"When Did the RAF Stop Flying Sabres?" Topic

I know they flew them in the early to miid fifties in the Uk and Germany. What year did they give them up?

Sabres eventually equipped 10 RAF fighter squadrons in Germany and 2 in the UK as part of NATO's 2nd Allied Air Force; their main task (from their introduction in 1954) was to patrol the Air Defence Identification Zone along the "Iron Curtain" and standing on alert to be scrambled to intercept unidentified aircraft. Until replaced by Hawker Hunters 1955-6 they provided air cover for the defences of Western Germany and the Rhine Army.

From this source: PDF link

'56 sounds about right – they basically replaced them just as fast as they could get Hunters into service.

[Insert Googling noises.] Joe Baugher's superb site says June '56.

link

Found this in an online book sale posting:

"In the early 1950s the Royal Air Force, awaiting the delivery of British-designed aircraft, purchased the Sabre, a US swept-wing jet, as a 'stop-gap fighter'. From 1953 to 1956 Sabres equipped a total of twelve RAF squadrons, all but two of which were based in Germany with 2nd Tactical Air Force defending the NATO front against Warsaw Pact aggression".

Says something when the RAF could acquire as many aircraft as a short term stop gap solution while they waited for British aircraft to be delivered as they can afford now for the total defence budget!

Bigger perceived threat, bigger defense budget.

Also, even allowing for inflation, the per-unit cost of a top tier 1950s jet figher is a hell of a lot less than the per-unit cost of a modern one. Of course, the capabilities are radically different, too.

Doug

The US payed for them under MDAP.