Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

This happened in the 1950s when I was still in college. The Korean was still active and if you were in college, you had to keep your grades up, or the draft board would summon you.

We were home in Gainesville, and our family’s next-door neighbor was a young doctor and his family. Well, he had friends who had become pilots in the U.S. Air Force.
One had called the doctor friend and said they would be passing over Gainesville around 6:00 PM and would do a flyby!

Sure enough, at 6:00 or a little later, a flight of three F-86 fighter aircraft came by flying from the west toward the east. Two of the fighters went on, but one banked and slowly circled the town and was low enough to see the pilot who had opened his canopy so he could see and be seen. He had his aircraft just above stalling and circled us at about as slow a speed as his ship would fly without stalling.

Then he buttoned up and climbed up and went on his way. I believe they were going to Perrin AFB which was near Denison, Texas.

If you aren’t familiar with the F-86 D, it is the one with a huge nose, which is the housing for the ship’s radar system. It allowed the pilot to sense and detect an enemy aircraft in time to fire his weapons. They were first introduced into Korea with this modification. Just Sayin…RJS

kandydisbar Loc: West Orange, NJ

Thanks for the "fly by". Interesting story, very exciting!

plumbob Loc: New Windsor Maryland

bknecht Loc: Northeast pa

That must have been a sight to behold. How cool is that.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Well, you know that objects in the air look different, further or nearer, than objects on the ground. Like if you were looking at an object or deer at the length of a football field or 100 yards, then looking up at an object, and aircraft 100 yards above you in altitude.

I know the pilot of the F 86D knew the rules but he was at a bare minimum altitude and could not have been more than 100 yards or more in altitude and barely above stall speed! I'm not a pilot, but believe if the F-86 had stalled, he would not have had time to recover. Just Sayin..RJS

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

I am waiting for another US Air Force jockey to come online and tell us whether a pilot could open his canopy during the flight. I am hazy about whether this pilot opened his canopy, or whether we could see him clearly through the canopy. All I remember is that we could see the pilot quite clearly, even with his helmet and oxygen mask on. Just Sayin...RJS

USAF Major Loc: Sea Bright, NJ

Think the F 86 might have had a roll back canopy if it did that. Not sure but a previous A/C the F-80 did not.
Usually the canopy blew off when the pilot hit the ejection instrument so he wouldn't have to go through it when bailing out.

Jim Kay Loc: Franklin, Virginia

Thank you Robert. I love plane stories.

Sport Loc: Sacramento county north. California

I worked at McClellan AFB Sacramento many times on piping jobs, before and after the closure. The Thunderbirds came in the day before the air show, did a mini show for the airmen. Seems like they were very low, thunder roaring between the buildings. About '87.

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

Nice story Mr Samples thanks for sharing 🙂👍🇺🇸

MT Thorp Loc: Madisonville Tx

I grew up in Bee county, about 60 miles from Corpus Christi, Tx. There was a naval training base outside of of Beeville, NAS Chase Field where they trained navy pilots. I lived in the north part of the county and watched navy jets fly overhead every day. Sometimes they flew so low you could wave to the pilots and they’d wave back.

Robert J Samples Loc: Round Rock, Texas

Yes, I have been on the road from Houston to the Valley and saw Navy jets making an approach to the field near Kingsville. Once I was driving and there were two or three new aircraft. These were where the pilot and student sat side by side. To my surprise, they flew much slower.

Much different that that of either the F-80 or the much older T-6 trainer. Just Sayin...RJS

MT Thorp Loc: Madisonville Tx

Unfortunately, Chase Field was closed down in the late 80’s I believe. The navy chose to keep Kingsville open. A prison was built where Chase Field used to be.

Sport Loc: Sacramento county north. California

We're still here under the N, inbound flight path. Past 32 years. We have Coast Guard, Cal Fire, all LE. Numerous private jets, all daily. Just part of the landscape. Don't even hear them anymore unless one comes skidding sideways right over the house to make the runway one mile south. Wonder what the newcomers, Placer County will think. FLIGHT PATH should be on disclosure for new developement. Cross town at Mather AFB they raised he'll and won. Even forced closed our shooting range. Progress they call it.

USAF Major Loc: Sea Bright, NJ

Hello RJS: Finally found a Sabre pilot yesterday (he was 90 this past October) and he confirmed that the canopy was not the rollback type. He thought those guys were definitely below minimums and that's why you got such a clear view.
Happy New Year

Martin