F-4C Phantom II 63-7666 'This One's for You Baby' from the 171st FIS, 191st FIG Michigan ANG taxi's back to the ramp after completing a Profile IV mission. This profile was practically the only time the aircraft were seen sporting tanks.				All the 191st Rhino's at WT84 carried nose art: 63-7583 'Never Trust a Smiling Cat' 63-7412 'We Bad!' 63-7595 'Make My Day' 63-7442 'Baby!' This along with the colorful yellow/Black checks made these jets very popular with photographers and modellers alike.
	© Alec Molton/Premier Aviation Auctions Unknown

William Tell is* the USAF's premier fighter competition. Officially designated the 'USAF Air to Air Weapons Meet' William Tell was first held at Yuma, Arizona in 1954 (as part of the USAF Fighter Gunnery & Weapons Meet). In 1958 it moved to it's current home of Tyndall AFB, Florida. The competition is normally conducted every two years and was originally for units of Air Defence Command but was eventually expanded to incorporate air defence units from other commands, the Air National Guard as well as Canada. The naming of an overall winner started in 1980 and in 1996 the teams stopped competing as units but instead represented their various commands, such as Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard.

Report:Peter Greengrass Photos:Alec Molton (unless noted)

The competition involves the various units flying a range of intercept profiles against manned aircraft, as well as live-firing against sub-scale and full-scale aerial targets (FSAT). This is subdivided into aircraft types, 1984 involved McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagles (Category I), McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II's (Category II) and Convair F-106 Delta Dart's (Category III). The competition is not just limited to the aircrew but also consists of separate contests for the unit's weapon controllers, maintenance personnel and weapons loaders.

William Tell 1984 was notable for a couple of reasons, this was the last year that Convair F-106 Delta Dart equipped units competed (in later years the 'Ultimate Interceptor' still participated as a TARGET!) and this was also the first appearance of the QF-100 as an unmanned target replacing not only the PQM-102's but also the sub-scale BQM-34 'Firebee'. 1984 was also the first year since 1963 that the Canadian Armed Forces did not send a team to compete.

	318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron ADTAC McChord AFB, Washington 25th NORAD Region/McChord AFB									The 318th were the only F-15 outfit at William Tell to operate the 'Alpha' model of the Eagle. Photographed here is the 'Squadron bird' F-15A 76-0008. The 318th went on to hit two drones during Profile I/II, killing one of these,QF-100D 56-3313, which was the last kill of the meet. © Alec Molton/Premier Slide Auctions
F-15A	76-0008	76-0091	76-0098	76-0099	76-0101
	1st Tactical Fighter Wing FF TAC Langley AFB, Virginia 72nd TCF/Fort Monroe									F-15C 82-0014/FF, 1st TFW 'First Team' this was one of two 9th Air Force teams competing at WT84, the other being the 33 TFW. The weapons controllers selected to support each unit were taken from the units that they normally worked with, in the case of the 1 TFW this was the 72nd Tactical Control Flight. © Alec Molton/Premier Slide Auctions
F-15C	81-0020	81-0032	82-0010	82-0014	82-0030
	33rd Tactical Fighter Wing EG TAC Eglin AFB, Florida 507th TACW/Shaw AFB; 728th TCS/Eglin AFB									The 33rd TFW would go on to dominate the awards at William Tell, taking top honours in the F-15 category,maintenance, weapon control and receiving the 'Gen. Daniel 'Chappie' James Jr.' Trophy for top team. Here one of their 'Charlie' F-15's (83-0012) returns after another sortie over the Gulf of Mexico. © Alec Molton/Premier Slide Auctions
F-15C	82-0037	82-0038	83-0011	83-0012	83-0013
	49th Tactical Fighter Wing HO TAC Holloman AFB, New Mexico 82nd TCF/Holloman AFB									The 12th Air Forces team went on to win the active duty only aerial gunnery profile at WT84, also taking second and third places. 77-0079 seen here was the personal mount of 'Top Aerial Gunner' Capt. Doug Fraser. © Alec Molton/Premier Slide Auctions
F-15A	77-0078	77-0079	77-0102	77-0135	77-0147
	32nd Tactical Fighter Squadron CR USAFE Soesterberg AB, Netherlands 601st TCW/Sembach AB									The 32 TFS was unusual in that it was under the operational command of NATO and the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Seen here is F-15C 79-0029 on the taxiway at Tyndall. The 32nd got the first kill of the meet, when 79-0026 nailed a QF-100 with an AIM-9P on the 12th October. © Alec Molton/Premier Slide Auctions
F-15C	79-0018	79-0024	79-0026	79-0027	79-0029
	18th Tactical Fighter Wing ZZ PACAF Kadena AB, Okinawa 623rd TCS;848th AC&WS;26th AS/Kadena AB									F-15C 78-0479 scored a kill against one of the 82nd TATS's Full Size Aerial Targets when Capt Jack Catton hit the drone with an AIM-7. This was the only unassisted kill of WT84. © Alec Molton/Premier Slide Auctions
F-15C	78-0477	78-0479	78-0491	78-0497	78-0543

