What is the story behind this old jet fighter displayed at the Municipal Plaza of Cantilan, Surigao del Sur?

The pilot's name and crew chief's name is still stenciled on the Sabre including the name "Banog sa Kantilan" (Hawk of Cantilan)

Was there a PAF airbase in that area?

Hint: Cantilan has a famous son, fighter pilot who flew the F-86 and became PAF commanding general.

http://www.paf.mil.ph/cgpaf/hotchkiss.html

I presume that's the very same airplane he flew on his various combat missions.

"Banog sa Kantilan" - Jepot, et. al. you ought to make a model of this historic F86.

Pendejo, how was the F-86 as ground attack aircraft, was it effective? weapons loadout?

I don't see the machine gun ports in that Sabre, probably removed to save weight?

F-86Fs carry a variety of bombs and rockets for ground attack.

http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/printer_174.shtml

The power of the air force was clearly demonstrated during the battle of Sibula Hill, on the island of Sulu, in November 1972, when a battalion of elite Philippine Marines was trapped by the MNLF guerrillas and would very likely have been wiped out. The PhAF moved over 60 fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft to the area and launched a series of devastating day- and night-air strikes, while simultaneously dropping supplies to the besieged Marines, which meanwhile dug in. The F-5As, F-86Fs, AT-33s, T-34s, C-47s and UH-1Hs attacked time and again, firing at anything that moved in a display of excellent accuracy, buying time until the following night, when UH-1Hs were used to extricate the surrounded troops. The PhAF was again deployed in force when the City of Cotabato was put under a siege, in 1973. The MNLF surrounded the city, planning to take it by force, but the PhAF deployed a number of AC-47s, U-17s and UH-1Hs to break the siege and launch a counter attack. The planes provided close air support for the local Army and Marine units, while helicopters deployed reinforcements and flew in supplies. In the same year also the town of Maganoy was retaken in a daring airmobile assault using UH-1H helicopter transports.

From March until August 1973 the PhAF was tasked with supporting counteroffensive on MNLF strongholds as well as attacking ships smuggling weapons and reinforcements for communist and Muslim insurgents. Especially the UH-1-fleet became vital in enabling the PhA to respond quickly by moving troops to developing battlefields. Also the U-17 observation planes were instrumental in controlling strikes by faster aircraft. Overall, the PhAF was deployed for all types of operations, including reconnaissance, close air support, supply, air mobility, and strike. Ist aircraft repeatedly attacked suspected even rebel supply depots with rockets, dumb bombs and napalm attempting to destroy the ammunition stocks, while simultaneously actively searching and attacking supply ships in order to interdict supplies. The first large communist offensive, launched in February 1974, saw the PhA garrison in the City of Jolo overrun. The Philippine military had to work very hard and cooperate with both the PhAF and the Navy in order to make regain some ground in response.

Overall, the losses of the PhAF were light. Sometimes, however, the situation was different. During a mission near the City of Parang, which was besieged by the rebels, sometimes in the mid-1970, Commander of the 9th Fighter Squadron, Lt.Col. Antonio Bautista, was shot down in an F-86F after making seven bombing- and strafing-passes over exposed MNLF fighters as these were charging local PhA positions. Bautista ejected successfully from his aircraft but landed in the middle of the MNLF force, and was killed during a short gun-battle.

In the early 70s, the F-86 was range limited operating out of Mactan and had little loiter time over targets in Sulu until the runway at Edwin Andrews Air Base in Zamboanga was extended to accomodate jet fighters.

The F-86F was impressive as a fighter bomber but as a fast mover was not as effective as the T-28D, SF-260WP and OV-10 which were better weapons platforms for air-to-ground, close air support duties, aerial recon and observation.

for paf enthusiast (like me) you might find this interesting

paf4904

couldnt the paf have kept a squadron for ground support? definitely can lift more than a -211...

We probably could've maintained them better if the funding was properly allocated then and now. Noon tuwing ROTC at pag-istambay sa Villamor ay napapansin ko na bumabaha doon at flimsy yun aircraft shelters (linilipad yun mga yero tulad rin nang nasa PAL) ay hindi nakakapagtaka na madale ng corrosion ang mga eruplano natin. Ang lapit pa naman sa dagat kaya syempre may epekto rin ang sea air. Kung yun service vehicles nga namin noong sa shipping business pa ako ay hindi rin tumatagal sa salt water effects I guess the same can be said with our PAF aircrafts. Sana nga lang totoo yun secret underground base na binalak ni Marcos. Kahit partial lang para naman may magandang shelter ang mga PAF assets natin.

Remember the F8's, how those were left under the sun after the ashfall of Mt. Pinatubo. It could have been sold to those nuts on classic warbirds. You could buy a huey for the sale of it.

by the way, the data does not match. the website claims the visit was in 1990. the paf pictorial book listed it as sold in 1993. my very imaginative mind is coming up with this picture. what if it was really sold in 1990? could the middleman have hidden the payment in a bank, let it earn interest, then pay the paf three years later? the catch is, the middleman keeps the interest. just think about how many t-34s, f-86, sf-260, t-28s, s-76, etc were sold in the commercial market...somebody could have gotten a really big paycheck. f-5s are selling really good in the warbird market btw.

You are closer to the truth than anybody has ever been Eagle1.

Iron Dragon, I just saw this thread now, sorry.

Hmm, the markings belong to the 7th TFS which later flew the F8s and sported a bulldog symbol; unfortunately, it doesnt show the Bu No.but AFAIK, there was no F86 with such markings ("Banog...") that belonged to the 7th TFS...I maybe wrong though, so for now, gate guard lang sya...

If there is a very historical F86, that is 24576, or "Dragon" that the late COL ANTONIO BAUTISTA flew over in Jolo, but unfortunately was shot down during the Battle of Jolo in 1974. :armyeek:

wow a f86 one of the greatest fighters we have since the foundation of ur air force but i think u guys all know that pero question when was it put in retarment? :salute:

To all you young folks out there who haven't seen this great bird fly and roar as what our men of the Limbas Squadron do their thing in their days. Fly away...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hwhVu2wlSA...related&search=

i got this from http://www.scramble.nl/milbase.htm,


Serial 24317
Code 317
Type F-86F-30-NA
CN 191-13
Unit Cantilan
Status pre
First 98
Last 98
Comment Blue Diamonds c/s, No. 5
PreviousID 52-4317