North American Sabre Dog Part Two USAF F-86DL Sabre

116 Pages·2003·104.041 MB·English

by  Duncan Curtis

INTRODUCTION: Don 'Goody' Goodrich, Tom Hail, FRONT COVER:
Frederick Hitchcock, Pete Hutting,
4th FIS Sabre Oog 52-4024 was the
Air Force Legends Number 207 is John Irwin, Marty Isham, Maj E. B.
squadron commander's aircraft and is
the second volume in the North J0rgensen, Michael P. Jungers, Craig
seen at Misawa AB in Japan. A
American F-86D/K/L Sabre Dog Kaston, Dean Krueger, John Lewis,
Japanese Ground Self Oefense Force
series and covers the United States Otto Loorents, David R. McLaren,
soldier guards the aircraft. '024 was
Air Force usage of the F-86D/Ls. Dave Menard, Chuck Metz, National
passed on to the Japanese in 1961 and
Volume three will cover Air National Archives, Stephane Nicolaou, Bud is now displayed at Matsushima. (Otto
Guard operators of F-86D/Ls and Norris, Masato Ota, Bill Piper, Jared Loorents)
Foreign service of the F-86D/KiL. Potvin, Ron Regan, Jim Roquemore,
Volume one chronicaled the aircraft's Fred Roos, Dick Schneider, Larry BACK COVER:
design, structures and testing. Smalley, Bob Stollof. Elliott P. Smith,
Left side top to boUom, 97th FIS with
Willaim Swisher, Norm Taylor, Joe
famous red Oevil Cat markings. (Ron
Duncan Curtis has taken on the Watkins, Nick Williams and Robert
Picciani) 512th FIS Sabre Oog 52-4185
task of documenting the Air Force's Zbornak.
during 1957. (Jack Friell) 525th FIS 51-
operational history of the F-86D/L in 8377 belonged to the 86th FIW in 1957.
this volume. He previously authored Finally, to my brother Howard, (R. Anderson via Isham) 513th FIS 52-
Naval Fighters Number 58, North whose help through the years has 4140 while assigned to the 86th FIW in
American QF-86 Sabre Drones, and been immeasurable. 1958. (Jack Friell) 329th FIS F-860 53-
F-86 Sabre from Crowood Press. Mr. 677. (J. Michaels via Isham) 526th F-
Curtis specializes in the North © 2003 by Steve Ginter 860-36 was painted in the markings of
squadron commander LtCol William
American Sabre and maintains an F-
ISBN 0-942612-94-9 Brierty. (Jerome P. Burton)
86 website at f-86.tripod.com
Right side top to boUom, 1955 mark
Author's ACknowledgements Steve Ginter, 1754 Warfield Cir., Simi ings on 13th FIS Sabre Oog. (LtCol
Valley, California, 93063 Edgar M. Lewis) 86th FIW
The assistance of the following is Headquarters Flight in May 1959.
greatly appreciated: All rights reserved. No part of this (Jerry Kishpaugh via Kaston) 15th FIS
F-860-41 52-3722. (R. WaddelI via
publication may be reproduced,
Charlie Arnet, Sam Ballard, Ken stored in a retrieval system, or trans Isham) 496th FIS F-860-45 52-3944 in
early squadron markings. (via Larry
Benner, Hans Berfelo, Scott Bloome, mitted in any form by any means elec
Oavis, Isham collection) 332nd FIS
Peter Bowers, Gerald J. Buchko, tronic, mechanical, or otherwise with
Sabre in flight. (USAF) 498th FIS F-860
Jerome P. Burton, John J. Carter, out the written permission of the pub 53-866 in 1956. (K. Lotz via Isham)
Fernando Daleccio, Oluf Eriksen, lisher.
[ OPERATIONAL HISTORV OF USAF F-86D/L BV DUNCAN CURTIS
INTRODUCTION further aircraft arriving at Perrin Above, the 3625th FTW at Tyndall AFB
through June. was the first USAF unit to receive F-
86Ds for the flight training mission.