William tell '84 comprised of 12 teams from five USAF commands or subordinate organizations. The only command to have problems deciding which units to send to Tyndall, was Air Defence Tactical Air Command (ADTAC). With 17 ADTAC and ADTAC gained ANG Interceptor Squadron's to choose from and only 7 available places, the command decided to hold a competition - named the 'William Tell 84 Shootoff' - to select the units to be sent to Tyndall. This comprised of a series of one day evaluations held during May 1984. The other commands choices were much easier, for example PACAF only had one wing flying F-15's and TAC sent all of it's F-15 Wings!.

Each unit's team comprised of 5 aircraft and crews (4 primary aircraft/crews plus 1 spare), maintenance/weapon loader personnel and a weapons controller team. The Weapons Controller Teams selected were from units that normally worked with the Squadron, group or Wing, and are listed in the following tables in green.

Profile I/II 'Live Fire'
Profiles I and II were parts of the same mission. The teams flew these profiles as two ship elements, with each element flying the mission twice.

Profile I was a frontal radar missile attack against an unmanned manoeuvring QF-100 FSAT.

Profile II was an IR missile attack from the rear on the same target.

Missions were flown with live missiles but with the warhead removed. The elements were also accompanied by a chase plane for range safety.

Profile III 'Cold Fire'
The aim of this profile was to test the teams ability to scramble (teams were allowed 16 minutes from the 'horn' sounding to getting airborne), identify and engage 2 manned targets. The interceptors launched in pairs. Each aircraft was fitted with 2 simulated IR missiles and 2 Radar missiles. Each target had to be 'killed' by an IR and Radar missile therefore one interceptor could 'kill' both targets if necessary.

Profile IV 'Cold Fire'
This profile involved the teams (all 4 aircraft) attempting to intercept a massed raid involving manned targets (at various altitudes/speeds). Targets used ECM and chaff to evade and a typical target force comprised of 3 F-111's, 2 B-52's, 2 T-33's (for ECM) and 2 F-106's (simulating cruise missiles and ECM aircraft). Each team aircraft was equipped with 3 simulated missiles and 12 targets (some targets did multiple passes through exercise area to provide the 12 targets) were to be engaged, therefore to obtain maximum points all shots had to be on target.

Profile V 'Live Fire'
Live fire aerial gunnery profile against Low Cost Tow Targets (LCTT). This was limited to Active duty units. The aim was for each aircraft to hit the target in a minimum time then score maximum hits. Each 'shooter' was limited to 150 rounds.

There was a total of 40,000 points available, spread between Profiles I,II,III and IV. The total profile scores were used to select the winning team. The awards were split in to team and aircrew awards.

The team awards were 'Top team' and 'Category Best Team', which was awarded to the top Category I,II and III teams (F-15,F-4 and F-106). The individual aircrew scores selected the 'Top Gun' award and also the the top gun award for each aircraft category. The support troops - Maintenance,Weapon Loaders and the Weapon Control teams - also competed for awards and trophy's.

Profile V selected the 'Top Aerial Gunner' and 'Top Aerial Gunnery Team' from the active duty units.

