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Acknowledgments
Information and crash site photos for this page were kindly provided by Ian Murgatroyd.
Many thanks also to Alan Leishman for kindly providing additional crash details and a photo of the impact point at Craignaw.
Copyright Notice: All photos remain the property of the original authors, and may not be reproduced elsewhere without the respective author's prior written permission.
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Aircraft Type Photo
Aircraft Type and Background
General Dynamics USAF F-111E / 68-0803
Aircraft Type Nickname: "Aardvark". (Accepted as official name on retirement) Built by General Dynamics [Wiki] and carrying a crew of two, the F-111 was capable of flying at twice the speed of sound (Mach 2). This swing-wing aircraft entered service with the USAF in 1967. The F-111 could swing its wings rearward while in flight, and forward for take-off, landings, and slow-speed flight. Two main versions (with later variants) were produced: The F-111A for the USAF and the F-111B for the US Navy. The Navy variant was later cancelled. F-111K variants intended for the RAF were also cancelled. The F-111E variant featured here was an improved version of the F-111A. The F-111A was equipped with two Pratt and Whitney TF30-P-3 engines with afterburners. The aircraft had a maximum speed of 1,452mph and a range of 3,632 miles. Its service ceiling was 57,000ft. The armaments carried were one 20mm M61A1 gun, plus a mix of up to 24 conventional or nuclear weapons. [Above data courtesy of National Museum of USAF]
BELOW: An F-111 with variable-swing wings configured for take-off, landing and low-speed flight.
Photo: Courtesy of the National Museum of the USAF
Aircraft Accident Details
At the time of the accident, this F-111 from 20th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) USAF had been carrying out practice bombing at Jurby, Isle of Man. It then went on to practice low flying when it struck the Galloway Hills at Craignaw. Both crew members died in this accident.
Aircraft Crew Casualties
Crash Site Photos
BELOW: The granite rock face on Craignaw which the F-111 impacted in 1979.
Photo © 1994-2010 Alan Leishman
Members of the Dumfries Aviation Museum were taken to the site by the USAF and items recovered are on display at the museum. The impact point is below the memorial. [A. Leishman]
BELOW: The memorial cairn on Craignaw to the F-111 crew.
Photo © 2010 Ian Murgatroyd
BELOW: A closer view of the memorial cairn. (See also close-up of plaque below.)
Photo © 2010 Ian Murgatroyd
BELOW: A close-up view of the memorial plaque on the cairn.
Photo © 2010 Ian Murgatroyd
BELOW: A section of wreckage from the F-111 Aardvark that crashed at Craignaw in 1979. This section can be seen beside the memorial cairn.
Photo © 2010 Ian Murgatroyd
Photo Gallery
At the moment, there are no additional photos of this aircraft crash site in the Photo Gallery.
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Crash Date / Site
Accident Date: 19 Dec 1979
Accident Site: Craignaw(NX 463 833) Memorial Crag / Wall: NX 458 833.
Region: Dumfries and Galloway (Galloway Hills / routes and maps)
Nearest towns or villages: St John's Town of Dalry [map] orNew Galloway [map]
Nearest large town: Newton Stewart (SW) [map]
OS Grid Ref. NX 458 833 (Memorial)
GPS Refs: N/A
Present Condition: Small amounts of wreckage still onsite. Memorial cairn with plaque onsite (see photos below).
Some pieces of wreckage are on display at the Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum
Aircraft Details
Registration or Serial: 68-0803
Operator: USAF (United States Air Force; 20 TFW (Tactical Fighter Wing))
Operating Base: RAF Upper Heyford (X2UD)
Base Location: Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, England.
Current Airport Status: Closed. Some parts disused and derelict. Other parts used for storage, rented accommodation, and Police driver training.
Principal airport data courtesy of John Woodside, A Catalogue of UK Airfields
Related Links
F-111 Aardvark Links F-111 Aardvark at Global Security.org
F-111 Video Links F-111 Jets on Display at YouTube (video: 0:43 seconds) F-111 Wings at YouTube (F-111 in action / video with commentary: 10:02 minutes)
Forum Link Craignaw, Dungeon Hill, and Mullwharchar at Scottish Hills.com (includes F-111 memorial / wreckage and other aircraft wreckage).
Local Hillwalking and Mountaineering Links Craignaw at Forestry Commission (organised hillwalk) Galloway Climbing (Craignaw) at NeedleSports.com
Museum Links Local Region Museum Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum (some wreckage pieces on display at this museum. Also, F-111E escape capsule from similar aircraft on display.) Other Museum General Dynamics F-111A Aardvark at National Museum of the USAF
RAF / USAF and Related Links RAF Upper Heyford Base History RAF Upper Heyford at Subterranea Britannica RAF Upper Heyford at Wikipedia
USAF and Related Links 20th Fighter Wing Association (History) 20th Fighter Wing Fact Sheet at Shaw Air Force Base 20th Fighter Wing (20th FW) at Global Security.org 20th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) at Subterannea Britannica F-111 Aardvark Memorial (All crew members listed, including those who died at Craignaw)
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F-111E Aardvark 68-0803
Craignaw, Galloway Hills
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