* The first generation of jet combat aircraft, developed during World War II, offered higher performance than their piston-powered contemporaries, but were nowhere near the limits of jet technology. Even by the end of the war, new ideas were in circulation that would lead to a second generation with far better performance. One of the most prominent of these second-generation jet combat aircraft was the North American "F-86 Sabre".
The F-86 Sabre was an elegant jet fighter, one of the mainstays of US forces in the war in Korea, and an important element in the defense of the West in the early years of the Cold War. It was built in large numbers and used by many of America's allies. This document provides a history and description of the Sabre, as well as its derivatives. A list of illustration credits is included at the end.