F-86D Deliveries to USAF units
Initial deliveries began in June 1952
Starting with 50-554, the fifty-four
and 50-503, an F-86D-5, was assigned
Though it was accepted by the F-86D-15s were mainly assigned
on 26 August. "TyndalI" was painted
USAF in March 1951, the initial F- straight to flying training units, though
on the tail on 3625th aircraft above the
86D-1, 50-455, did not make its first at last, with the D-15, active USAF Air Training Command (ATC) badge.
flight until 8 June 1951, and many of squadrons began to receive the F- (USAF)
th
this initial batch of Sabre Dogs were 86D. On paper, the 94 Fighter
immediately slated for test work. In Interceptor Squadron (FIS) at George
order to commence training of F-86D AFB in California was the first unit to
crews, the 3625th Flying Training receive the F-86D, having been mid-May, followed by 71 st FIS (Iate
Wing at Tyndall AFB in Florida began assigned eighteen under ADC Project May), 60th FIS (early June), 97th FIS
to gear up, accepting its first F-86D in 3F213 during February 1953 for (mid-June), 432nd FIS (mid-June),
June 1952, and by the end of the accelerated service testing. However, 42nd FIS (mid-June) and 465th FIS
year, the unit had been assigned six with completion of testing, most of (Iate June).
teen F-86D-1s under Project TRC- these Sabres were reassigned to
1P F-869. Ground training units also other units within a couple of weeks. The first 51-Fiscal Year F-86D-
rd
received F-86D-1 s at this time, Thus, it fell to 323 FIS at Larson 20s had been accepted by the Air
including the 3345th Technical AFB in Washington State to bring the Force back in December 1952, and
Training Wing at Chanute AFB, type into service, and the unit gained many were assigned to the still
IIlinois. two F-86D-15s on 15 April 1953. expanding flying training commit
ment. Further examples did start to
The next block of aircraft on the NAA then began to come up to trickle out to the active squadrons,
production line was the F-86D-5, and speed in the delivery of the backlog of beginning with the 2nd FIS at
again, the first deliveries were bailed early-model F-86Ds; this coincided McGuire AFB, New Jersey, in mid-
back to NAA for testing; remaining with the completion of deliveries to 1953.
-5s were assigned to 3200th Proof 3625th CCTW at Tyndall. For the first
Test Group at Eglin and 3625th FTW few months, each new squadron to The F-86D-25 was the first model
at Tyndall. The final F-86D-5s were receive the F-86D was assigned 12 to to have provision for jettisonable drop
delivered in January 1953, despite 14 aircraft before a further unit tanks, and first deliveries were made
having been available since July the received the next dozen or so. to the 323rd FIS from 1 May 1953, fol
previous year. Therefore, the third USAF unit to lowed by the 4750th Training Group
th
receive The F-86D, the 95 FIS at at Yuma and other ADC units such as
The F-86D-10 block comprised Andrews AFB, Maryland, received its the 62nd FIS and the 95th FIS.
thirty-six aircraft, and starting in first aircraft in early May 1953, the
February 1953, 3555th Flying day after the 323rd FIS had been Delivery of F-86D-30s, which
Training Wing at Perrin AFB Texas assigned its twelfth machine. This introduced an automatic approach
beg an to receive aircraft from this system continued for successive control system, began on 1 May
batch. It was assigned the first pair of squadrons, and after the 95th FIS, the 1953, again with the 323rd FIS. ADC
nd
new-build D-10s on 4 February, with 62 FIS received Sabre Dogs in deliveries of this batch continued
1
At left, the 94th FIS at George AFB was
the first operational Air Force unit to
receive the F-86D. Seen here is F-86D-
50 serial number 52-10094. (via Burger)
Below left, these two F-86Ds are under
going IRAN maintenance at Clark AB in
the Philippines during July 1957. Clark
undertook a lot of such maintenance
for FEAF F-86Ds, along with similar
units at Kisarazu in Japan. Following
overhaul, 52-3971 in back returned to
51 st FIW, 51-6251 in the foreground
was assigned to 35th FIW (Merle
Olmsted via McLaren)
through October 1953, though other aircraft marked continuing refine
blocks had supplemented the -30s by ments to the basic F-86D design, but
that time. it was not until the arrival of the F- of aceramie aspirator liner (52-4198
86D-45 that a definitive 'Dog' rolled to -10025) setting them apart.
