Gary Ablett's F-105E

[comrade harps]

Republic F-105E Thunderchief, GA/Flying without feathers isn't easy, African Strike Wing (ASW), African Strike Group (ASG), La Güera, Spanish Western Sahara, 7 May 1965
Personal mount of Wing Commander Gary "Feathers" Ablett




The RAAF's African Strike Group (ASG) operated from February 1955 to August 1976. Its combat types included CAC built Sabres, GAF built Canberras, Mirage IIIOs, F-105D, E, F and G Thunderchiefs and F-4D, E and G Phantom IIs. The ASG conducted both tactical and strategic missions under UN authority. Additional support aircraft for roles like photo reconnaissance, EW, ELINT and air to air refueling were assigned to ASG to enable it to complete its missions.



The F-105D was introduced to the ASG inventory during 1962, flying with 3, 75 and 476 squadrons by year's end. The aircraft was a struggle to maintain and suffered an unexpectedly high rate of attrition. Many of its reliability and battle damage survivability issues were dealt with through ad-hoc field or depot level upgrade programs. The F-105E brought the best of these updates into the airframe as production line standards. It also replaced the D's NASARR R-14A radar with the AIM-7 Sparrow compatible R-14S version. The outboard hardpoints were moved closer to the wingtips to provide clearance for the Sparrows, which attached directly to the pylon. Although never considered a great fighter, several F-105E kills were attributed to the Sparrow. With the addition of Sidewinder rails attached to the inner underwing pylons, Republic promoted the E as a "self escorting bomber." F-105Es replaced the D model within the ASG during 1964. The ASG transitioned to the F-4D in 1966.



The F-105E depicted here is Wing Commander Gary Ablett's personal mount (tail coded GA) as photographed on 7 May 1965, before its final mission. Ablett's nickname of Feathers related to him going bald at a young age (im his mid-20s). It carries 6 M117 bombs, 2 AIM-9Bs, 2 AIM-7Es and 2 450 gal drop tanks. The plane was the personal mount of Wing Commander Gary  Ballard.  Ablett joined the ASW on 10 December 1964. He was an experienced combat pilot with tours flying Lincolns, Canberras and Sabres over South East Asia. Ablett led the ASW missions from 13 December 1964 to 7 May 65.




Wing Commander Ablett was shot down in this aircraft near the Moroccan port of Tanger Med on 7 May 1965. Hit by a SA-4 Ganef SAM as he proceeded with his bombing run, Ablett lost control of his burning jet and ejected over Red territory. In less than an hour was taken prisoner.




Of note is that Ablett had lobbied for a dedicated fighter flight within the ASW. The proposal was rejected by the ASG's CO, but a compromise was agreed. A quarter of the Thunderchiefs on any mission were allowed to carry AAMs instead of ECM. As regulations allowed, 2 ECM jammer pods (on the outer pylons) and a pair of Chaffwinders (on the AIM-9 launchers) were to be carried by the wingman of any jet armed with 2 Sparrows and 2 Sidewinders. Ablett made sure that he carried a full load of AIM-9Bs and AIM-7Es on each combat mission. On several occasions he engaged Red interceptors, but failed to achieve a kill. He would later be criticised for glory seeking. The RAAF banned ASW F-105Es from being armed with AIM-7Es a week after Ablett was shot down.



Wing Commander Ablett returned to Australia as part of a 1975 prisoner exchange. During his internment he earned a degree in music theory and composition as part of a POW education program run by the Geneva University of Music. He leveraged this to become a successful composer and arranger of music for Australian films, television programs and advertisements. His Australian Sounds series of albums sold well and in 1984 his Nullarbor Dreaming album won an ARIA for Best Instrumental Album.



This incidentally precipitated a public furore when a hot mic recording of fellow nominee (and decorated former SAS operative) Les Gilbert was leaked to the Sydney Morning Herald. Heard speaking after the ARIA ceremony, Gilbert was caught calling the Australian Sounds series "cringy and cliched" and "patriotic Muzak for the 2GB brigade." Sales boomed and Nullarbor Dreaming knocked The Twelfth Man off the number 1 spot on the ARIA Albums Chart.

[Old Wombat]

Another excellent scheme! On one of my favourite jet aircraft! What's not to love? 

[zenrat]

As always...
...    

[chrisonord]

Marvellous stuff 

[DogfighterZen]

  

[kerick]

Very unique! The colors and pattern look great.

[Wardukw]

Oh that works in so many ways     

[Weaver]

Nice one - that looks great!

[NARSES2]

Terrific looking piece of work   

Gary Ablett ? I knew the name rang a bell, Ex Liverpool, Everton, Birmingham and Blackpool died at 46 from cancer.

[comrade harps]

Terrific looking piece of work   

Gary Ablett ? I knew the name rang a bell, Ex Liverpool, Everton, Birmingham and Blackpool died at 46 from cancer.

Gary Ablett Jnr, ex Geelong, Sunshine, Geelong, still alive and still bald.

Son of God.

[The Rat]

That's a beauty!   

[NARSES2]

Terrific looking piece of work   

Gary Ablett ? I knew the name rang a bell, Ex Liverpool, Everton, Birmingham and Blackpool died at 46 from cancer.

Gary Ablett Jnr, ex Geelong, Sunshine, Geelong, still alive and still bald.

Son of God.

Right    My brain automatically goes to the English Football League

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice, I like the paint scheme a lot - simple modification, but great desert adaptation. 

[comrade harps]

Terrific looking piece of work   

Gary Ablett ? I knew the name rang a bell, Ex Liverpool, Everton, Birmingham and Blackpool died at 46 from cancer.

Gary Ablett Jnr, ex Geelong, Sunshine, Geelong, still alive and still bald.

Son of God.

Right    My brain automatically goes to the English Football League

I usually pick soccer players, but l had the GA decals and riffed on that and looked for an Australian footballer. I didn't know that another Gary Ablett played round ball football.

[NARSES2]

I usually pick soccer players, but l had the GA decals and riffed on that and looked for an Australian footballer. I didn't know that another Gary Ablett played round ball football.

Nor I that one played Aussie Rules, so we've both expanded our knowledge