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USAF image
http://key.aero/view_news.asp?ID=2846&t ... n=historic
http://www.usafe.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123233519 has three other photos...F-86F on the move
An F-86F Sabre at Sembach in Germany is being moved to Ramstein.
Gary Parsons - 8-Dec-2010
December 8: A North American F-86F Sabre currently on display at Sembach in Germany is being moved to Ramstein Air Base where it once served.
On display at Sembach since 1973, the F-86F flew with the 86th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Ramstein during the 1950s.
The move is being handled by the 86th Maintenance Squadron, 86th Logistics Readiness Squadron and 786th Civil Engineer Squadron currently based at Ramstein.
"It's their appreciation of Air Force history and heritage that enabled the rescue of this aircraft," said James Fitzpatrick, 86th Civil Engineer Group deputy commander.
"If not for the love of their craft, confidence in their expertise and willingness to accept the risk of transporting the F-86F, we would have needed to hire a contractor at a cost of several thousand dollars."
Once at Ramstein, the aircraft will then be refurbished and painted in its original 1952 colours, then placed in one of the larger traffic circles near the Kaiserslautern Military Community Centre.
But also a lot of "Pravda-propaganda"...
F-86F to be reunited with 86th AW
Posted 12/6/2010 Updated 12/6/2010
U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. James Hill, 86th Maintenance Squadron flight chief, helps lower a F-86F Sabre jet, Sembach Annex, Germany, Nov. 30, 2010.
The aircraft will be refurbished and redisplayed at Ramstein Air Base Hardened Aircraft Shelter as a representative F-86F aircraft from the 86th Fighter Bomber Wing.
by By Senior Airman Scott Saldukas
86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
12/6/2010 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- Airmen from Ramstein came
together to begin a restoration project Nov. 30,
which will bring an F-86F
aircraft from Sembach Annex to be on display here in the near future.
The project is a team effort between the 86th Maintenance Squadron, 86th
Logistics Readiness Squadron and 786th Civil Engineer Squadron
to return a
piece of Air Force heritage back to Ramstein since the aircraft was mounted
in Sembach in 1973.
With the transfer of Sembach Annex to the Army, this was a perfect
opportunity to move the F-86F back to the 86th Airlift Wing
where it can be
proudly displayed, said Lt. Col. Richard Gibbs, 86th Maintenance Group
deputy commander.
"The 86th AW has a proud heritage, and the F-86 was a part of that," he
said.
"The F-86s were flown during the 1950s in what was then the 86th
Fighter-Bomber Wing and, later, then re-designated 86th Fighter-Interceptor
Wing."
The relocation process began when the units removed the aircraft from a
concrete display base using a sling and harness attached to a crane.
When on
the ground, the following days allowed the aircraft to be carefully
disassembled for transport via truck to a small hangar on Ramstein.
"The transportation team has been anxiously awaiting the transfer of the
F-86," said Capt. Christine Stevens, 86th VRS operations officer.
"After the
maintenance group has done their part, VRS Airmen will be ready on scene to
load up and move the big pieces of the aircraft back to its home on
Ramstein."
VRS will be using two 40-foot flatbed tractor trailers to support the
movement and are responsible for securing the wings, fuselage and tail
parts.
Once on Ramstein, the aircraft will then be evaluated, reassembled and
refurbished.
"The maintenance team will first need to assess the condition of the
aircraft to determine exactly what work needs to be done during the
refurbishment," Colonel Gibbs said.
"We plan to paint it the same color
scheme you would have seen, had you been here on the flight line in 1952."
Upon completion of refurbishment, the CEG plans to locate the stand and
aircraft in one of the larger traffic circles near the Kaiserslautern
Military Community Center.