Beginning with the F-86D-35, an off North American's production line. Delivery started in August 1954 with
AN/ ARN-14 omni-directional range Testing led to the installation of drag many going to USAFE and FEAF;
set was installed, as weil as an exter parachutes to all aircraft beginning others did however pass straight to
nal receptacle for inverter ground with the F-86D-45 bateh, and exter ADC units.
power in the right-hand nose area. nally these could be recognized by a
Additionally, the rudder trim tab sys flattened drag chute housing at the Thus, by the end of 1953, there
tem was reintroduced in favor of the base of the rudder. Engine improve were a number of different production
power boost of the D-10 to 30 pro ments were also slotted into D-45 blocks of F-86Ds in service, each dif
duction blocks. First deliveries of production, the first 238 D-45s intro fering from each other in respect of
-35s were made to the 13th and the ducing the J47-GE-17B with 7,500-lb. spare parts, instruction manuals, and
496th FIS on 10 July 1953. thrust, while remaining F-86D-45 and maintenance procedures. This made
subsequent models were equipped maintenance and repair of the F-86D
On the F-86D-40, a fuel flow with the J47-GE-33 with a dry thrust a logistics nightmare and Air Defense
meter replaced the earlier engine fuel of 5500 pounds and 7650 pounds Command initiated Project Lock On
pressure gauge, and further cockpit with afterburner. The first D-45s were to verify the effectiveness of ADC's
refinements included the addition of delivered in April 1954 and were various weapons systems, including
an electrical face mask defrost. All D- flown straight to McClellan AFB in the F-86D. In order to make the vari
40s except 52-3598 to -3847 deleted preparation for overseas shipment. ous production blocks of the F-86D
the wing-root gun camera, and the Most aircraft in this block were initial standard throughout the USAF, a
model introduced the AN/ARN-18 Iy assigned to USAF Europe decision was made to initiate Project
glide path receiver in place of the ear (USAFE) and to Far East Air Forces Pul I-Out, which withdrew all pre-F-
lier AN/ARN-5B item. Assignment of (FEAF). 86D-45 models from service and
upgraded them to F-86D-45 stan
these ai rc raft began in early
December 1953 with the 37th FIS and The F-86D-50 model differed only dard. Work was centered at North
the 87th FIS. slightly from the previous model: American's Fresno, California, plant,
modified engine oil drains, brake with other conversions carried out at
These relatively small batches of chute (52-10026 and on) and addition the McClellan AFB Sacramento Air
Material Area. The pre-D-45 models
were fitted with braking parachutes
(standard on the F-86D-45), and all
models had uncompleted Technical
Orders and modifications completed
prior to dispatch to operational units.
In total 1,128 F-86Ds went through
'Pull-Out', which was completed in
September 1955. In order to differen
tiate the modified aircraft, their block
numbers were changed, so that D-10
to D-40 airframes became dash-11,
16, 21,26,31,36, and 41 machines,
respectively. Few, if any, F-86D-1 or
-5 Sabres were subjected to Project
2
At right, at least two F-86Ds were
assigned to the 86th FIW HO Flight at
Ramstein, Germany; these were 52-
4151 seen here and 52-4140. They were
painted in dark blue and yellow-orange
trim. Aircraft was parked at Athens,
Greece, in May 1959. (Jerry Kishpau~h
via Kaston) Bottom, F-86L 53-0792 In
August 1958. The 94th FIS at Selfridge
AFB was among the first USAF
squadrons to receive the F-86L. (A.
