The mini-FB with AFSA Chapter 155/A155
During his conversation with the OMS personnel, Chief Ross informed them that he was a AFJROTC instructor at Spaulding High School, in nearby Rochester, NH, and that if it was decided to get rid of the plane to let him know, and that perhaps the JROTC Corps could do something with it. Chief Ross was called a couple months later and asked if he wanted the plane, and where to deliver it. Personnel from OMS delivered the plane on a trailer that was also in need of repairs to Spaulding High School. It was now property of the 3519th Air Force Recruiting Squadron of Portsmouth, NH and NH-071 Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps. After repairing the wiring on the trailer, the plane and trailer were taken to Sky Haven Airport in Rochester, NH for storage. The plane remained there for about a year as the JROTC tried to raise the estimated $10,000 for repairs. When it became clear that the JROTC would not be able to fund the repairs, Chief Ross brought this to the attention of AFSA Chapter 155/A155 during a meeting in early 1991. Chief Ross and the chapter leadership agreed at that meeting that the chapter would assume responsibility for maintaining the plane and trailer, and thus gain ownership. On May 3, 1991, then Chapter 155 President Larry Pittman accepted transfer of the plane from the 3519th AF Recruiting Squadron.Work to restore the plane and trailer began almost immediately at the Pittman's residence with the help of Raymond Drapeau and Bill Sowers, and Auxiliary members Brenda Pittman and Anne Sowers. Bill Sowers was able to make an arrangement with personnel of Ben's Auto Body in Portsmouth, NH to volunteer their time to repair the fiberglass and structural damage, and paint the plane. The work to restore the trailer was accomplished at Bill Sowers' residence in Portsmouth, NH. Through the tireless efforts of Chapter 155 members Larry Pittman, Ray Drapeau, Bill Sowers, and Auxiliary members Brenda Pittman, and Anne Sowers, and the volunteers at Ben's Auto, the plane was ready for public showing in little more than 12 months after the transfer from the Recruiting Squadron. The first public display of the plane under the AFSA Chapter 155/A155 banner occurred in July 1992 at the Operation Desert Storm parade in Portsmouth, NH.
After several years it passed into the possession of the NH Civil Air Patrol (CAP). During its TDYs with AFSA and the CAP, the mini's regular crew chief (and savior) was Joe Cloutier (former B-47 crew chief). Simply stated, if it hadn't been for Joe taking personal interest in the mini and establishing/remaining in contact with the FB-111A Association for many years, the mini-FB-111 would be back behind the auto hobby shop--or more likely attrited--long ago. All who attended the 2005 Reunion at Pease saw the mini on its trailer. It was obvious at that time that further repairs were badly needed, and it still looked ridiculous (and somewhat humiliated) as a T-bird. The FB-111A Association made the CAP a deal: if the CAP accomplished necessary repairs, the Association would pay for and repaint the mini--but with one condition: it would be repainted in the FB-111A SIOP paint scheme. No more T-bird B.S. That effort happened in Oct 2005. Later, more repairs had been accomplished and the mini was touched up for the upcoming Reunion at KPBG in July and the Pease Air Show in Aug. The FB-111A Association always made sure that it would get the first call if the CAP ever tired of caring for the mini. That e-mail call came on 16 March of this year. The first "official" function of the mini-FB-111A? A formal "fly-by" the Pease ANGB barbershop to honor a friend of every KPSM veteran, Mr Sal Zona. Sal was blown away.The FB-111A Association extends our personal thanks and appreciation to BGen Mark Sears, (yeah, THAT Mark Sears) and the 157th ARW for their gracious support of our effort. 'Course we DO have pictures of Gen Sears as a Captain...also in the mini..
After many weeks in the hands of Col. Chris McWilliams from FB-111A.net, the mini-FB received a new paint scheme and markings. Once painted like a Thunderbird, the mini-FB was now going to pay homage to the plane's predecessor World War II bomb wings. When Chris saw the mini-FB on display during the last reunion in July 2005, the model was in dire need of extensive body repair and repainting. The FB-111A Association offered to repaint the plane on the condition that it could be restored to its original appearance. Owned by the Civil Air Patrol in New Hampshire, the mini-FB was repaired before Chris could haul the plane on a trailer to his home in Westford, Mass. Due to bad weather, Chris had no choice but to squeeze the 20-feet model into his garage. During the next six weeks, McWilliams spent every free minute he had to restore the model. Luckily, two friends gave him a hand with this project, MSgt Chip Cahoon and Lt Col.Pete Doe. Even Chris's wife and daughter helped do some painting one afternoon. Chris worked diligently to restore the paint exactly as it had originally appeared. Tsgt Frank Stephens from the 157th ARW/NH ANG helped Chris with the stencils for the markings on the model. In addition, nose arts emblems have been applied on both sides of the model. The right fuselage represents aircraft 69-6509 from the 509th Bomb Wing with the Gloucester fisherman and "Spirit of the Sea Coast". The left fuselage represents the 380th Bomb Wing from Plattsburgh AFB, NY, which is the direct descendent of the 380th Bomb Group (H), a B-24 heavy bomb group and one of the premier bomb groups in the Pacific Theater. The model carries the emblem "King of the Heavies" that represent the predecessor bomb group and its squadrons. FB-111A 68-0244 was given the special markings in 1982 for the first reunion of the 380th Bomb Group. For Col. Chris McWilliams, both units have a very rich history and it was important to capture that heritage just as the actual FB-111 aircraft did. All the mini-FB missing after that was power and plans were made for the year after.
The mini-FB-111A finally returned home. On 7 June 2007, the mini-FB touched down at the 157 Air Refueling Wing at Pease Air National Guard Base, NH, completing a 16-year TDY since the 509th BMW departed for Whiteman AFB and Pease AFB closed as a SAC installation. The mini-FB was on display during the 2007 Wings of Hope Air Show at Pease ANGB, Portsmouth, NH, held in August.
