The North American Sabre, star of the air war in Korea, was acquired by the RAF to equip front-line squadrons in Germany pending the arrival of Braitain's own swept-wing fighters, the Swift and the Hunter. The first of some 430 Sabres for the RAF was delivered to Abingdon on 8 Dicember 1952 and NOS 3, 67 and 71 Squardrons converted to the aircraft between March and May 1953, forming the Wildenrath Sabre wing. The Sabre eventually equipped 10 squardrons in Germany and two homed bsed Fighter Command units, giving the RAF its first modern, transonic fighter. The Sabre delivered to the Royal Air Force were Canadair-built F-86Es, designed Sabre F.Mk 4 by the RAF and RCAF. The last were retired during June 1956, replaced by Hawker Hunters.
SPECIFICATION: Canadair Sabre F.Mk 4 single-seat day fighter
SPAN: 11.28m (37ft 1in)
LENGTH: 11.43m (37ft 6in)
POWERPLANT: General Electric J-47 GE-13, 5,200lbst
ARMAMENT: 6x0.5in machine-guns in nose
MAXIMUM SPEED: 670mph
OPERATIONAL RANGE: 520miles
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