"My A/c
was 491128 F-86A-5 which rotated home the day I finished my missions,12
Oct.’52. I arrived in the 336th 0n 4 May’52 and flew my
100 missions in five months finishing on 12 Oct. Got 1 damage claim
and fired on one late in Sept. and got fired on at the same time by
the Leader of five behind me. He missed. I was flying Robbie Reisner’s
a/c 824 at the time. It was later lost when Bettinger was shot down."
Sincerely,Ltc.Col.
Willard P. Dunbar Jr. (From an email given to me by Willard on
February 28, 2018).
"P.S.
My leader and I were there when Asla was shot down. Couldn’t
get a shot of the Mig as he climbed away." - Lt. Willard Dunbar
When asked
if he had any nose art on the airplane: "Rovin Rover on
lower right nose. Rocketeers on both sides. I think the a/c went to
the Oregon ANG after it was IRANed at Fresno then to Oxnard and then
scrapped?" Lt. Willard Dunbar
"I was
a 2/Lt and Spot 1/Lt while at Kimpo. I then was at Tyndall AFB for
two years teaching gunnery and AllWx Interception in 86D’s.
Left the AF to continue my education at Purdue University. Graduated
with a degree in Air Transportation. Flew with the INDANG for ten
years(55to65). Farmed family farms from 1958 to 1965 then flew for
American Airlines for 25 years. Flew parttime for a Corp from 1990
to 2003,then retired from flying. Kept up my Reserve participation
till 1974 and retired as Lt.Co." - Lt. Willard Dunbar
"The
336th and 334th had 86A’s and E’s while I was there. The
335th had F’s first because they had the best combat claims
record. They had all F’s by Sept.52 and we got their E’s.
The last of our A’s went home on 12 Oct’52. the day I
finished my 100 missions." - Lt. Willard Dunbar
Above from
"The F-86 Sabre Jet and Pilots" by Turner,
1997
Note
on above article: Advanced training base location was not Craig AFB,
Arizona, but was Craig AFB in Alabama East of Selma, Alabama. Original
author cited incorrect. Information updated to me by Lt. Willard Dunbar
(2/27/2019).