Length: 6.75 inches
Width: 6.25 inches
The North American F-86 Sabre was manufactured from 1949 – 1956 and was America’s first
swept-wing fighter. As well as being built in the U.S. variants were built in Canada and Australia
bringing the total of all variants manufactured to 9,860 units. During the Korean War the Sabre
arrived to take on the other swept-wing aircraft of the conflict, the MiG-15 Fagot. The Americans
claim they shot down 792 MiGs while only losing 78 Sabres, a 10:1 victory ratio which is greatly
disputed.
North American F-86F-1NA Sabre variant was the beginning of the new F models. F-86F-1NA
Sabre 51-2897 was assigned to Lt. James Thompson of the 39th FIS, 51st FIW and given the
name “The Huff” after he shot down a MiG-15 with a dragon painted on it. Thinking along the
lines of a “kill marking” Lt. Thompson asked to have a dragon painted on the aircraft. The result
was a 10 foot dragon that the C/O ordered removed but the story of a dragon MiG-15 being shot
down saved the scheme.