The 1974 Strategic Air Command Bombing and Navigation Competition was held at Barksdale AFB, LA. from Nov. 9 thru Nov. 15. 49 SAC aircrews representing SAC bomber and tanker units competed in what had been described as "The World Series of Bombing and Navigation". In addition, three Royal Air Force aircrews competed using Vulcan bombers. Since July of the same year, the 380th Bomb Wing had been busy preparing for the competition and had chosen the apple as its theme. The apple was chosen as a logical way of promoting Plattsburgh and the surrounding area because of the significant impact that it and the related industry had on the North Country. Included in the total theme development were among things; the designation of the wing's FB-111A competition aircraft as "Apple One" and the painting of a large red apple on the front side of the aircraft, apple patches for the crew and maintenance team uniforms, the construction of a rustic apple shed which was dismantled and reassembled in the space provided for the 380th BW at Barksdale AFB and finally, over 2,500 apples and a large quantity of apple cider which was given away during the Bomb Comp to promote Plattsburgh and the North Country.Each wing represented at the competition had been allotted an amount of space in which to set up a booth designed to promote their particular base and area of the country. The project officer in charge of developing and constructing the booth was Major Dale Wolfe. Capt. Paul Davis, Capt. Bryan Bennett and Lt. Robert Stambaugh also spent countless hours in developing the 380th's entry. The booth was constructed as a rustic apple shed. Also in evidence during the competition and an item of extreme interest for many was the 528th and 529th Bomb Squadron's car. The car was a 1963 Lincoln Continental donated by a Mr. Frank Stanley from Plattsburgh. In addition, four junior female officer accompanied the team and acted as hostesses during the symposium at Barksdale AFB.
The primary FB-111A crew was composed of Maj. Donald F. Allan, pilot, and Maj. Paul B. Bragdon, radar navigator. Back up crew for the competition was; Maj. Ross A McLean, pilot, and Maj. Michael S. Venglik, radar navigator. The primary KC-135 was composed of Capt. Gary E. Masilko, pilot; Lt. Don Siegel, co-pilot; Maj. Arthur G. Gaetjens, navigator and TSgt. Paul R. Page, boom operator. Back up crew was composed of Capt. Russell W. Denis, pilot; Lt. Alan W. McElroy, co-pilot; Lt. Don Gerard, navigator and TSgt. Limous E. Walker, boom operator. FB-111A 67-0162 was the aircraft flown in the competition by Allan and Bragdon while 67-0192 was the spare aircraft flown by the back up crew. KC-135A 3554 "Spirit of the North Country" was the primary tanker in the comp. Both 3554 and a spare KC-135 received special markings for the competition. Each wing represented at Barksdale AFB flew two bomber and two tanker sorties. The first sortie for the 380th's crews originated at Plattsburgh while the second sortie was flown out of Barksdale. Each bomber sortie included pinpoint navigation and simulated high and low bombing. Each mission included one high altitude and four low altitude releases. All of the bombing done during the competition was accomplished by a radar scored bomb tone. Each tanker sortie encompassed a precision radar termination exercise, basic night celestial navigation leg and orbit exercise.
The photos shown on this page depict the various efforts by the 380th BW to participate and win the 1974 SAC Bomb Comp. All photos were taken by 1Lt. Robert Stambaugh both in Barksdale and Plattsburgh AFB. Robert Stambaugh was the Information Officer and accompanied the team through the competition. Through the pages, you will see photos of the winning FB-111 crew, the FB-111 back-up crew, the winning tanker crew, FB-111 and KC-135 crew chiefs, members of the maintenance team. Also photos taken on the flightline in Barksdale AFB during the competition, photos from the symposium with the 380th BW display and the four junior female officer. Photos from the award ceremony are also included.
"Apple One" and "Spirit of the North Country" teamed up to win the coveted Fairchild Trophy on Thursday, Nov. 14. "Spirit of the North Country", PAFB's KC-135 in the competition scored 377 points out of a possible 600 on their last mission to clinch the trophy and beat Mather AFB to become the "Best of the Best". Plattsburgh's FB-111 also won the Best Mission Trophy for F/FB-111, the Crew Bombing Trophy and the Bombing Trophy for the 380th Bomb Wing. The 380th led the competition for the Fairchild Trophy from the very beginning and steadily increased its lead until it clinched it on Thursday morning. Plattsburgh went into the last round with a 206 points lead over Mather AFB. After the first round of competition, Plattsburgh held a slim four point lead over the second place Fairchild AFB (92nd BW) for the Fairchild Trophy and increased that lead to 206 points. Plattsburgh won the Best Mission Trophy by 10 points over the 27th TFW from Cannon AFB, 1,159 to 1,149. The 509th Bomb Wing finished third with 1,123 and the 366th TFW finished fourth with 1.039 points. Plattsburgh also won the Bombing Trophy with 1.932 points, beating second place Pease AFB (1,855), Mather AFB (1,810) and fourth place, RAF Scampton (1,783).Awards were presented to bomb wings that were best in combined bombing and navigation for both missions, best in bombing for one mission, best in navigation for one mission, best in bombing for both mission, and best in navigation for both missions. Crew awards were given for the same categories. Individual awards were also given to each aircrew member, aircraft crew chief, and armament and electronics specialist for excelling in a number of selected areas.380th's victorious crew and aircraft returned to Plattsburgh AFB on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 16. KC-135A and FB-111A left Barksdale AFB at about 08:00 AM (CST) and flew straight to Plattsburgh. When both aircraft arrived in Plattsburgh, they made a low-level pass over the base. After they landed at 12:10 PM (EST), both aircraft taxied to the black hangar to be greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of about 500 people from the air base and surrounding community. People cheered the two-man crew of "Apple One", the crew of "Spirit of the North Country" and other personnel, about 45, which arrived in the tanker. Colonel O'Loughlin took the Fairchild Trophy to a platform set up in the middle of the black hangar for everyone to see.O'Loughlin commented on the spirit of the wing and said that the victory was due to a total effort. Not only of the men who went to Barksdale AFB but also those that stayed behind, and the Plattsburgh community who also gave their support to the team. "When Plattsburgh Air Force Base crews won the Fairchild Trophy, they beat the best of the best" said Col. O'Loughlin. "Choosing a winner for the coveted trophy was difficult because all crews were champions. The degree of proficiency that each crew exhibited also made it tough to pick a loser" he added. Crews at Plattsburgh AFB earned the right to compete in the Barksdale competition during competitive runoffs. Meaning, presumably, that the best crews at each base were selected. "The chances of winning were narrowed by the incalculable number of things that can go wrong" the commander explained. "If human and mechanical error conspire to throw a plane off its route by one or two miles in a two-hour run, the plane will likely be out of the running" he added. O'Loughlin defended the competition on a cost basis on the ground that it improved the efficiency of each unit competing. Plattsburgh AFB crews began planning for the meet in June. During that time, techniques and procedures were perfected. Techniques that may never have been looked for had it not been for the competition. On Saturday evening, Nov. 16, a party was held at the O'Club for a victory celebration. About 700 people attended the event.This was the first Fairchild Trophy for the 380th BMW. The wing won again in 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1984 for a total of 5 Fairchild Trophies.
(Special thanks to Robert Stambaugh and Greg Grohman for sharing infos and photos taken during the competition.)
Maj. Donald F. Allan, pilot, and Maj. Paul B. Bragdon, radar navigator, 380th BMW
