Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as the United States' first swept-wing fighter that could counter the swept-wing Soviet MiG-15 in high-speed dogfights in the skies of the Korean War (1950–1953), fighting some of the earliest jet-to-jet battles in history.

The RF-86 Sabre was a reconnaissance version of the highly successful F-86 fighter. The bulges next to the cockpit housed cameras. But as the gun ports forward of that attest, it still packed a punch in the form of six 50-caliber machine guns.

The RF-86F "Haymaker" on display (S/N 52-4492) participated in these critical overflight missions. It was transferred to the South Korean air force (ROKAF) in 1958, which flew it into the 1980s. Arriving at the museum in 1998 for restoration, it was placed on display in 2005.

Dec 22, 2003 · Fish, Gray, and Daley thus conceived the RF-86 as a higher-performance daylight tactical reconnaissance fighter to serve as a stopgap in the Korean War until the dedicated reconnaissance aircraft--the RF-84F--could reach the 15th TRS.

This 'Haymaker' F-86 is on display at the National Museum for the USAF. From March 1954 onwards it served with the 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron deployed at Komaki AB, Nagoya for secret reconnaisance overflights of the Soviet Union, China and North Korea.

USAF personnel custom-fitted cameras to about a dozen F-86 fighters (known as "Honeybuckets" or "Ashtrays") to replace the slower RF-80 for missions in northwestern North Korea -- "MiG Alley" -- and into Manchuria.

On June 20, 1953 F-86F Sabres accounted for 16 aerial victories, the biggest one-day score of the war. The improved fighter-bomber version of the F-86F also proved highly suitable for air-to-ground work in Korea, and could easily take care of itself on the way home if …

In spite of the success of the RF-86A and F in combat, the USAF opted for the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash as its next-generation tactical reconnaissance aircraft. However, the RF-86F continued to be involved in clandestine and standard reconnaissance missions after the …

Five RF-86A aircraft went to the 67th Wing's 15th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. On combat missions, the RF-86A was usually able to evade interception and was able to perform missions that were more hazardous than the typical reconnaissance flights.

The RF-86 Sabre was a reconnaissance version of the highly successful F-86 fighter. The bulges next to the cockpit housed cameras. But as the gun ports forward of that attest, it still packed a punch in the form of six 50-caliber machine guns.