Various other awards were awarded by the various contractors. Among these were the Airframe manufacturers, Sperry Corporation (QF-100 drone conversions) and Cubic Corporation responsible for the ACMI (Aircraft Combat Manoeuvring Instrumentation) range equipment used at Tyndall.

Team	Aircraft	Profile I	Profile II	Profile III	Profile IV	Total	Profile V
33rd TFW/TAC	F-15C	8240	5840	9750	9100	32930	981
49th TFW/TAC	F-15A	7360	8145	9650	7300	32455	2510
142nd FIG/ANG	F-4C	7300	9310	9250	6500	32360	-
1st TFW/TAC	F-15C	7860	7275	9750	6500	31385	718
119th FIG/ANG	F-4D	6120	6890	9600	7850	30460	-
32 TFS/USAFE	F-15C	5740	6865	7725	9100	29430	0
318th FIS/ADTAC	F-15A	6180	5500	9700	7200	28580	458
18th TFW/PACAF	F-15C	6120	8895	5000	8200	28215	1158
177th FIG/ANG	F-106A	5180	3800	8950	8300	26230	-
191st FIG/ANG	F-4D	4620	6930	4000	8300	23850	-
87th FIS/ADTAC	F-106A	1680	3585	9300	8200	22765	527
102nd FIW/ANG	F-106A	3000	1890	9000	7500	21390	-

FINAL SCORES

As can be seen from the table below the 33rd TFW won the 'Top Team' trophy, they also took top honours in the F-15 aircraft category. Capt. Scott 'Stork' Turner from the 32nd TFS was named 'Top Gun'. The 87th FIS won the 'Top Weapons Load' award and then it was 33rd TFW all the way, winning the maintenance awards and also their weapons controllers - the 507th TACW - took the award for 'Top Control Team'.

In the active duty only category of aerial gunnery, the 49th TFW were top dogs with a points total of 2510, 884 of these provided by Capt. Doug M Fraser who was named 'Top Aerial Gunner'.

WT84 QF-100 Drone Kills & Hits
Date	QF-100D		Shooter					Fate/Remarks
	Serial/Code		Type	Serial	Unit	Crew	Weapon
12/10/84	56-3044/125		F-15C	79-0026	32 TFS	Capt. S Turner	AIM-9	KILL/F-15 Chase First kill of meet
13/10/84	56-3410/135		F-15	?	18 TFW	?	AIM-9	HIT
			F-4	?	191 FIG	?	AIM-9	HIT/Recovered
18/10/84	56-3253/127		F-4C	63-7532	142 FIG	Capt. L Kemp (Pilot) Capt. R Peterson (WSO)	AIM-7	KILL/F-15 Chase missed Self destructed
18/10/84	56-3251/124		F-4C	76-0776	142 FIG	LtCol. R Pilcher (Pilot) Maj. D Anderson (WSO)	AIM-9	HIT
			F-15C	?	1 TFW	Capt. Carl Van Pelt	AIM-9	KILL - F-15 Chase (Gun)
19/10/84	55-2949/146		F-15C	78-0479	18 TFW	Capt. J Catton	AIM-7	KILL/Destroyed First unassisted kill of meet
19/10/84	55-2898/143		F-15C	?	33 TFW	Capt. E Cantwell	AIM-7	KILL/Destroyed
20/10/84	55-3564/148		F-15A	76-0008	318 FIS	Capt. R Hill	AIM-9	HIT/Recovered
22/10/84	56-3313/129		F-15A	76-0101	318 FIS	Capt. D Darnell	AIM-7	KILL/Self destructed Last kill of meet

166 TFS/121 TFW A-7D (x3) Profile III Target aircraft

16 TFS/388 TFW F-16A (x3) Profile III Target aircraft

For interceptors to do their job they need targets, and at William Tell '84 Tactical Air Command provided quite a variety of target aircraft for the meet. Based at nearby bases (see map) were A-7's, F-4's, F-16's and F-111's, which along with Tyndall based F-15's, T-33's and deployed F-106's made up the target package's for Profiles III/IV. Strategic Air Command weren't to be left out neither, providing two B-52 targets for each Profile IV evaluation. These launched from their Bomb Wings respective home bases and were flown as normal training missions by the crews.

