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Late 1958, Two F-100 Super Sabres Enter The Traffic Pattern For Runway 16 At George AFB, California. The Lead Aircraft Is An F-100f Flown By 1st Fighter Day Squadron Commander, Lt.. Col. Charles E. Chuck Yeager. Tight On His Wing Is A Relatively New Guy In The Outfit: 1lt. J. H. Joe Engle From The 474th Squadron. As The Two Huns Break To Land, Other Birds From The 21st (Blue) And 34th (Green) Squadrons Taxi Out For The Days Final Sortie. Together, These Four Units Comprise The 413th Fighter Day Wing.The Painting Represents A Sort Of Passing Of The Baton At Yeager, Already A Legend In The Annals Of Air Force Experimental Flight Test, Flies With Engle, On His Way To Becoming The Youngest Astronaut In Air Force History When, At The Tender Age Of 33, He Flew The North American X-15.

The above information was posted with the attached picture. I extensively researched F-100F 56-3950, from its date of delivery to the USAF, to its demise in a foreign land. I have documented this plane possibly better than any other F-100 out there, so I've been told by F100 experts. If there is anyone interested in further info on this airplane, speak now or forever hold your peace. I have numerous pictures of this aircraft as well.

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Here is another picture of LtCol Yeagers F-100F while stationed at George AFB, Victorville, CA. The rest of my pictures will be posted tomorrow as they are on my work computer. I will also attach some information about the planes history.

Thanks Jeff!

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Below is the history of 56-3950, which I researched and wrote up. The two pictures attached are of this particular F100F flying in Turkish markings, and a shot of its probable demise in a Turkish bone yard. There pictures were sent to me via a conection in the Netherlands that had a connection in the Turkish AF. I still have to dig up my other pics of the bird while at George AFB with LtCol Yeager sitting in the cockpit. I'll hopefully have them posted shortly.

F-100F, s/n 56-3950

Manufactured by North American Aviation, Inglewood CA and delivered to the USAF on 8 Apr 1958.
- Oct 1958 To 413th Tactical Fighter Wing (Tactical Air Command), George AFB CA (deployment to Moron AB Spain). Plane was flown by then Lt Col Chuck Yeager, commander of the 1st Fighter “Day� Squadron. Plane had “City Of Barstow� painted on its nose to signify the nearby town of Barstow, California.
- 13 Dec 1958 Lt Col Yeager flies from George AFB, Victorville, CA. to Las Vegas, NV. in 13 minutes. This was done to deliver a ceremonial letter from the Governor of California (Goodwin J. Knight) to the Governor of Nevada (Everett Poncho) upon the grand opening of the 15 Freeway. This was the first “Supersonic� delivery of postal mail in history.
- Mar 1959 To 31st Tactical Fighter Wing (TAC), George AFB (deployments to Aviano AB Italy and Clark AB Philippines)
May 1962 To 31st Tactical Fighter Wing (TAC), Homestead AFB FL (deployment to Cannon AFB NM)
- Jun 1966 To 27th Tactical Fighter Wing (TAC), Cannon AFB
- Jun 1969 To 4510th Combat Crew Training Wing (TAC), Luke AFB AZ
- Oct 1969 To 58th Tactical Fighter Training Wing (TAC), Luke AFB
- Sep 1971 To 185th Tactical Fighter Group (Air National Guard), Sioux City MAP IA
- Jul 1977 To 104th Tactical Fighter Group (ANG) where it flew with the 131st Fighter Squadron, Barnes Field, Westfield, MA.
- Nov 1977 Dropped from inventory by transfer to other agency

- 28 Nov 1977 – Retired 1988
Aircraft number changed to 3-950 when it was transferred to the Turkish Air Force as part of the Military Assistance Program. Plane flew out of Konya as part of the 132 FILO, (FILO stands for Squadron) part of an Ana Jet Ussu, (Main Jet Base, equivalent to Wing) wherein the middle digit of the FILO number designated the AJU (132 FILO = 3 AJU).
Konya is about 200 miles north of Cyprus. This base has traditionally been a “Jet Training Air Base�. The 132nd FILO now flies F-4E’s, F-5A’s, and F-5B’s. The Squadrons name is “Hancer�, which in English means Dagger.
Jan 1989 56-3950 is probably scrapped at Konya. Turkish Air Force never knew the planes historical significance as General Chuck Yeagers (then Lt Col) personal airplane while assigned to 413th TFW at George AFB, CA. during 1958-59. “If they had only known�, was the response from the Turkish Air Force in an e-mail received 5 Oct 2005, maybe the plane could have been saved and restored.

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Here are some of my Chuck Yeager pics from George AFB. You can even make out the planes serial number on the nose, just under Yeagers hand in the picture with his crew chief. The caption for that picture read;"Yeager and his crew chief, Staff Sergeant Bob Edwald at George AFB, 1958. Having started his career as a mechanic, Yeager believed "maintenance was the heart of a squadron" and he gave his crew chiefs a great deal of authority". I hope you all enjoy this bit of research/information.

-S-

looking at the birds rotting is enough to make you want to cry.........

Hammer

Great post Jeff and wonderful history. Chuck Yeager has had a remarkable career in aviation and his name is well known in not only the aviation military, but throughout all branches of military and civil aviation groups as well.

Wonderful pics and history you've posted and it's appreciated...

It was my pleasure to post this here. I put it into a three ring binder as well. My research was included in an article on Chuck Yeagers time at George AFB, in the 17 January 2006,Desert Dispatch newspaper. It is also posted on an F100 website dedicated to the history of the F100. That web-site host told me it was the most complete history on any one F100 he has seen to date. I was humbled by his comments. I have done research mainly on F105's though, a L19 Bird Dog, and Hueys, Cobras, and even a Hiller Raven. If anyone needs some assist on their research, let me know and I'll see what I can come up with.