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History
During an Open House and Air Show at Pease AFB in the late '80s, Chief Ross, a long-time life member of our chapter, watched personnel from the Base’s Organizational Maintenance Squadron taking pictures of children sitting on a 20 foot replica of a FB-111. The FB-111 was one of the base’s organizational aircraft. The Chief noticed that the plane’s fiberglass skin was torn in several places, metal parts were corroded, and the engine was not working. The Chief asked some squadron personnel who owned the model, and why it wasn’t being maintained? They said they did not know how long the model had been in the squadron, and that they had somehow inherited it but had no money to maintain it. 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. Since then it has represented us in local holiday and celebration parades in Dover, Rochester, Epping, Exeter, and Franklin New Hampshire, and Eliot, Maine. The 20-foot replica of the FB-111 continues to be a favorite attraction at local events. |
