F-86E Sabre "ONU" - Italian Sabre, Filipino Pilots

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Introducing

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Italian F-86E Sabres crewed by the pilots of 9th TFS, PAF

North American F-86E Sabre “ONU”
Opération des Nations Unies au Congo


1960 Congo Crisis Response Force, UN Combat Wing, Kamina Air Base
9th Tactical Fighter “Limbas” Squadron, Philippine Air Force

OVERVIEW

During the Congo Crisis (1960–1965), the secessionist State of Katanga, led by Moïse Tshombe, established the Katangese Air Force (Force Aérienne Katangaise, FAK), which was predominantly operated by foreign mercenary pilots from countries including Belgium, France, and the United Kingdom. Early in the conflict, the FAK had complete air supremacy with its 3 Fouga Magister jets which harassed government and UN forces in the region.

Notably, the FAK was implicated in the 1961 plane crash that killed UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld, with reports suggesting that a Belgian mercenary pilot, Jan van Risseghem, attacked Hammarskjöld’s aircraft. On the contrary, UN investigation concluded that the plane where UN Secretary-General Dan Hammarskjöld crashed because of pilot error since it had to fly around to avoid the FAK but the Belgian mercenary pilot did strafe the plane days before the crash causing some damage to its fueslage.

As a direct result of these shortcomings, Italy donated five F-86E(M) Sabre jets to the United Nations in late 1961 and early 1962. In 1963, President Diosdado Macapagal responded to the United Nations’ call for support in the Congo Crisis by authorizing the deployment of the 9th Tactical Fighter “Limbas” Squadron of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) to the United Nations Operation in the Congo (ONUC). Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jose Rancudo, the squadron departed the Philippines on February 11, 1963. The PAF operated from Kamina Air Base, helping establish air superiority and supporting peacekeeping operations especially in Operation Grandslam that followed the chaos of earlier confrontations like the disastrous Siege of Jadotville (Note: The PAF actually arrived late for Operation Grandslam which decimated the FAK - the UN had anticipated that the FAK already had their airforce up and running but it needed a few more weeks for aviation fuel and ammunition. The UN striking early meant that the FAK was destroyed before it flew but if it hadnt been the case, the role of the PAF pilots wouldve been to further secure air superiority in the cleanup ops that followed Op Grandslam). This was also further justified after reports of the FAK purchasing several P-51 Mustangs earlier that year (that arrived without spare parts and still needed to be refurbished).

Aside from the Philippines, India, Ethiopia, Sweden, and Iran answered the UN’s call and also sent their air forces to the UNOC for further support. India however have to pull out because of the excalating border conflict with China at that time, as well as Ethiopia after losing one jet to an accident. This was further compounded by the hesitancy of other nations to provide enough fuel and ammunition to arm these jets fearing that it might needlessly antagonize the other powers in the region.

Nevertheless, this was the first time the UN assembled an air force for its peacekeeping mission and so was dubbed 1st UN Air Force. By July 1964, UNOC had fully pulled out after subjugating the rebels and re establishing the status quo in the region.

SPECIFICATIONS

Characteristic Details
Type Transonic Jet Fighter
Manufacturer North American Aviation
Introduced 1951 (E variant)
Crew 1 (pilot)
Powerplant General Electric J47-GE-13 turbojet
Thrust 5,200 lbf (23 kN)
Maximum Speed 685 mph (1,102 km/h) at sea level
Combat Range 600 miles (965 km)
Service Ceiling 49,000 ft (14,935 m)
Rate of Climb 9,000 ft/min (2,743 m/min)
Length 37 ft 6 in (11.45 m)
Wingspan 37 ft 1 in (11.30 m)
Height 14 ft 1 in (4.29 m)
Empty Weight 10,600 lb (4,808 kg)
Loaded Weight 15,198 lb (6,893 kg)
Armament 6 × .50 cal (12.7 mm) M3 Browning machine guns
Additional Equipment Underwing pylons for drop tanks, bombs, or rockets

IN-GAME

This would essentially be a copy paste F-86E Sabre but upon learning that an Italian vehicle were to have Philippine camos for the moments of valor event, I thought how about a pure Italian jet that was actually crewed by Filipinos?

This would be similar to the Polish crewed Sherman Firefly in the UK Tech Tree although I would imagine the Filipino crew would be speaking English and not Filipino as this was an international mission. Would also be a great way to introduce UN camos in the game since this was an actual UN Air Force.

MORE PHOTOS

Spoiler

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Organisation des Nations Unies au Congo (ONUC) air power in Kamina during the UN secretary-general’s visit in 1963. Clockwise: Sikorsky S-55, DC-3 (Unknown origins), Italian Air Force F-86E (crewed by Filipino pilots),Swedish Air Force Saab J-29B, and Iranian Air Force F-86F


The same diorama on the Philippine Air Force Museum

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Members of the 9th Tactical Fighter Squadron “Limbas” in Kamina Air Base, Congo

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Could be a great profile icon, Gen. Jose Rancudo (then Lt. Col.) with his F-86 Sabre in the 9th TFS. He also led the Philippine contingent in Congo as can be seen in the right



A model by Björn B

SOURCES

Col. Francis Neri of the PAF collection: : Redirecting...

Spoiler

UN's First Air Force - Peacekeepers in Combat - Congo 1960-64

History of the Philippine Air Force - Page 2 - Philippines Defense Forces Forum

ONUC, Kongo 1960 - Med FN i Kongo — utlandsveteran.se

Joining Forces

Italian F-86 E in Congo - Jet Modeling - ARC Discussion Forums

Avlösning av FN-styrkor på flygplatsen på Kamina under Kongokrisen, 1963. Fyra iranska jaktflygplan North American F-86 Sabre i FN-märkning avlöser svenska J 29 Tunnan. 103rd Fighter Squadron. -Flygvapenmuseum / DigitaltMuseum

Afrika på 08-Open. F-86E - IPMS Stockholm

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