Profiles I/II were the 'live fire' parts of the meet and this was where the old 'Huns' earned their money. QF-100D FSAT's flew 24 sorties during October in support of WT84 and only eight times did they fail to return (see table below for a list of these) An interesting side story to this concerns QF-100D 55-3564 named 'Carl's Hun' which was hit and lost a wing tip but recovered to Tyndall on Saturday 20th October. On that day it was being 'flown' by RCA Service Company contractor Carl Jeffcoat (The drones were operated by this company on behalf of the 82 TATS) who twenty years earlier had flown this same aircraft on his first assignment.

None the less important as the target aircraft were the support aircraft based at Tyndall. Moody F-4E's were deployed for Profile V as target tugs, whilst Tyndall's own 325th Tactical Training Wing (TTW) F-15's and T-33A's flew numerous sorties as Range patrols and Chase aircraft. Especially sought after, was the opportunity to fly chase on Profiles I/II where the chase might be called in to finish of a damaged drone (Lt Col Doug Weidman found himself in just this situation on the 12th October and got some 'gun time' on QF-100D 56-3044)

This 'Those Were the Days 03' could of not been possible without two things, one a book by John M Deur 'William Tell 84' published by Aeolus Publishing Limited and the slides shot by Alec Molton of Premier Aviation Auctions (Then as proprietor of Mil-Slides) which I have the privilege of having in my collection. Therefore we would like to offer our thanks to these two gentlemen as well as the following guys in the 'fraternity' ; Doug Slowiak, Daniel Soulaine, Steve Hill, Don Logan and Tom Hildreth.

William Tell 84 by Aelus Publictions		Journal of Military Aviation Vol2/2 - article 'William Tell 1992 by Steve Hill
Wings of Fame (various issues) Aerospace Publishing Ltd		Aviation News (various issues)
USAF Fighter Interceptor Squadrons (Osprey)		F-4C Phantoms C&M Vol.3 (Detail&Scale Publication)
World Air Power Journal (various issues)

	123rd Fighter Interceptor Squadron 142nd FIG - Oregon ANG Portland IAP, Oregon 25th NORAD Region/McChord AFB									Resting between sorties is Oregon ANG F-4C 64-0713. Previously equipped with the F-101B Voodoo, they re-equipped with Phantom's in 1978. In October 1989 they receive their first F-15's which they still fly today. © Alec Molton/Premier Slide Auctions
F-4C	63-7532	63-7670	63-7699	64-0713	64-0776
	171st Fighter Interceptor Squadron 191st FIG - Michigan ANG Selfridge ANGB, Michigan 24th NORAD Region/Griffiss AFB									F-4C 63-7442 'Baby'. The 171st received their F-4C's in 1978 being the first ANG unit to transition from F-106's. The squadron went on to operate F-4D's and then in 1990 re-equipped with F-16A ADF's. © Alec Molton/Premier Slide Auctions
F-4C	63-7412	63-7442	63-7583	63-7595	63-7666
	178th Fighter Interceptor Squadron 119th FIG - North Dakota ANG Hector Field, North Dakota 25th NORAD/McChord AFB									Returning after a Profile I/II mission, 64-0959 from 178th FIS 'the Happy Hooligans' still has a live AIM-9P Sidewinder. The 119th had been the ANG winners at William Tell in 1970,1972 with F-101B Voodoo's and would go on to be the leading ANG unit in WT86 (F-4D)and 94 (F-16A ADF) © Alec Molton/Premier Slide Auctions
F-4D	64-0953	64-0959	64-0965	64-0976	64-0977