Bruder via Isham)
Pu li-Out.
transferring these units 'Iess person AFB in October 1956 to begin testing
North American produced two
nel and equipment'. Thus, instead of the systems alongside the Lincoln
further F-86D blocks; the F-86D-55
moving a squadron bodily to the Laboratory's Cambridge Research
and -60. These blocks: were primari
ho me base of its traditional parent Center. By the end of that year, fur
Iy purchased to equip and upgrade
wing, in most cases, a squadron on ther squadrons had also received F-
Air Defense Command wings in the
nd
that particular base would change its 86Ls, including the 62 FIS at
Continental United States. The F-
th
designation. Most squadrons affected O'Hare International Airport, the 94
86D-55 introduced an Alternate
were in Air Defense Command, and FIS at Selfridge AFB and the 331 st
Hydraulic System accumulator dump
of the Sabre squadrons involved, all FIS at Stewart AFB.
valve (53-707 and on), the inverter
were US-based F-86D units. The
external power receptacle was relo
date chosen was 18 August 1955, In line with the active duty units,
cated to the right-hand aft fuselage
and overnight, tens of squadrons the flying training squadrons also
area, AN/ARC-34 UHF command
gained new identities. In some cases, began to re-equip with the F-86L,
radio replaced the AN/ARC-27, and
units were inactivated to make way under Air Training Command Project
lap belts were fitted that opened auto
th
for historically important organiza 7F205, starting with the 3625
matically after ejection. The first F-
tions to be concurrently reactivated. Combat Crew Training Wing (CCTW)
86D-55s were delivered in November
Thus in the squadron listings, 18 at Tyndall AFB in July 1957. The
1954 and the first aircraft were
th August 1955 crops up many times as other two main F-86D/L training units,
assigned to the 60 FIS at Westover
th
rd a 'reassignment', 'inactivation' or the 3550 CCTW at Moody AFB and
AFB the 83 FIS at Paine AFB and
th
th 'activation' date. the 3555 CCTW at Perrin AFB,
the 97 FIS at Wright-Patterson.
received their first F-86Ls in
F-86L Deliveries to USAF Units
December 1957. Tyndall's F-86L
The F-86D-60 beg an delivery in
Development of the F-86L is training ceased in late 1957, and dur
March 1955 and further relocated the
detailed in Vol. 1, conversion of F- ing August 1958, the remaining
inverter external power receptacle,
86Ds under Project Follow-On (Air CCTW's became Flying Training
this time to the underside of the fuse
Materiel Command Project 6F375) Wings (FTW). With the drawdown in
lage from 53-857 onwards. All D-60s
centering on North American's F-86L operations, the remaining train
featured modified wing attachment fit
Inglewood and Fresno plants as weil ing units relinquished their Sabres in
tings, and incorporated provision for
as at Sacramento Air Materiel Area, 1960: the 3555th FTW in April and
an AN/ APX-25 identification radar
McClellan AFB. The first F-86Ls were the 3550th FTW in November of that
(IFF) set. These machines went to th
squadrons including the 94th FIS at assigned to the 49 FIS at Hanscom year.
George AFB and the 325th FIS at
Hamilton AFB. The final F-86D, 53-
4090, was delivered to the Air Force
in September 1955.
PROJECT ARROW
In 1955, the United States Air
Force initiated Project Arrow, a major
realignment under which dispersed
squadrons would be returned to the
traditional parent Groups or Wings to
which they were assigned during
WWII and before. This immense pro
ject was considerably simplified by
3
F-86D/L Deliveries to the Air squadrons had received F-86Ds by 1959, and flew these until November
th
National Guard May 1958, but by this time F-86Ls 1960. Conversely, the 199 FIS
had also become available, and a Hawaii ANG operated only F-86Ls,
As Convair F-102A and later F- number of other Guard squadrons and gained aircraft specially convert
106A interceptors became available converted straight onto this aircraft ed for the squadron from December
to the Air Defense Command, USAF without receiving any D-models. 1957. Like their Air Force counter
F-86Ds began to filter down to the Air parts, the ANG F-86Ls were ultimate
National Guard (ANG) units, but it The first ANG F-86L unit was the Iy replaced by the F-102A Delta
th
was not until 1957 that sufficient sur 108 FIS IIlinois ANG, based at Dagger, and in the 1960/61 period,
plus aircraft were available to begin O'Hare International Airport. The many squadrons finally lost their
the process. First unit to receive F- squadron gained its first aircraft in Sabres for good. By early 1962, only
rd
86Ds was the 173 FIS Nebraska December 1957, having previously six F-86L units remained in ANG ser
th
ANG, based at Lincoln Municipal flown the F-84F. National Guard F- vice: the 124 FIS lowa ANG, the
rd st
Airport. The squadron received F- 86Ds were gradually phased out in 173 FIS Nebraska ANG, the 181
th th
86Ds in May 1957, converting from F- 1960, the 196 FIS California ANG FIS Texas ANG, the 190 FIS Idaho
th
80C Shooting Stars. Also during flying on with the 'Dog' until March ANG, the 194 FIS California ANG
th st th
1957, the 111 and the 181 FIS 1961, having received F-86Ls in the and the 196 FIS California ANG.
