I love the F-86 Sabre, it has a sleakness that just warms my heart!
So here is an unashamed horde of F-86 Sabres in a range of guises.
Korean AlliesThe UN High Command wanted to widen the number of nations involved in the aerial operations against the North Korean and Chinese forces. To achieve this, it was proposed that the USAF would provide modern combat aircraft, while UN member nations would provide air and ground crews. Initially the aircraft would be F-51D Mustangs, which would allow commonality with the bulk of the USAF forces in Korea.
Towards the end of 1952 the air war had swung to the point where the UN needed more F-86 Sabres for operations against the increasing numbers of North Korean and Chinese Mig-15s, so a UN Sabre program was begun, with some of the nations already operating F-51Ds being offered the opportunity to re-equip with F-86s.
By March 1953 the program was reaping rewards, with F-86 squadrons manned by Commonwealth aircrews from Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, as well as European units manned by French and Dutch pilots.
The new units leased their F-86s from the USAF, but were entitled to mark them in common with their domestic forces. In all cases the standard USAF Korean Theatre bands were carried.
From March 1953 until the end of the war in July, the Allied F-86 units were in action, supporting UN aerial operations and ground operations, as well as dogfights with NKPAF and PLAAF Migs. At the end of the war the units were gradually disbanded and the Sabres returned to USAF control.
77 Squadron RAAF
434 Squadron RCAF
14 Squadron RNZAF
112 Squadron RAF
322 Squadron Royal Netherlands Air Force
Escadron coréen French Air Force
