Warplanes of the USA: North American F-86D Sabre Dog, and F-86L Sabre Dog

(USGOV-PD Photo)

332d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron North American F-86D-45-NA Sabre 52-3901 4709th Air Defense Wing, McGuire AFB, New Jersey, 1956

The North American F-86D/K/L Sabre (initially known as the YF-95 and widely known informally as the "Sabre Dog") was an American transonic jet interceptor. Developed for the United States Air Force in the late 1940s, it was an interceptor derivative of the North American F-86 Sabre. While the original F-86 Sabre was conceived as a day fighter, the F-86D was specifically developed as an all-weather interceptor. Originally designated as the YF-95 during development and testing, it was re-designated the F-86D before production began, despite only sharing 25% commonality of parts with the original F-86.

Production models of the F-86D/K/L differed from other Sabres in that they had a larger fuselage, a larger afterburning engine, and a distinctive nose radome. The most-produced Sabre Dog variants (the "D" and "G" models) also mounted no guns, unlike the Sabre with its six M3 Browning .50 caliber machine guns, instead mounting unguided Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket (FFAR) “Mighty Mouse” rockets. The "K" and "L" Sabre Dog variants mounted four 20mm M24A1 cannon. (Wikipedia)

The YF-95 was a development of the F-86 Sabre, the first aircraft designed around the new 2.75-inch (70 mm) "Mighty Mouse" Folding-Fin Aerial Rocket (FFAR). Begun in March 1949, the unarmed prototype, 50-577, first flew on 22 December 1949, piloted by North American test pilot George Welch and was the first U.S. Air Force night fighter design with only a single crewman and a single engine, a J47-GE-17 with afterburner rated at 5,425 lbf (24.1 kN) static thrust. Gun armament was eliminated in favor of a retractable under-fuselage tray carrying 24 unguided Mk. 4 rockets, then considered a more effective weapon against enemy bombers than automatic cannon fire. A second prototype, 50-578, was also built, but the YF-95 nomenclature was short-lived as the design was subsequently redesignated YF-86D.

The fuselage was wider and the airframe length increased to 40 ft 4 in (12.3 m), with a clamshell canopy, enlarged tail surfaces and AN/APG-36 all-weather radar fitted in a radome in the nose, above the intake. Later models of the F-86D received an uprated J-47-GE-33 engine rated at 5,550 lbf (24.7 kN) (from the F-86D-45 production blocks onward). A total of 2,504 D-models were built. (Wikipedia)

North American F-86 Sabre Dog variants

YF-95A
prototype all-weather interceptor; two built; designation changed to YF-86D(North American model NA-164)
YF-86D
originally designated YF-95A.
F-86D
Production interceptor originally designated F-95A, 2,504 built.
F-86G
Provisional designation for F-86D variant with uprated engine and equipmentchanges, 406 built as F-86Ds.
YF-86K
Basic version of F-86D intended for export with rocket tray replaced by four 20mm cannon and simplified fire control system, two conversions.
F-86K
NATO version of F-86D; MG-4 fire control system; four 20 mm M24A1 cannon with132 rounds per gun; APG-37 radar. 120 were built by North American, 221 wereassembled by Fiat.
F-86L
Upgrade conversion of F-86D with new electronics, extended wingtips and wingleading edges, revised cockpit layout, and uprated engine; 981 converted.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

539th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, North American F-86D-45-NA Sabre 52-3936, Stewart AFB, New York, 1954.

(USAF Photo)

Three U.S. Air Force North American F-86D-1-NA Sabre fighters (Serial Nos. 50-460, 50-462, 50-463) in flight, 1950.

(SDASM Photo)

North American F-86D, 64-1231.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

181st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, North American F-86D Interceptors, Naval Air Station Dallas, Texas, 1958. Aircraft identified are: North American F-86D-40-NA Sabre 52-3725, North American F-86D-35-NA Sabre 51-8445, North American F-86D-35-NA Sabre 51-8443, North American F-86D-35-NA Sabre 51-8478.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

465th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, North American F-86D-20-NA Sabre 51-3078, Griffiss AFB, New York, 1959.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

357th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron row of F-86Ds. North American F-86D-35-NA Sabre - 51-8378, in the foreground, 1956.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

512th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron - North American F-86D-50-NA Sabre 52-10030, FU030.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

497th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, North American F-86D-40-NA Sabre 52-3698, Geiger Field, Washington, 1955.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

431st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, North American F-86D-50-NA Sabre 52-10054.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

2nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, North American F-86D-35-NA Sabre 51-8407, Suffolk County Air Force Base, New York, 1955.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

329th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, North American F-86D-40-NA Sabre 52-3719, 4722d Air Defense Group, George AFB, California, July 1957. Two stripes on fuselage represent Operations Officer's aircraft.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

520th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron North American F-86D-40-NA Sabre 52-3840 530th Air Defense Group, Geiger Field, Washington, February 1955.  3 stripes on aircraft indicating squadron commander's aircraft.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

329th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, North American F-86D-40-NA Sabre 52-3719, George AFB, California, 1956.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

94th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, North American F-86D-60-NA Sabre 53-892, Selfridge AFB, Michigan, 1955.

