Setting up F-86D for Alert
Courtesy Col. George M. Howell, Ret.

Built by North American Aviation, radar guided, rocket armed, all-weather fighter-interceptor. Originally designated the F-86D, the aircraft underwent modifications to upgrade the original radar/fire control systems to provide 'data-link' capability between the aircraft and ground controllers, eliminating the use of vocal instructions during intercept missions. New wing slats and an increase in wing span of 2 feet improved performance of the -L over the -D.

The XF86 made it's first test flight on Oct 1, 1947. The first production model F86A was test flown in May 1948 and the Air Force received the Sabre jet on August 16, 1948. In September 1948, the F86A set a world record of 570 miles per hour.

In the fall of 1950, the Communist forces in Korea introduced the Soviet made swept wing MiG15 FAGOT jet fighter. To meet this threat, the USAF rushed the F86A to Korea since the MiG's out flew straight wing jets. The F86 was well suited for its mission with a shoot down record of 15 to 1 over the MiG's. The MiG 15 was faster than the F86A and the newer E models above 32,000 feet in level flight; it had a tighter turning radius, and could climb faster. However, the F86 bested the MiG15 primarily due to its electronic gun sight, better armament and superior pilot skill.

From the beginning, the USAF accepted 6,353 F86's (all models included.) 5,893 of them for its own use and 460 ordered into production for allies. A breakdown of the USAF F86 total showed 3 experimental and prototype F86A's, 554 F86A's, 393 F86E's, 1,959 F86F's, 2 F-86H's, 473 F86H's, 2 YF86D's and 2,540 F86D's (all F86L's being converted F86D's.)

On April 15, 1950, the 1st Fighter Wing was re-designated the 1st Fighter Interceptor Wing, a more appropriate designator. The Wing was relieved from assignment to Strategic Air Command and assigned to the Continental Air Command for air defense purposes on July 1, 1950. There after Perrin Air Force Base became a part of the Aerospace Defense Command with almost 100 F86's assigned at Perrin Air Force Base, Denison-Sherman, Texas.

SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: One.
Power Plant: one General Electric J47-GE-27, 5,970 lb. thrust turbojet.
Dimensions: Span: 39 ft 1 in., Length: 41 ft., Height: 14 ft.
Weight: Max 16,500 lbs.
Performance: Max. Speed: 670 mph., Service ceiling: 53,000 ft. Tactical Radius: 535 miles.
Armament: Twenty-four 2.75 inch unguided rockets carried in an internal tray in fuselage.

On The Scramble - 1959 Courtesy Col. George M. Howell, Ret.	Lt. Bowdin Scrabling F-86D Courtesy Col. George M. Howell, Ret.

3555 Alert Hangers Perrin 1959
Courtesy Col. George M. Howell, Ret.

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