th
Texas ANG squadrons received F- previous month. Flying only F-86Ds, The 196 became the last unit to
th th
86Ds, along with the 125 and the the 198 FIS Puerto Rico ANG re operate the type, converting to F-
th
185 FIS Oklahoma ANG. Ten ANG equipped with the type in February 102s in the summer of 1965.
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE F-86D/L UNITS
Under Project Arrow the leave the stricken F-86.
squadron was relocated "Iess person
nel and equipment" to Suffolk County The F-86Ds were retained until
AFB, NY, taking over aircraft and November 1956 when most were
th
crews from the 75 FIS on 18 August sent for F-86L conversion. The
nd
1955. The 'new' 2 FIS gained squadron then began flying the F-
mainly 53-fiscal year F-86Ds, and 102A. During its time at Suffolk
nd
one was lost before the end of the County, the 2 FIS was assigned to
year. On 27 December 53-1015, pilot the 52nd FG. Motto: Second to None.
ed by Capt Theodore B Buechler,
crashed into a residential area at
Levittown, Long Island. Buechler
ejected safely and landed just three
Below, the 2nd FIS was one of many
blocks away from his burning Sabre.
units to adopt the five star tail mark
No one on the ground was hurt. Ca pt
ings seen here. The background color
Buechler had experienced control dif
was red. F-86D-30 51-6104 was deliv
ficulties at 35,000 feet on an after ered to the squadron in August 1953
2ND FIGHTER noon training mission. His aircraft and is seen here at Boston's Logan
INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON then caught fire and he was forced to Airport. (Tom Curry via Isham)
The 2nd FIS at McGuire AFB, NJ,
converted from the F-94 to the F-86D
during 1953, receiving its first Sabre
on 3 August that year. The latter were
all pre-Pull-Out models and remained
with the squadron until August of
1954 when the first Pull-Out-modified
aircraft were gained, all coming from
NAA's Fresno facility. These modified
aircraft were mainly F-86D-26 and
-31 models, wh ich were in turn
replaced with brand-new 53-fiscal
nd
year F-86Ds from April 1955. The 2
FIS was assigned to the 568th ADG
until 8 July 1954 when it was trans
ferred to the control of the 4709th
ADW.
ed for the time and relied on vacu wings had a decided increase in
um tube technology as solid state dihedral and the fuselage the
electronics were not available at afore-mentioned wrinkle. Things
4TH FIGHTER that time. As an aside, we could were very quiet on the subject and
INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON buy on the local Japanese market the plane was not seen again. I
the neatest IiUle transistor radios can only guess that excessive Gs
Operating from Naha AB on for about $10, not to mention what were pu lied in the pu li-out. The
Okinawa, the 4th FIS moved into the Japanese were doing to the plane only had about 25 hours on
Misawa Air Base in Japan on 1 German camera industry with their it!"
August 1954 to re-equip fram F-94 Canon and Nikon 35mm cameras."
