First of the "Century fighters", the prototype F-100 flew on 25 May 1953. The initial production version was the F-100A, a single-seat day fighter powered by a 43.15kN J57-P-7 or P-39 engine. Armament comprised four 20mm M-39E cannon plus external stores on six under-wing hardpoints. The RF-100A was a photo-reconnaissance conversion of the F-100A with a deeper camera-carrying front fuselage.
The F-100C appeared in 1954 as a single-seat fighter bomber with strengthened wings, up to 3,402kg of bombs on eight underwing hardpoints, in-flight refuelling capability and 75.62kN (with afterburning) Pratt & Whitney J57-P-21A turbojet engine. The similar F-100D introduced design refinements, including a taller fin, and could be armed with four Sidewinder or two Bullpup missiles, or 3,402kg of external weapons in addition to its standard four 20mm cannon. The final version built was the F-100F, a lengthened tandem two-seat operational trainer and tactical attack aircraft, armed with two 20mm cannon and capable of carrying 2,722kg of external stores.
North American F-100 Super Sabre on YOUTUBE
Specification
CREW
1
ENGINE
1 x P+W J-57-P-21 turbo-jet, 66.7kN
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight
12700 kg
27999 lb
Empty weight
9500 kg
20944 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan
11.6 m
38 ft 1 in
Length
14.3 m
47 ft 11 in
Height
4.9 m
16 ft 1 in
Wing area
35.8 m2
385.35 sq ft
PERFORMANCE
Max. speed
1216 km/h
756 mph
Ceiling
15250 m
50050 ft
Range
920 km
572 miles
ARMAMENT
4 x 20mm machine-guns, 2720kg of bombs and missiles
Ralph Garden, I was also stationed on at Kadina Okinawa from about 1960 to 1961 18 months,I was in the PM hanger for 100 hour inspection on the F-100 D and F models. I remember the "Snake Pit" for beer after work almost every night. and the typhoons we went through back then.
I crewed an F-100d,Lakenheath from 69-72. I was in the 493rd. I liked the Aircraft,it was easy to work on.would like to hear from anyone from there at that time.
I was a jet engine mechanic, assigned to the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing at Chaumont AFB, France and later moved to R.A.F. Lakenheath ,England. This was from 1958 to 1961. We had F-100D aircraft, colorfully painted with candy stripe nose, tail and wing tips. The 492nd squadron was blue, the 493rd was yellow and the 494th was red. We had nuclear bombs and that is why France (Charles DeGaulle) wanted us out of France, so we moved to England.
I was a crew chief on F100's Spang. Ger. 1959 to 1961. I was with 8th TFS Then to 49th CAM We did call it the Lead Sled & the Silver Dollar loved to work on them. I crewed "652" also was TDY to Wheelus Lybia several times. Lots of good memories
I was on Kedena 1960 for 18 month and was in the 67th tac fighter sq.and I really liked the f-100-d and had a lot of unusal experiances there and wouldn trade them for anything.
Worked on J33's for the T33, then on the J57 at Luke in 1966. Then at Tuy HOA RVN from Oct 67 thru Oct 68. Didn't put in for it but I came back to the states working on J57 and TF33 engines for the B52 and KC135
Flew the F-100 at CannonAFB, NM, RAF Wethersfield, UK, RAF Upper Heyford, UK, & Phang Rang AB, Viet Nam. Great bird, durable with wonderful range . Like a Timex - takes a lick in' and keeps on tickin'! Closed out a squadron everywhere I was stationed. Ferried my Hun from Viet Nam in '71 to the Mass ANG. Saw it the following year at Tinker AFB encounters to the Boneyard. Brought a tear to the eye.
I remember #753, the Susan Constant, while she was flying with the NM ANG. One can still see her flying towards the end of the movie "Skyjacked". She's impersonating a Russian Mig-21. They got the red stars painted on, but the forward fuselage numbers and the roadrunner on her vertical stab are still very much visible. I made display model of her for the Albuquerque Sunport many year ago.
Stationed 1959-61 at Kadena AFB Okinawa with the 18th FMS. Our commander was Francis S. Gabreski, an ace from way back. Worked on hydraulic systems on F-100 & RF-101's. Have a USAF Outstanding Unit Award framed & on my wall. I would really like any communication from anyone there at that time.
