FROM SCRAP TO LIVING – A SABRE IS REBORN
Story Phil Buckley and Wayne. Photos by Phil and Wayne
Tucked away in Western Australia is a growing list of prestigious and famous types of warbirds and these nowadays include jets. One fortunate jet to have survived is a Sabre jet which has travelled around the world a long way before arriving “down under”. The aircraft is a Canadair CL13B/F86E c/n 1492 and was taken on charge by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as 3702.
So how does a South African Air Force (SAAF) Sabre jet end up “down under” some may ask?
In the early 1950s South Africa operated P-51 Mustangs with 2 SQN in South Korea as fighter bombers. They were worn out and the type was becoming obsolete in the jet age. The SAAF had these Mustangs replaced by USAF loaned F-86 Sabre jets and these new jets performed very well. At the end of the war, these Sabre were handed back to the USAF. The brief period of use in Korea using the Sabre gave the SAAF a keen interest in operating such high performance MiG killing fighters.
In 1955 the South African Air Force purchased from Canada a small fleet of 34 Mk 6 to equip 2 squadrons. They were assigned RCAF serials 23669/23702, with the first arriving in South Africa in 1956. Once in South Africa, these Sabre were assigned SAAF serials 350 to 383. Intriguingly being a bilingual country, half the Sabres were assigned to 1 SQN with Afrikaans markings and the other half assigned to No. 2 Squadron had English markings.
The F-86 Sabre jet life in SAAF was a mixed one with new generations jets fighters – French built Mirage IIICZ fighters appearing in 1964 in SAAF colours to replace the Sabres jets at 1 SQN. The 2 SQN Sabre jets interestingly last way longer and not being withdrawn until 1976. They were replaced by more French built Mirage F.1Az fighter ground attack aircraft. These were then replaced in turn by more advanced aircraft.
The history for Sabre Jet S/N 1492 / 383 is understood to have been seen service until the 1970s. 383 was seen possibly during the 1970s flying, see photo at – http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/Sabre-Bull-Creek/Sabre_383
It then spent time at the Kempton Park Technical Collage, before being purchased by a private owner in Lanseria, South Africa. The aircraft moved again at some point and made it to Ardmore, New Zealand, where it was observed in March 2008 dismantled. The same year it was then exported again and arrived in Australia. It was imported into Australia sometime after March 2008 by Bill Whyllie and was stored at Panama Jacks Aircraft Restoration, Jandakot Airport (WA) It was part of his collection until the early 2010s. Sadly in 2013 Bill died and this Sabre then had a sad turn of events.
MUSEUM DISPLAY
The RAAFA Bull Creek Museum found the Sabre at a local scrap yard dealer after the previous owner had died. With a short timeframe prior to scrapping the museum acquired the Sabre for $2,000 in 2013. This is a very good price for a legendary aircraft some may say!. Once delivered, it became an intriguing “misfit” as it didn’t fit their collection needs. It was placed outside under some tarpaulins. At the time various parts were also needed to finish off the aircraft. DUAN saw the Sabre in 2016 on display at the museum. Phil Buckley collection photos.
A NEW LIFE
While at RAAF Bull Creek, it was stored dismantled between the two museum hangars and the museum staff indicated that it was perhaps too difficult to restore this aircraft. Enthusiast Wayne has been restoring military vehicles and artillery guns for over 30 years and he always wanted an aircraft to own and restore. In 2019 a friend told Wayne that there was a Sabre jet languishing in pieces out the side of the local RAAFA museum.
Wayne paid the museum a visit in 2019 and entered into discussions with a plan to hopefully acquire the unwanted Sabre jet. After several meetings, the aircraft was transferred to Wayne and he had it delivered to his workshop. The aircraft arrived at his workshop in 2019, as seen below.
RESTORATION WORK
A very interesting point to make known is that this is the only known surviving Sabre airframe in Australia that is a North American Aviation licensed built by Canadair F-86 Sabre variant, as all others here are the vastly different local CAC designed Avon Sabre.
By May 2020, Wayne had stripped the fuselage of paint and was working to do the sheet metal repairs to the rear section. The wings are stored separately waiting to be worked on.
Wayne says “this Sabre jet aircraft is quite complete for display purposes but is missing several panels. There is a fair bit of damage to the rear fuselage section and one wing requires some work. The rear section is on a rotisserie and panel work is progressing”.
Wayne further points out that “most of the missing panels are not interchangeable, except the tail feathers. I have a lot of work to do in the cockpit with Instrument panel frame, throttle grip, joystick grip needing to be acquired to finalise this area”.
Looking around the airframe Wayne states “I am looking for more parts which include the tail feathers, both gun bay doors, both gun muzzle doors, radio compartment door and wing tip assemblies”. Wayne is keen to get hold of NAA Sabre blueprints so he can make his own panels. The forward fuselage area, cockpit and T-4E-1 ejection seat are still needing to be restored.
Once the airframe is fully restored, Wayne is examining to keep the Sabre in bare unpolished metal and have the USAF 51st FIW “Checker tail” markings. Wayne is keen to hear from anyone who can help him in locating these above parts would be much appreciated. Wayne can be contacted at highlandhendos @ westnet.com.au.
Down Under Aviation News 