Dedications by the Sabre Pilots Association
 

 

4000 lb Rock at Nellis AFB, Nevada


Retired Lt. Col. J.R. Alley, F-86 Sabre Association president and Col. Michael Drowley (USAF Weapons Commandant)

Photo Credit: Susan Garcia, USAF Chief Publicist and Editor

A special engraved gift, in memory of the F-86 Sabre Pilots Association, was presented to Nellis AFB during their reunion “Nellis Day” in April, 2017. The 18inx18 in. stainless steel plaque engraved by the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum artists portrays an air combat scene of Roy Grinnel’s famous painting of an F-86 Shooting down a MIG-15 over the Yalu River during the Korean War with a caption below and mounted on a 4000lb. rock.

The process to select, prepare, transport and place a rock of this size in front of the USAF Weapons School’s Waxman hall was a significant effort. To meet this challenge, Association Board of Director member Bob Smith and his wife Nancy, went to Southern Utah to team up with his daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Leland Call, to search for an appropriate stone. Being a contractor in that area and familiar with different quarries, Leland led Bob and Nancy to the perfect site. Within a short time one large rock stood out and Nancy declared that would be the one and the decision was made. Next was to prepare the rock by a stone mason and begin the process of transporting it to Nellis AFB.

Leland had the proper trailer, towing vehicle and loading equipment to handle a rock of this size. Once all the coordination was accomplished at Nellis by our coordinator, Capt. William Crowder, to receive and place the rock in the designated area, transporting the rock began.

On April 3, 2017 the “Rock” arrived at Nellis to be placed in its future home. The following pictures present a pictorial of the effort that took place from rock selection to final placement. Many thanks must be given to those who worked so hard to make the Association’s gift to Nellis AFB happen:

Bob and Nancy Smith
Leland and Judy Call
Capt. William “Sauer” Crowder
Senior Airman Mathew Duffer, fork lift operator

All above Photo Credits: Susan Garcia, USAF Chief Publicist and Editor

 

 

 

Wall of Honor, Virginia

Col.USAF ret. Glenn Carus (member), General USMC ret. John Dailey, Director Smithsonian Air And Space Museum, Lt/Gen USAF ret. Arnold Braswell (member) and Lt/Gen. USAF ret. William Brown (member).

Sabre Pilots Association - Smithsonian Air and Space Museum's Udar-Hazy Wall of Honor. A foil with over 800 of the members' names engraved.

 

 

 

F-86 at Nellis AFB Freedom Park, Nevada


This F-86 is located at the Nellis AFB Freedom Park, Nevada. The Sabre Pilots Association was involved in the mid 90’s getting this beautiful bird transported from the Colorado ANG (Denver) to Nellis at a cost of $7500.

It is proudly set in one of the best settings possible; among one of every type of jet fighter that filled the flight line at Nellis AFB over the years.

Plaque that is on the pedastal of the F-86.

 

 

 

"No Guts!, No Glory!" Lounge at Nellis, Nevada

Story of this lounge by retired Lt. Col. J.R. Alley, F-86 Sabre Association president.

"Here we go on a project we started at the Weapons School at Nellis back in 2013. During my planning for our reunion Nellis Day that year, around the School and Nellis overall, many prominent fighter pilots had been acknowledged by have streets or buildings named after them. I noticed one very prominent fighter pilot, F-86 double ace, and a former wing commander at Nellis wasn't recognized, Frederick "Boots" Blesse. When I brought this up no one had an answer.

My mind, racing to come up with something that could be done in the short term, I asked the question, "Why couldn't the Weapons School lounge named the "World Class Lounge" be dedicated in the name of Boots?" That was accepted and during our Nellis day reunion event that year, the lounge was re-named the "No Guts No Glory Lounge" in memory of Boots.

There was one more thing that needed change. The original sign over the lounge bar had to be taken down and replaced. Our Board members agreed to pay for the a new electronic sign to be designed, made and placed over the bar. The project took some time, but by occasional jabs and queries, a new sign was made and beautifully projects the name of the lounge in honor of Boots by our 2017 reunion Nellis Day.

For background info on why the title, "No Guts No Glory." During WW II and the Korean air war, no one had put down in writing how to perform the tactics and maneuvers to be performed against and adversary in offensive and defensive situations. Boots did that and wrote the first air combat tactics manual and named it "No Guts No Glory." That manual began the basic bible for basic air combat tactics. It was used throughout the Air Force including the Weapons School for many years until more comprehensive doctrine and manuals had been written. So, that is why naming the Weapons School lounge the "No Guts No Glory Lounge" was so appropriate."


 

 


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