Fargo Air Museum Hopes to Save F-86H

By Noah Stegman Rechtin

In January 2024, the Fargo Air Museum (FAM) was awarded an indefinite loan of North American F-86H Sabre 53-1253 from the National Museum of the United States Air Force. The collections manager of the FAM, Max Sabin, has the goal to bring the airframe from its current resting place at Jamestown Regional Airport (KJMS) near Jamestown, North Dakota, and place it on display in front of the Museum. It will serve as a monument to area veterans while wearing the markings of one influential FAM co-founder who flew F-86 Sabres while in the USAF: the late Major General Darrol Schroeder (Ret.).

Although the airport is less than 100 miles west of the museum, it would still be a significant cost to move the aircraft and the museum does not have the financial means to pay for the transportation.

According to an article in the Jamestown Sun, the aircraft was removed from a pedestal at the airport in June 2018 as more room was needed for a parking lot expansion. Since then, it has sat on logs on the east end of the apron. Recently, the museum was informed that if it did not accept the jet, it will likely be scrapped in place. In December 2023, Sabin’s Instagram post about the airplane was well received and generated interest. Based on this, after some consideration the museum’s board of directors approved the project last month.

The F-86 has a special connection to the museum, as one of its co-founders, Maj. Gen. Darrol Schroeder USAF (Ret.), flew F-86s for the 563rd Fighter-Bomber Squadron (FBS), 388th Fighter-Bomber Wing (FBW) at Etain Airbase, France as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1955-56. Although the 53-1253 is an “H” variant – and not an “F” as Schroeder flew – it is the best chance the museum has of acquiring an F-86 at all. They plan to paint it as an F-86F, 53-1211, which is believed to be the aircraft that then 2nd Lt. Shroeder flew.

According to its Aerial Visuals dossier, during its service 53-1253 spent time with both the 474th and 428th FBWs at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico, before being transferred to the 142nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 166th Fighter-Interceptor Group of the Delaware Air National Guard at New Castle County Airport in Delaware. It was eventually withdrawn from use in August 1970.

If you would like to contribute to the effort to get Sabre 53-1253 to its new home, the Fargo Air Museum has a fundraising page on their website at Save the Sabre.