North American Aviation F-86 Sabre

The 199th Fighter Squadron converted to North American F-86 Sabre in 1954. It was more than aircraft conversion from the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt to the Sabres; it was a transition from props to jets. There were challenges for operations and maintenance. In...

Hawaii Air National Guard photograph This undated photograph shows Kenneth "Kenny" Camara (L) and two unidentified maintenance mechanics. They are standing in front of a North American Aviation F-86 Sabre; a fighter jet the 199th Fighter Squadron flew from 1954...

Hawaii Air National Guard photograph This undated photograph shows a North American F-86 Sabre that the 199th Fighter Squadron flew from 1954 through 1958. The photograph was taken in Area 65, the first Hawaii Air National Guard operating location on...

This photograph shows a Hawaii Army National Guard (HIARNG) Nike Hercules missile battery at Bellows Field, Waimanalo. Click to enlarge The 199th Fighter Squadron’s alert mission began on July 1, 1956 with two fully armed F-86 Sabres on five minute alert during daylight hours....

Hawaii Air National Guard photograph This undated photograph shows James Ashford getting ready to get into the cockpit for a mission. The crew chief could not be identified.  Jim Ashford was born in Honolulu, Hawai‘i on July 13, 1923. He grew up...

Hawaii Air National Guard photograph Taken from the HANG 25 Booklet, the History of the Hawaii Air National Guard, November 4, 1946 to November 3, 1971 Year of the Jet - Fiscal Year 1954. The fiscal year started off with...

Personal photograph, used with permission This 1953 photograph shows (L-R): Wesley Lazarus, Frank Nakamura, Robert Choi, Robert McKee, Lewis Kono. The Hawaii Air National Guard was seven years old and about to enter the jet age. The 199th Fighter Squadron...

Hawaii Air National Guard photograph This undated photograph shows Kenneth "Kenny" Camara. Kenny's career in the maintenance complex began in the 1950s. The 199th Fighter Squadron flew North American F-86 Sabres. Kenny was a mainstay through the Convair F-102 Delta...

Hawaii Air National Guard photograph This undated photograph shows Capt. Kurt Johnson instructing 1st Lt. Robert “Bobby” Hinkley on fighter tactics. On the fuselage of the F-86 Sabre is the original 199th Fighter Squadron logo designed by1st Lt. Wade McVay, Jr. Mahalo to Edward Richardson...

Star Advertiser photograph This is a Honolulu Star Advertiser article written by William Cole. The article was published on July 3, 2010, reporting the F-22 Raptor arrival the day before at Hickam Field. The Raptor has landed. The first of...