F-86A Sabre: Korea 1950-51

by Peter E. Davies, Gareth Hector (Illustrator), Jim Laurier (Illustrator)

Overview

Strap in alongside the Sabre pilots as they experienced the world's first large-scale jet-vs-jet combats. Brought to life with innovative tactical artwork and dramatic first-hand accounts from the pilots themselves.

The F-86A Sabre had entered USAF service in 1949, and in December 1950 three squadrons were sent to South Korea. Despite primitive basing conditions and overwhelming Chinese opposition, the Sabre pilots stopped communist air forces from attacking UN ground troops and allowed Allied fighter-bombers to operate without threat of interception. The ensuing air battles between Sabres and MiG-15s were the first since World War II, and the last in recent times to involve large numbers of jet fighters in direct confrontation. In all of them the victorious F-86 pilots demonstrated the superiority of their training and tactics and the outstanding qualities of their Sabres.

Contemporary photographs and specially commissioned artwork, including a dramatic battlescene, armament views, technical diagrams and ribbon diagrams illustrating step-by-step each main dogfight explored in the book, bring the experiences of the Sabre pilots and their battle tactics vividly to life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781472850355
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	08/16/2022
Series:	Dogfight , #4
Pages:	80
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.50(h) x 0.20(d)

About the Author

Peter E. Davies has specialized in the aircraft of the Vietnam and Cold War periods, analyzing tactics, background politics and technologies in combat situations. His books are always enriched by original first-hand interviews and unpublished illustrative material. Peter has also been a contributor to publications such as Aeroplane Monthly, Aviation News and Aircraft Illustrated. He lives in Bristol, UK.

Gareth Hector is a digital artist of international standing as well as an aviation history enthusiast. He lives in Perthshire, UK.

Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives in New Hampshire. He attended Paier School of Art in Hamden, Connecticut, from 1974–78, and since graduating with Honours, he has been working professionally in the field of Fine Art and Illustration. He has been commissioned to paint for the US Air Force and has aviation paintings on permanent display at the Pentagon.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1

In Battle

This chapter features an account of a Sabre engagement with MiG-15s over 'MiG Alley' to involve the reader in the atmosphere of battle from the outset.

CHAPTER 2

Setting the Scene

Sabre's first clashes with MiGs.

CHAPTER 3

Path to Combat

Anecdotal experiences of pilots concerning training and tactical instruction.

CHAPTER 4

Weapon of War

Although some early pilots found the F-86A lacked manufacturing consistency (one remarked that 'pieces kept falling off them'), the first batch of 35 F-86A-1s for the 4th FIW soon evolved into effective F-86A-5 combat machines.

CHAPTER 5

Art of War

USAF, Soviet and Chinese sources are used in studying the combat techniques brought to the battles over 'MiG Alley' by pilots from both sides.

CHAPTER 6

Combat

USAF pilots describe their experiences in the F-86A, explaining how their combat tactics evolved and assessing their engagements. F-86As also flew ground attack missions, although the later Sabre variants were better equipped for this.

CONCLUSION

APPENDICES

F-86A units and bases in Korea 1950-51, notable pilots involved in these early A-model actions and aces of that period.

INDEX

Editorial Reviews

What really makes this book is the volume of personal accounts and the rich selection of mostly colour photographs. The stunning artwork showing tactics, armament, examples of dogfights in ribbon diagrams and the full two page artwork really add value to these short volumes. The high standard of Osprey Publishing is maintained with this book. This is must for any Korean War aviation fans or any F-86 Sabre fans. If you want to know what dogfighting in the F-86 against nimble and heavily armed M-15s mostly flown by Russians as we now know then this is a book for you!” —Aviation News Magazine

From the Publisher