(USAF Photo)

94th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, North American F-86D-25-NA Sabres, 27th Air Division, George AFB, California, March 1953. Aircraft Serial Nos. 51-5900, and 51-5908, 1953.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

85th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, North American F-86D-40-NA Sabre 52-3725, 20th Air Division, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, May 1957.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

525th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, North American F-86D-35-NA Sabre 51-8377. Possibly at Landstuhl Air Base (later Ramstein Air Base), Germany, 1954.

(USGOV-PD)

324th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, North American F-86D-40-NA Sabre, 52-3841, at Westover AFB, Massachusetts.

(USAF Photo)

A U.S. Air Force North American F-86L Sabre fighter from the 187th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 153rd Fighter Group (Air Defense), Wyoming Air National Guard. The 153rd FIG flew the F-86L from 1958 to 1960.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

15th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, North American F-86D-40-NA Sabre 52-3722, 34th Air Division, Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona, June 1957.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

North American F-86D Sabre 13000, FU-000.

(USAF Photo)

A U.S. Air Force North American F-86D-35-NA Sabre (s/n 51-8421, c/n 173-524) assigned to the 151st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 134th Fighter Interceptor Group, Tennessee Air National Guard, at McGhee Tyson Air Force Base, Knoxville, Tennessee, in the late 1950s. The F-86D 51-8421 was later sold to Denmark and is today on display at Aalborg Defense Museum.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

157th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron 3-ship North American F-86D Sabre Dog formation, 1959.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

13th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron North American F-86D-35-NA Sabre 51-8437, 575th Air Defense Group, Selfridge AFB, Michigan, December 1953.

(USAF Photo)

526th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, North American F-86D Sabre 51-6206.

(NASA Photo)

North American F-86D Sabre, NASA 205, 14 May 1959.

(NACA Photo)

NACA/Ames photographer North American F-86D with Pilot Robert C Innis and Crew Chief Russell O. Barton hold sign celebrating Ames 3000th jet aircraft flight, Oct 1956.

(NACA Photo)

NACA Test Pilot George Cooper stand in front of a North American F-86D Sabre FU986, June 1954.

(NACA Photo)

A U.S. Air Force North American F-86D-40-NA Sabre fighter, 52-3787, FU-787, flown by the Ames Aeronautical Laboratory of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), at Moffett Field, California (USA), for gunsight tracking and guidance and control displays from 17 March 1955 to 1 February 1960.

(USAF Photo)

526th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron North American F-86D Sabre (s/n 51-0028); with Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Roadster.

North American F-86D Sabre Dogs preserved in the USA

(NMUSAF Photo)

(ZLEA Photo)
50-0477 - Painted as 52-3863 "Dennis the Menace", in the colours of the 97th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 1954.  National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio. FU-863
51-5915 – San Carlos Intermediate School, San Carlos, Arizona. Faded markings indicate previous assignment to then-125th Fighter-Interceptor Group of theFlorida Air National Guard.
51-5938 – Army Legion Home, Appleton, Wisconsin.
51-6069 – Berryman War Memorial Park, Bridgeport, Washington.
51-6261 (painted as 52-10115) – Chandler City Park, Chandler, Arizona.

(Carmelo Turdo Photo)
51-8409 – Oklahoma ANGB – 138th FG, Tulsa, Oklahoma.
51-8455 – Twinning Park, Monroe, Wisconsin.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Nebraska ANG 173d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, North American F-86D-40-NA Sabre 52-3653.
52-3653 – Pueblo Weisbrod Aircraft Museum, Pueblo, Colorado.

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(Articseahorse Photos)
52-3669 – Painted as 51-5976, McChord Air Museum, McChord Air Force Base, Washington.
52-3679 – 134th Air Refueling Wing complex, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Maryville, Tennessee.
52-3735 – Crete Municipal Airport, Crete, Nebraska.
52-3754 - Painted as 52-4043, 45th Infantry Division Museum, Oklahoma City,Oklahoma.
52-3770 – Texas Military Forces Museum, Austin ANG Headquarters, Austin, Texas.
52-3784 – Palm View Park, West Covina, California.