	87th Fighter Interceptor Squadron ADTAC K.I. Sawyer AFB, Michigan 24th NORAD/Griffiss AFB									The 87th FIS were the only active duty F-106 operator competing in WT84 and this was the last time active duty 'Six's' would attend. A 'Red Bulls' F-106A 56-0466 taxis in after a mission. © Alec Molton/Premier Slide Auctions
F-106A	56-0466	57-0241	59-0035	59-0051	59-0097
	101st Fighter Interceptor Squadron 102nd FIW - Massachusetts ANG Otis ANGB, Massachusetts 24th NORAD/Griffiss AFB									This was the third time the 101st had competed in a William Tell, in 1978 they finished fourth, 1980 second was this third time lucky... F-106A 57-2505 would appear at Tyndall again but as a target, QF-106/AD204. It was shot down in 1993 by a AIM-7M. © Alec Molton/Premier Slide Auctions
F-106A	57-2467	57-2493	57-2503	57-2505	57-2506
	119th Fighter Interceptor Squadron 177th FIG - New Jersey ANG Atlantic City ANGB, New Jersey 24th NORAD/Griffiss AFB									The New Jersey ANG 177 FIG were destined to be last operational operators of the Delta Dart. F-106A 59-0048 would return to Tyndall, as most F-106's would, under the 'Pacer Six' Drone conversion project. As QF-106/AD217 it crashed on landing on 5 November 1996. © Alec Molton/Premier Slide Auctions
F-106A	59-0027	59-0031	59-0037	59-0048	59-0049

524 TFS/27 TFW F-111D (x6) Profile IV Target aircraft

70 TFS/347 TFW F-4E (x2) Profile III Target aircraft

82 TATS/475 WEG QF-100D (x17+) Profile I/II Target

325 TTW F-15A/B (x29+) Profile III Target/Range Patrol/Chase

95 FITS/325 TTW T-33A (x7+) Profile IV Target/Range Patrol

5 FIS/49 FIS/159 FIS F-106A (x9) Profile III/IV Target aircraft

70 TFS/347 TFW F-4E (x4) Profile V Target Tug Support

38 ARRS, Det5/39 ARRW CH-3E (x3) SAR

The competition aircraft and teams weren't the only aircraft and units taking part, Tactical Air Command supplied various aircraft to operate as targets for the meet. Hover mouse over Bases to find out which units and aircraft were based at each location in support of William Tell 84. For more info concerning these units see Targets & Support Below

