F-86 Sabre Illustrated

The old English proverb: “Pretty (Handsome) is as pretty (Handsome) does” is an apt description for the North American F-86 Sabre. The classic lines of the Sabre make it one of the most handsome jets ever designed. Its worldwide success in combat made it one of the most effective combat airplanes ever flown. The Sabre is an early 2nd generation jet fighter, designed in the 1940s, it was ultimately flown by the air arms of 30 different countries. The basic XP-86 design was so successful that it was adapted to at least 30 different versions, accounting for a total production run of 9,680 Sabres built by North American, Canada, Australia, Italy, and Japan. In its first combat, against the Soviet equivalent 2nd generation jet fighter, the MiG-15, the Sabre proved the proverb with a remarkable 11 to 1 kill ratio in Korea. That was followed by the F-86D Sabre "Dog", the primary air defense interceptor in the late 1950s. This book contains over 300 color photos and illustrations of the Sabre in war and peace, here and abroad. There are several narratives from the pilots who flew the Sabre in war and peace. Read more