Retired Air Force Lt. Col. Dave Moruzzi, a former 104th Fighter Wing pilot, discusses the history of the F-86 Sabre at the 104th FW, and shares some of his experiences from his time as a pilot.

Transcript

The F-86H Sabre was flown by the 131st Tactical Fighter Squadron from 1957 to 1965. In October 1961, the 131st and two other Sabre Squadrons were federalized to support NATO during the Berlin Crisis. 82 Sabre jets of the newly formed 102nd Wing joined up in Labrador and deployed to France in Operation Stair Step. For live gunnery practice, the 102nd flew down to Wheelus Air Base in Tripoli, Libya. While strafing, the Sabre’s ejected expended cartridges overboard. Often locals ran into the race to collect the brass, which they fashioned into wares for sale in Tripoli’s Bazaar. Logged a thousand hours since Sabre jets. It was a fighter pilot’s dream.