swept-wing fighter. As well as being built in the U.S. variants were built in Canada and Australia
arrived to take on the other swept-wing aircraft of the conflict, the MiG-15 Fagot. The Americans
claim they shot down 792 MiGs while only losing 78 Sabres, a 10:1 victory ratio which is greatly
disputed.

USMC Major John H. Glenn Jr. had flown with VMF-311 but became an exchange pilot assigned
to the USAF 25th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 51st Fighter Interceptor Group at K13 Suwon,
Korea. He was equipped with an F-86F-30 serial number 52-4548 with the names of his wife and
two children painted on it. Glenn had complained of a lack of MiGs and one morning came out to
find “MiG Mad Marine” had been added. During the final two weeks of the war Glenn downed
three MiG-15s.

Specifications for the North American F-86F-30

Crew – 1

Dimensions
Length – 37 ft 1 ins (11.4 m)
Wingspan – 37 ft 0 ins (11.3 m)
Height – 14 ft 1 ins (4.5 m)

Weights
Empty – 11,125 lb (5,046 kg)
Loaded – 15,198 lb (6,894 kg)
Maximum Take-off – 18,152 lb (8,234 kg)

Powerplant
1 – General Electric J47-GE-27 turbojet
Thrust – 5,910 lbf (maximum @7,950 rpm for 5 minutes) 26.3 kN)
Fuel – JP-4
Internal – 437 US gallons (1,650 l)
Drop Tanks – 2 x 200 US gallons (760 l)
Maximum Speed – 687 mph (1,106 km/h) @ sea level and combat weight of 14,212 lb (6,447 kg)
Range – 1,525 miles (2,454 km)
Service Ceiling – 49,600 ft @ combat weight (15,100 km)
ROC – 9,000 ft/min @ sea level (45.72 m/s)

Armament
Guns- 6 x 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns w/1,602 rounds
Rockets – various rocket launchers, example 2 x Matra rocket pods w/18 SNEB (French
manufacturer - Societe Nouvelle des Etablissements Edgar Brandt) 68 mm air-to-ground rockets
per pod
Bombs – 5,300 lb (2,400 kg) of payload on 4 outer hardpoints while 2 inner pylons were
designed for 2 drop tanks to extend range. A variety of bombs could be carried with standard
maximum load of 2 x 1000lb bombs on outer pylons plus 2 x 200 US gallon drop tanks on the 2
inner pylons. Napalm canisters and even tactical nuclear weapons could be selected.

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