Goldsboro in Wayne County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
North American Aviation F-86H Sabre
Fighter-Bomber (Cold War Era)
| | Serial Number 53-1370 | |
Photographed by Mark Parker, February 4, 2025
1. North American Aviation F-86H Sabre Marker
Height-15'- Length-38' 8" Wingspan-39' 1" Max Weight-21,852 lbs.
Payload - 2,000 lbs of bombs / 8 each 5" rockets
Armament-4 each T-160 20MM cannons
Max Speed-692 mph
Engine - One General Electric J73-GE-3E @ 9,250 lbs thrust
Range -1,050 miles
Cost - $582,493 (in 1953)
The F-86H is on permanent loan to the City of Goldsboro by the U.S. Air Force Museum. Ordered in 1953, it entered active duty on May 4, 1955. After 15 years of service with various Active and Air National Guard units, it was de-commissioned in August 1970 from the Maryland Air National Guard. The aircraft was then flown to Seymour Johnson AFB by Col. Jesse Mitchell, Commander of Maryland's 175th Tactical Fighter Group, to be de-militarized and transferred to the City of Goldsboro for display.
Originally placed on display in Berkeley Memorial Park in Goldsboro, it remained there until 1986. After a restoration in 1986, it was moved for display in front of the Police-Fire Complex in Downtown Goldsboro. In February 2014, it was moved to Seymour Johnson AFB for repair and restoration using materials provided by the City of Goldsboro.
this page online
This F-86H has been painted to duplicate the markings of the 83rd Fighter Day Wing (later to be the 4th Fighter-Day Wing) while stationed at Seymour Johnson AFB in late 1957. By early 1958, Seymour Johnson started phasing out the F-86H's and transitioned to the F-100C Super Saber.
The City of Goldsboro would like to offer a special thank you to the 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base for volunteering their time and talents to restore the aircraft and to Pearson Pump Sales and Service for donating their time, personnel and equipment for this project.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Cold. A significant historical year for this entry is 1953.
Location. 35° 23.158′ N, 77° 59.754′ W. Marker is in Goldsboro, North Carolina, in Wayne County. It is at the intersection of North Center Street and West Ashe Street (Business U.S. 70/117), in the median on North Center Street. Marker is behind the Seymour Johnson AFB display wall at the north end of an adjacent roundabout. The marker is nearly underneath
Photographed by Mark Parker, February 4, 2025
2. North American Aviation F-86H Sabre Marker is below the plane on the right
Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Coastal Plain and in the Piedmont. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: North Carolina Railroad (a few steps from this marker); Sherman's March (within shouting distance of this marker); Kenneth C. Royall (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dan Bullock (about 700 feet away); Foster's Raid (approx. 0.2 miles away); Charles B. Aycock (approx. 0.2 miles away); Wm. T. Dortch (approx. 0.2 miles away); Downtown Goldsboro Transformation Story (approx. Ό mile away). Touch for a list and map
Photographed by Mark Parker, February 4, 2025
3. Full view of F-86H Sabre. Marker is behind the wall.
Photographed by Mark Parker, February 4, 2025
4. Tail fin with serial no. 53-1370
Photographed by Mark Parker, February 4, 2025
5. Port side view of North American Aviation F-86H Sabre
Credits. This page was last revised on February 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 4, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 263 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 4, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