(hummerstation Photo)
52-4243 – Southern Museum of Flight, Birmingham, Alabama.
53-0781 – Wadleigh Park, Vale, Oregon.
53-1061 – Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2567, Jackson, Mississippi.

North American F-86L Sabre

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50-0560 – March Field Air Museum, March ARB (former March AFB), Riverside,California.

(Andre Gerwing Photo)
51-2968 – Aerospace Museum of California, Sacramento, California.

(Author Photo)
51-2993 – Battleship Memorial Park, Mobile, Alabama.
51-3064 – Air Power Park, Hampton, Virginia.
51-5891 – Georgia ANGB – 165th AG, Savannah, Georgia.

(brwhiz Photo)
51-6055 – Hill Aerospace Museum, Hill AFB, Utah.
51-6071 – Davis Monthan AFB Warrior Park, Tucson, Arizona.
51-6078 – City of Milton, Milton, West Virginia.
51-6144 – Perrin Air Force Base Museum, Denison, Texas.

(Eric Friedebach Photo)

(Alan Wilson Photo)
52-3651 – Museum of Aviation, Warner Robins AFB, Macon, Georgia.
52-4142 – Air National Guard, Charlotte-Douglas International Airport,Charlotte, North Carolina.
52-4159 – Sullenberger Aviation Museum, Charlotte, North Carolina
52-4168 – 122nd Bomb Squadron – Jackson Barracks Military Museum, New Orleans, Louisiana.

(Ted Quackenbush Photo)
53-841 – Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

(Bernard Spragg Photo)
52-4191 – Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
52-4256 – Reflections of Freedom Air Park, McConnell AFB, Wichita, Kansas.
52-10052 – Crane Park in Monroe, New York.
52-10057 – Valdosta, Georgia.
52-10133 (Painted as 51-0133) – Flag Park, Tyndall AFB, Florida.

(Larry D. Moore Photo)
53-0566 – American Legion Post 353, Wild Horse Park, Mustang, Oklahoma.
53-0568 – Veterans Memorial Park, Winnemucca, Nevada.
53-0635 – Air Victory Museum, Lumberton, New Jersey.

(Nate Wilburn Photo)
53-0642 – California ANGB – 144th Fighter Wing, Fresno, California.

(Mark Knapp Photo)
53-0658 – MAPS Air Museum, Green, Ohio.

53-0665 – Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)Post 7714, Imperial, Pennsylvania.

(Gary Todd Photo)
53-0668 – Berry Field ANGB, Nashville, Tennessee.
53-0700 – Ehlert Park, Brookfield, Illinois.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

97th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, North American F-86D-55-NA Sabre 53-704, 4706th Air Defense Wing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 1954. 53-704 is on static display at Travis AFB museum, California.

(Alan Wilson Photo)
53-0704 – Travis AFB Heritage Center, California.
53-0719 – Wells Municipal Airport, Wells, Minnesota.
53-0750 – Iowa City Municipal Airport, Iowa.
53-0782 – Peterson Air and Space Museum, Peterson AFB, Colorado Springs,Colorado.
53-0831 – Nebraska ANGB – 155th ARG, Lincoln, Nebraska.

(Jud McCrainie Photo)
53-0847 – County War Memorial, Greenup, Kentucky.
53-0894 – Pennsylvania ANGB – 171st ARW, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

(Author Photo)

53-0806, C/N 201-250. Cheyenne,Wyoming Air National Guard Base

(aeroprints Photo)
53-0965 – Pima Air & Space Museum, adjacent to Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson,Arizona.

(5of7 Photo)
53-0997 – Bert Mooney Airport, Butte, Montana.
53-1022 – Fanning Field / Idaho Falls Regional Airport, Idaho Falls, Idaho.
53-1030 – NAS Fort Worth JRB (former Carswell AFB), Fort Worth, Texas
53-1045 – Historic Wendover Airfield, Wendover, Utah.
53-1060 – Yankee Air Museum, Belleville, Michigan.
53-1064 – Memorial Park, McEntire Air National Guard Base, South Carolina.

(Mike Freer Photo)
53-4035 – Linear Air Park / Texas Museum of Military History, Dyess AFB,Abilene, Texas.

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‍North American F-86D/K/L Sabre Dog with other nations overseas

Denmark
Royal Danish Air Force
Received 59 ex-USAF F-86Ds 1958-1960; assigned to 723, 726 and 728 Squadrons.

(Stahlkocher Photo)

North American F-86D Sabre preserved in Denmark.

France
French Air Force
Fiat built 62 F-86Ks for France (1956-1957), assigned to EC 1/13"Artois", EC 2/13 "Alpes", and EC 3/13 "Auvergne"Squadrons. Serials were 55-4814/4844, 55-4846/4865, 55-4872/4874, 55-4876/4879.

