At the open house. In order: 57-830 of the 482nd FIS, 54-1351 of the 71st FIS (The first TF-102 built, it is now on display at the Selfridge Museum), and 56-1195 of the 71st FIS.
Four members of the USAF Fighter Tactics Team visit Itazuke Air Base to brief pilots on the latest ways to blow apart Soviet MiGs. L-R: Lt Col Robert E. Dawson, 35th Fighter Bomber Squadron commander, Lt. Walter Druen, Lt. Don L. Pascoe, Col. Orville Rehmann, 8th FBW commander, Capt. Brooks J. Liles, Maj. Frederick “Boots” Blesse. The four team members (in flight clothing) had shot down their fair share of MiGs in Korea – Blesse being a double ace – and were touring bases to bring their success stories to their fellow pilots.
According to the marking forward of the cockpit, this aircraft was assigned to the Flight Test Division, Wright Field. It sure carries an interesting mixture of attachments. The aircraft was later assigned to the 336th FIS and the 26th FIS where, in 1950, it met its demise.
This bird had a short but eventful career. Entering service with the 412th Fighter Group, it transferred to the 1st Fighter Group where it joined the 71st Fighter Squadron as seen here. Unfortunately, the “incident” pictured here was not its last. After some necessary repairs to the underside of the aircraft, it eventually ended up with the 26th Fighter Interceptor Squadron where it crashed for good in 1950.
Nellis AFB was indeed Thud central in the early 1960’s. These F-105D’s were only a few years old at the time, but they have a rough road ahead of them. Of the identifiable tail numbers, all save one would be lost in Vietnam.
The December 17, 1953 front page of the Bell Aircraft News features the “old man” himself, Larry Bell, and the man who made Bell aircraft synonymous with speed, Chuck Yeager. Once again, he was the fastest man in the world.
This aircraft, 44-73656, belongs to the 109th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. Check out the gopher emblem on the tale. Gopher = Minnesota’s favorite beast.
Well, come to think of it, by the time these photos were taken, it was the F-51, but let’s not split hairs. Serials are 44-74720, 44-74825, and 44-74607.
The Jive Bomber 