircraft besides the FB-111A," the captain added. "We were all trained at the same school, but have slightly different flying techniques. However, we could fly in the same aircraft without problems." When flying missions in the Plattsburgh area, the crews used mainly the radar and navigation systems to find targets. With conventional flying, they got to plan and attack. "It's a great feeling to know we can go anywhere with the FB-111A and work with Pease and encounter no problems," stated MSgt. John Dempsi, maintenance superintendent. "The whole exercise was outstanding. We had maintenance members working side-by-side with Pease personnel. If the situation ever arose where we would have to use the training, we would be able to do the job perfectly together."

Colonel O'Mara summed up the exercise, "This Red Flag proved to be very educational for the Wing. The purpose was to expand the use of the FB-111A and train crew members and maintenance people in conventional munitions delivery. It was our first step. We have a long way to go, but we learned quite a bit."

More than 150 aircraft participated in this Red Flag, including SAC B-52D, G and H models, FB-111A and KC-135s. This largest-ever Red Flag exercise at the time involved more than 2,300 people and more than 5,000 individual aircraft sorties.

An FB-111A from the 380th BW in flight during Red Flag 80-2. (Via Jim Murray)