West Germany
German Air Force
Acquired 88 U.S. F-86Ks 22 July 1957–23 June 1958. The Ks were assigned toJagdgeschwader 75/renamed 74.

Greece
Greek Air Force
Acquired 35 F-86Ds from the US. Were received in 1961 and retired in 1967 butkept as back up until 1969. F-86D was the first all weather fighter in GreekAir Force. F-86Ds were assigned to 337 and 343 Squadrons. Until 1964 they werein natural metal. Until after retirement they were in NATO camouflage.

(George E. Koronaios Photo)

North American F-86D Sabre in the courtyard of Athens War Museum

Honduras
Honduran Air Force
Acquired Six Venezuelan F-86Ks in 1970.

(Basty504 Photo)

A former Honduran F-86K, presereved in the Honduran Aviation Museum in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

Italy
Italian Air Force
Fiat produced 121 F-86Ks for Italy, 1955-1958. Also, 120 U.S. F-86Ks wereacquired. F-86s were assigned to the AMI air groups: 6 Gruppo COT/1 Stormo, 17Gruppo/1 Stormo, 23 Gruppo/1 Stormo, 21 Gruppo/51 Aerobrigata, 22 Gruppo/51Aerobrigata and 12 Gruppo/4 Aerobrigata.

Japan
Japanese Air Self-Defense Force
Acquired 122 US F-86Ds, 1958–1961; assigned to four all-weather interceptorHikōtai, and Air Proving Ground at Gifu.

(z Tanuki Photo)

(Hunini Photo)

JASDF F-86D Sabre, 84-8111, Komaki Air Base, Japan.

(Hunini Photos)

JASDF F-86D(04-8202), Miho Air Base, Japan.

(Hunini Photo)

JASDF F-86D(14-8222), JGSDF Camp Otsu, Japan.

(Hunini Photo)

JASDF F-86D(84-8115), Tsuiki Air Base, Japan.

(Hunini Photo)

JASDF F-86D(84-8104), Hamamatsu Air Base Publication Center, Japan.

(Hunini Photo)

JASDF F-86D(14-8217), Komatsu Air Base, Japan.

Netherlands
Royal Netherlands Air Force (Koninklijke Luchtmacht) (KLu)
Acquired 57 U.S.-built and six Fiat-built F-86K Sabres, 1955–1956; and assignedto three squadrons, No. 700, 701 and 702. Operated until 1964.

(Joost J. Bakker Photo)

North American F-86K Royal Netherlands Air Force, preserved in the Netherlands.

Norway
Royal Norwegian Air Force
Acquired 60 U.S.-built F-86K Sabres, 1955–1956, and four Italian-assembled FiatK-models.

(Cato Edvardwen Photo)

North American F-86K from Royal Norwegian Air Force, preserved in Norway.

Philippines
Philippine Air Force
Acquired 20 F-86Ds, assigned to 8th Fighter Interceptor Squadron"Vampires" beginning 1960; part of the U.S. military assistance package.

(Maurotongco Photo)

(RoyKabanlit Photo)

F-86D of the Philippine Air Force, preserved in the Philippines.

(Ramon F Velasquez Photo)

F-86D of the Philippine Air Force

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South Korea
Republic of Korea Air Force
Acquired 40 F-86Ds, beginning 20 June 1955.

(Balon Greyjoy Photo)

F-86D Sabre preserved at the War Memorial of Korea.

Republic of China (Taiwan)
Republic of China Air Force

Thailand
Royal Thai Air Force
Acquired 20 F-86Ls.

(Z3144228 Photo)

A F-86L of the RTAF preserved at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum.

Venezuela
Venezuelan Air Force
Acquired 32 US-built F-86Fs, October 1955–December 1960; 1965 acquired 79Fiat-built F-86Ks from West Germany.

Yugoslavia
SFR Yugoslav Air Force
Acquired 130 U.S.-made F-86Ds and operated them between 1961 and 1974. 32 ofthese were modified into a reconnaissance variant utilizing 3 Kodak K-24cameras mounted in place of the FFAR rockets, the IF-86D.

(Marko M Photo)

F-86D with Yugoslav markings, preserved in the Belgrade Aviation Museum, Serbia.

United Kingdom

(Alan Wilson Photo)

North American F-86D Sabre (Serial No. 51-6171), c/n 173-315. Built 1953, transferred to the Hellenic Air Force in 1960 and retired in the early 1980’s. The only one of its type in the UK, it is on display at the North East Land, Sea & Air Museums (NELSAM), Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, UK.