Tyndall AFB
Target (Profile III/IV)
5th Fighter Interceptor Squadron ADTAC Minot AFB, North Dakota											The 5th FIS despatched three 'Sixes' to Tyndall. Shot here between target sorties is F-106A 59-0002 which coincidentally ended it's career as a real target, when as QF-106/AD113 it was shot down by an AIM-7M over the Tyndall ranges on 27th March 1992. © Alec Molton/Premier Slide Auctions
F-106A	56-0461	59-0002	59-0130
49th Fighter Interceptor Squadron ADTAC Griffiss AFB, New York											Returning after a Profile III sortie is F-106A 59-0077 (this aircraft also returned to Tyndall as a drone and was dipatched by an AIM-7 in July 1993) from the Griffiss based 49th FIS. The F-106 was used during Profile IV evaluations to simulate Cruise missiles. © Alec Molton/Premier Slide Auctions
F-106A	59-0077	59-0081	59-0127	59-0135
159th Fighter Interceptor Squadron 125th FIG - Florida ANG Jacksonville IAP, Florida											A 'FANG' F-106A returns to the ramp. The 125th Fighter Interceptor Group had finished fourth in WT 76, the last time they participated as a team. In February 1992 59-0109 was another QF-106 shot down, this time by an AIM-120. © Alec Molton/Premier Slide Auctions
F-106A	59-0104	59-0109
Target (Profile III*/IV**) & Support (Range Patrol & Chase duties)
1st Tactical Fighter Training Squadron TY 2nd Tactical Fighter Training Squadron 325th TTW - ADWC Tyndall AFB, Florida											F-15A 74-0114 returning to the ramp after a Range patrol mission. Tyndall F-15s were extensively used for safety chase duties. A bonus for these pilots was the opportunity to 'Gun' any damaged drones that were non recoverable. © Alec Molton/Premier Slide Auctions
F-15A	74-0102	74-0103	74-0110	74-0112*					74-0113	74-0114	74-0116	74-0132	74-0134	75-0021
	75-0027	75-0031	75-0032	75-0034					75-0036	75-0044	75-0060*
F-15B	74-0137	74-0140	74-0142	75-0080					75-0081	75-0082	75-0084*	75-0086*	75-0088	75-0089*
	76-0125	76-0134
95th Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron 325th TTW - ADWC Tyndall AFB, Florida											Photographed four years previous, in May 1980 is T-33A 58-2101 from the 95th FITS. This aircraft didn't actively participate in WT84 but was still operational with the unit at that time. The T-33's flew mainly as range patrols but were also used as ECM targets during Profile IV. MilSlides
T-33A	53-5947	57-0761	58-0467	58-0494					58-0508	58-0577	58-0628**
Target (Profile I/II)
82nd Tactical Aerial Targets Squadron 475th WEG - ADWC Tyndall AFB, Florida											Photographed here at 'Death Row' during WT84 is QF-100D 56-3313/129. This aircraft was hit by an AIM-7 which took of a wing! It was then remotely self destructed (This being the last kill of the meet). © Alec Molton/Premier Slide Auctions
QF-100D	55-3668	56-3251	56-3044	56-3239					56-3253	56-3291	56-3313	56-3310	56-3328	56-3389
	56-3410	55-3593	55-2898	55-3623					55-2889	55-2949	55-3564
Support (Search & Rescue)
38th Aerospace Rescue & Recovery Squadron - Detachment 5 39th ARRW - TAC Tyndall AFB, Florida											CH-3E 65-12800 shot at Tyndall during a Jan 85 excercise named 'Copper Flag'. © Tom Hildreth
CH-3E	64-14223	64-14226	65-12800
Moody AFB* - Target (Profile III) & Tyndall AFB - Support (Profile V)
70th Tactical Fighter Squadron MY 347th TFW - TAC Moody AFB, Georgia											F-4E 68-0447 photographed at Moody AFB during October 1984 was one of the two F-4E's that flew as targets for Profile III. The 70th TFS also provided four aircraft as target tugs for Profile V. The Phantoms were equipped with LCTT's (Low Cost Tow Targets) © Daniel Soulaine
F-4E	68-0447*	68-0490*	68-0343	68-0346					68-0511	68-0536
MacDill AFB - Target (Profile III)
166th Tactical Fighter Squadron OH 121st TFW - TAC Rickenbacker AFB, Ohio											The 121st TFW flew their A-7D's as targets on Profile III evaluations. Each Profile III mission required 4 dissimilar aircraft, comprised of one A-7D, one F-16 and one each of either an F-4,F-15 or F-106 depending on the teams aircraft type. © Unknown/Peter Greengrass Collection
A-7D	71-0347	72-0191	72-0251
16th Tactical Fighter Squadron HL 388th TFW - TAC Hill AFB, Utah											The other profile III targets flown from MacDill during the meet were F-16A's from the Hill AFB based 388th TFW. Photographed four years later in April 1988 is one of them, 82-0921. The F-16 community had to wait until 1992 to participate as competitors at William Tell. © Douglas E Slowiak/Vortex Photo Graphics
F-16A	82-0919	82-0921	82-0923
Eglin AFB - Target (Profile IV)
524th Tactical Fighter Squadron CC 27th TFW - TAC Cannon AFB, New Mexico											F-111D 68-0123/CC (photographed here attending William Tell 92) was one of six F-111D's operated from Eglin AFB as targets for Profile IV. © Steve Hill/EMCS
F-111D	68-0096	68-0123	68-0148	68-0163					68-0171	68-0177
Homebased SAC B-52 - Target (Profile IV)
2/5/7/42/97/319/379/410/416 Bombardment Wings - SAC											B-52's like this example flew target sorties from their home bases. Each target package consisted of two B-52's. B-52G 59-2599 from the 2nd BW was photographed 6 months later, 22nd May 1985 at RAF Fairford. (It is not known whether this actual aircraft participated in WT84 though) © Unknown/Peter Greengrass Collection
B-52G/H	Unknown - Various