Starfires to the F-86D. The majority of Otto also remembers that in the
the squadron's initial complement of Inevitably, the squadron pilots spring of 1955, North American sent
aircraft were F-86D-45s - equipped were eager to sampie the delights of out its public relations people to con
as standard with a braking parachute swept-wing flying, and wasted no vince the Sabre pilots that their new
and arrived starting on 9 September. time in doing so:
Otto Loorents was a hydraulics spe
cialist with the 4th FIS and arrived at "The D could go supersonic, and Above, 4th FIS F-86D-45 The "Vomit
Misawa in October 1954. He recalls apparently did so on New Year's Comet" is being prepped for a mission
alongside a sistership. (via Ray
that, compared with the Japanese Eve 1954. It seems the D dove
Wagner) Below, F-86D-45 52-4024 was
state of the art, North American's over the base to boom it at mid
the squadron commanders aircraft,
electronics seemed decidedly out of night to celebrate the arrival of
guarded at Misawa AB by a JGSDF
date: 1955. The only thing I can verify is soldier. All trim was red and black. 024
the boom at midnight and the fol was transferred to the Japanese in
"The search radar and electronic lowing morning seeing a slightly 1961 and is now displayed at
fuel control were quite sophisticat- wrinkled F-86D in the hangar. The Matsushima. (OUo Loorents)
5
At left, 52-3956 served with the 4th FIS
from, October 1954 to July 1959. The
pilots name on the canopy rail, l T
Bruce Keene, was painted over a yel
low bar. Aircraft was at Misawa on 1
February 1956. (via Norm Taylor)
Below left, the Playboy bunny logo
was added to 52-4000 in 1956. (via
Norm Taylor) Bottom, pilots' names 0
52-4042 was Capt. Bob Eichenberg and
on 52-4032 it was lt Jack Kolkebeck,
flight commander. The names were
painted on yellow backgrounds. (Otto
loorents)
the F-86Ds going to the Japanese Air
interceptor could hack it: was something to behold. A short
Self Defense Force. The last Sabre
field take-off started the show, a
departed the unit on 17 August 1960.
"The Os were still new to the pilots 20-minute beat-up of the field fol
The 4th FIS was initially assigned to
in the spring of 1955 and some of lowed, land] a simulated aborted
the 6351 st ABW, then to the 39th AD
them did not have the confidenc:e landing followed by a short field
on 10th August 1954, being jointly
in the craft that they should have. landing. After the plane landed
controlled under JASDF and USAF
At that time the USAF lost a lot of and we chocked the wheels [it]
5th Air Force until 1 March 1955 when
experienced pilots due to the el1ld had a smell that I will not forget.
the 39th AD took over control.
of hostilities in Korea. North And it was 'clicking' for about 20
American se nt over a team 40f minutes."
One further incident does
demonstration pilots and did a
tour of squadrons using the Os. The 4th FIS began to re-equip deserve a mention, however. On 14
The show that was done at Misawa with F-102As in March 1960, many of September 1960, a good month after
the last F-86D was 'officially' retired
th
from service, a 4 FIS F-86D pilot
reported a UFO encounter. He had
been flying between an undercast sky
and higher level cloud when he saw a
greenish-white spherical object
appear above him. The object fell
straight down and disappeared into
the undercast below him. The inci
th
dent was recorded in the 39 Air
Division records and is puzzling not
only for the nature of the report, but
also its mention of an F-86D with the
th
4 FIS at a time when the unit should
have been fully equipped with F-
102s.
6
was able to radio McGuire and rescue Above, Sabre Oogs of the 5th FIS
5TH FIGHTER crews were soon on the scene of the shared similar tail markings to those of
INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON accident. The F-86Ds crashed two the 2nd FIS, a fellow 568th AOGp unit.
