Boss Bird Aviation Graphics

My earliest memories are from the village of Weeting, just down the road from RAF Lakenheath, where my father worked in a civilian role on the base. Some of my happiest childhood days were spent watching F-111s through the fence—or, if I was lucky, inside the fence from the cab of my father's work truck—captivated by their elegant lines and the roar of their afterburners. Thanks to my father's job, I was occasionally able to spend time on base and meet some of the people who flew, maintained, and supported the F-111. At that age, I didn't really understand what their jobs entailed; I just knew they were my heroes. Those childhood experiences left an impression that has never faded, sparking a lifelong fascination with the F-111.

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My family immigrated to the United States in 1981, and I thought my connection with the F-111 had come to an end.

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That changed in April 1986. I was watching the evening news with my parents as reports of the U.S. air strikes against Libya unfolded. Suddenly, the familiar shape of the F-111 was on the television screen, and with it came memories of the sights and sounds that had captivated me as a child. Hearing the words "Lakenheath" and "F-111" together again filled me with the same excitement I had felt peering through the fence at RAF Lakenheath.

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In the days that followed, I searched my school library for every newspaper or magazine article about the raid. Before long, I was drawing F-111s in the margins of my school notebooks and on every scrap of paper in reach.

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A few years later, Operation Desert Storm brought the F-111 back into the headlines. By then I was a teenager, and I followed every news report I could find. I went from building model kits to collecting every book and magazine I could find featuring the F-111, and what had begun as a childhood fascination gradually became a lifelong pursuit.

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Over the years, that pursuit led me to museums across the United States to study surviving aircraft and, more importantly, it has given me the opportunity to meet many of the veterans whose service was part of the F-111's history.

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In August 2025, a group of former F-111 crews from Operations Eldorado Canyon and Desert Storm gathered for a reunion at the Imperial War Museum Duxford and RAF Lakenheath. To help support the preservation of F-111 history, Squadron Prints UK produced a limited-edition profile print of a 495th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 48th Tactical Fighter Wing F-111 that was signed by the attendees and sold as a fundraiser. I was thrilled to add one to my collection, where it occupies a hallowed place in my home office.

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Following the reunion, I exchanged several correspondences with Lt. Col. Rusty O'Brien, who had commanded the 495th Tactical Fighter Squadron during Operation Desert Storm. Our conversations about preserving the history of the F-111 helped crystallize an idea. I realized that preserving the history of the F-111 through my own original artwork was how I could make my own contribution and pay tribute, and I decided to begin the journey that would become Boss Bird Aviation Graphics.

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That journey culminated in attending the 2026 F-111 Reunion at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, where I had the privilege of meeting many of the men and women whose service had inspired my artwork. Forty-five years had passed, and I was back inside the fence once again. The people who had seemed like heroes to a young boy growing up near RAF Lakenheath had become friends, mentors, and the inspiration behind my work. I was honored to share with them the commemorative poster I created celebrating both the reunion and the 40th anniversary of Operation Eldorado Canyon, and to have them sign it. 

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Through Boss Bird Aviation Graphics, I strive to preserve the history of the F-111 by combining meticulous historical research with detailed profile artwork. Every illustration is created to be as accurate as possible, reflecting the aircraft's markings, configuration, and the moment in history it represents.

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This isn't simply a collection of aircraft profiles—it's a tribute to the crews, maintainers, and units whose professionalism, dedication, and sacrifice shaped the F-111's story. My hope is that these works help preserve their stories and ensure they continue to be remembered for generations to come.

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A Short Word of Thanks

This collection would not exist without the generosity of the F-111 community. I have been fortunate to receive the encouragement, knowledge, photographs, memories, and friendship of countless members of the F-111 community. To Steve “Doc” Hyre, Michael Kaplan, Rick Copp, Roger McCarron, Jason Curtis, Paul Holmes, Julian Acevedo, Joe Laroue, Andre Peltier, Mike Bradley, and many others who have encouraged or contributed to my efforts, I owe you a debt of gratitude for helping bring this collection to life.

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Most of all, thank you to the men and women who flew, maintained, and supported the F-111. It has been an honor to help preserve a small part of your history.