Ellsworth Air Force Base in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
F-86H Sabre
Battling Gravity
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
1. F-86H Sabre Marker
The F-86 was one of the Air Force's first jet fighters. In high-performance fighters like the Sabre, acceleration and turns exert g-forces that drain the blood from pilots' heads, causing them to lose vision and then consciousness. To keep blood closer to their brains, fighter pilots contract the muscles in their lower bodies. They also wear g-suits that squeeze their abdomen and legs. Life support Airmen maintain these suits, along with parachutes, helmets, oxygen, survival gear—all of which keep aircrew alive.
LT ALFRED W. DYMOCK
Before F-86 Sabres entered the Korean War, the swept-wing MiG-15s made by the Soviets were outflying American straight-wing jets. Veteran WWII pilots like Lt Dymock—a Rapid City resident until his death in 2016—adapted their tactics to these faster, swept-wing planes, and finally outmaneuvered the MiGs. Lt Dymock shot down two of them in the winter of 1951.
One of the first jet pilots in the Air Force, Lt Dymock flew over 100 combat missions.
It's a special challenge to replace an engine in field conditions. But maintainers are up to the task.
These Korean War F-86 pilots
this page online
Erected by South Dakota Air and Space Museum.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Cold • War, Korean. A significant historical year for this entry is 1953.
Location. 44° 8.019′ N, 103° 4.356′ W. Marker is in Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, in Pennington County. Marker and aircraft are on static display at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2890 Davis Drive, Ellsworth AFB SD 57706, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in West River, in the Badlands, and in Greater Rapid City. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Interceptor Alert Hangar
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
2. F-86H Sabre and Marker
Regarding F-86H Sabre. Although an official field museum of the US Air Force Heritage Program and is adjacent to Ellsworth AFB main gate, the museum does not require access onto the base.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
3. F-86H Sabre
Credits. This page was last revised on October 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 7, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