In late 1953, this F-860-35 is midway
miles apart near the Lakewood-Toms
through gaining a pilot's name on the
The 5th FIS converted from the River road and were destroyed.
canopy rail. (AJ Jackson collection)
F-94 to the F-86D in 1953, receiving
Below, soon after the 5th moved (Iess
its first Sabre in mid-September. The From October 1954 Fresno-mod
personnel and equipment) to Suffolk
squadron had a lucky break on 10 ified Project Pull-Out F-86D-26s County AFB in August 1955, it adopted
August 1954 when two of its Sabres began to replace the earlier models, yellow as its primary color, though
collided in mid-air over Lakewood, and in December the first F-86D-36s retaining a similar tail design. A red
NJ. Part of a 3-ship formation flown arrived from McClellan AFB. Newer heart with a yellow ribbon was painted
from McGuire in the early evening, 53-fiscal year F-86Ds were delivered on the fuselage side. (ltCol E. Bosetti
via Marty Isham)
two aircraft (51-3033 and 6224) flown from April 1955, though these then
th
by 1s tLt Frank M White and 2ndLt became 539 FIS assets under
Ernest Borden collided at 7.28 p.m. Project Arrow in August 1955.
They had been flying at 15,000 feet from 15 August to 16 October 1956.
th
and both pilots were very fortunate in The 5 FIS was based at Soon after return from the last deploy
being able to eject. They were subse McGuire AFB, NJ, until 18 August ment, the 5th FIS began converting to
quently taken to Lakewood police 1955, when the 331 st FIS at Suffolk the F-102A, losing its last Sabre in
headquarters to recover from the County AFB, NY, transformed into the April 1957. The 5th FIS was initially
th
shock of their ordeal. new 5 FIS, flying mostly F-86D-36, - assigned to the 568th ADG, then to
41 and -45 aircraft. Detachments the 4709th ADW on 8 July 1954 and
Meanwhile, 2ndLt Daniel Hunter, were flown at Yuma AFB from 17 subsequently to the 52nd FG on 18
in the remaining Sabre of the three, October to 16 November 1955, and August 1955.
7
11TH FIGHTER field personnel informed him that his Above, the end result of 2ndLt Karl
INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON aircraft was trailing vapor. It later tran Gruber's accident on 15 December
1953. The aircraft was a write-off.
spired that the JC maneuver had bro
(Craig Fuller)
Activated on 1 Oecember 1952 ken a valve in the end of the center
with the F-51 Mustang, the 11 th FIS wing fuel tank; the vapor visible was
was based at Ouluth Municipal fuel streaming fram the tank. Gruber
Airport, MN, and assigned to the managed to recover his aircraft to
515th Air Oefense Group. The first F· Ouluth with no further damage, but 10 miles northwest of Ouluth following
860s were received at the end of almost as soon as he had jumped an in-flight explosion. Pilot 1s tLt
August 1953, comprising mainly F· from the cockpit a fire broke out, W'ayne Veatch managed to crash
860-30 and -35 aircraft. caused by leaking fuel contacting the land the aircraft on a highway, but the
hot brake discs. Unfortunately, aircraft hit a billboard on the approach
The unit lost its first Sabre (51- though the fire crews were on the and was wrecked. Veatch survived,
8288) in a crash on 12 Oecember scene within 60 seconds, their equip but with major injuries.
1953 and three days later a second ment malfunctioned and the aircraft
aircraft was written off. This machine was burnt up. One rocket-firing 'detachment to
was 51-8489, piloted by Karl Gruber, Yuma was undertaken, from 6
a 24-year-old Second Lieutenant with The pre-Pull-Out Sabres were January to 8 Februar&, 1955. Under
just 15 hours on the Sabre. Gruber replaced by modified F-860-31 sand Project Arrow, the 11 FIS became
had experienced a violent oscillation -36s from McClellan AFB in August an F-89 unit, and on 18 August 1955,
on take-off (described as a 'Jesus 1954. On 2 October, the unit lost its the F-860s passed to 519th FIS con
Christ' or 'JC' maneuver), after wh ich third Sabre, 51-6027, which crashed ' trol.
13TH FIGHTER
INTERCEPTOR SQUADRON
Above, 13th FIS Sabres wore this color scheme in 1955. Tail flash was orange with
Activated on 27 April 1953 with black trim and large squadron insignia. Some aircraft did not have the black trim.
th
the F-860, the 13 FIS was based at (LtCol Edgar M. lewis)
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