I WAS STATIONED AT ITAZUKE AFB IN JAPAN FROM 58-60 AND WAS IN ENGINE BUILD UP,TEST CELL AND INSTALED ENGINE INTO F-100 AIRCRAFT. THEN RUN THEM TO CHECK FOR LEAKS.THIS WAS A FINE AIRCRAFT. FOR THE TWO YEARS WE WERE THERE WE DIDN'T LOSE A ONE.
Joe Flemming, I should know you I was Jet eng. mech. A /2C [Goose] Ray Gandy at England AFB 8-May-58 thru 18-Oct. 61 Was temp assigned to 614th Sept 59 as asst crew chief on #834 [Col. Carr's bird] then back to 401st CAMS engine shop, was TDY to Eglin Field with 614th Oct.60, Also On the "Berlin Crisis Sep 61 on TS assignment with Col. Carr, then due to a SNAFU was sent back to EAFB for Discharge after 18 days
It's nice to see that the Hun is still alive, if only in our hearts. I was a crew chief on the F100 in Lybia 1968-69. The 7272 FTW ( Fighter Training Wing) I belive was the only one of it's kind in the Air Force inventory. We had only 16 Huns to train all the squadrons from Europe they would prctice arial combat and bombing in the desert. I guess before they went to Nam. I was proud to be a crew chief on the F100 and especcialy when I stenciled my name on the nose gear door. I was a staff sgt. and 20 years old
F-100 While in the USAF I worked on F-100's from 1967 to 1969 in armament. At Myrtle Beach with the 355th TFS (Fighting Falcons) we were mobilized to Phu Cat VN in 1968. During the six months we were their TDY we loaded over 14,000 sorties. Then a short time with the 121st ANG back at the beach. After that I went to Bien Hoa VN. in 1969 with the 510th TFS (Buzzards of Bien Hoa). During all that time we lost two planes, one in flight making a bombing run in the Valley, and the other took a rocket setting on the ground. The plane was a real work horse coming back from missions with tree branches stuck in the wing and one time on the way beck from Phase in Iraq a wing was not put together and separated, the leading edge slats fell out in flight, no problem! All things considered it was a easy plane to load although the ammo cans would get rounded out on the bottom which made it hard to slide them into the ammo bay, sometimes we would have to get the ammo stand rocking and kick'em in. Definitely a Great Plane. Send me an email if you were there.
Was a F100 Crew Chief at Cannon AFB fron 61 thru 64. Started in the 522TFS and later they moved everyone to the 27TH OMS. While in the 522nd I crewed A /C 902 F model which was the commanders A /C.Went TDY all around the world with the 100's.My last TDY was to DA NANG in 64. I came home in DECEMBER and left the planes there.
I am looking for information regarding the death of 1LT Richard Tachibana who flew the F-100D in the 417th TFS. He was killed in a crash (type unknown) while flying from Ramstein AB on 13 July 1961. Please contact me if you can provide any details.
worked on the f100f at spang from the 50s to 1961. 49th fighter bomber wing. we called it the lead sled. loved working on it though. also looking for sgt gorden tanner if anyone knows him.I went to wheelus as well. bob clay
While in the USAF I worked on F-100's from 1967 to 1969 in armament. At Myrtle Beach with the 355th TFS (Fighting Falcons) we were mobilized to Phu Cat VN in 1968. During the six months we were their TDY we loaded over 14,000 sorties. Then a short time with the 121st ANG back at the beach. After that I went to Bien Hoa VN. in 1969 with the 510th TFS (Buzzards of Bien Hoa). During all that time we lost two planes, one in flight making a bombing run in the Valley, and the other took a rocket setting on the ground. The plane was a real work horse coming back from missions with tree branches stuck in the wing and one time on the way beck from Phase in Iraq a wing was not put together and separated, the leading edge slats fell out in flight, no problem! All things considered it was a easy plane to load although the ammo cans would get rounded out on the bottom which made it hard to slide them into the ammo bay, sometimes we would have to get the ammo stand rocking and kick'em in. Definitely a Great Plane. Send me an email if you were there.
Paul Perron, e-mail, 16.09.2022 Michael Wieczynski
Hello Michael, I'm Paul Perron and I retired AF and amateur historian for the 510th Fighter Squadron here at Aviano Air Base.
Please contact me soonest, I would like to hear from you about your time with the 510th at Bien Hoa. I collect information for the squadron archives as well as the 31st Fighter Wing.
Hope to hear from you. Sincerely, Paul J. Perron USAF 81-07
Hello Michael,
I'm Paul Perron and I retired AF and amateur historian for the 510th Fighter Squadron here at Aviano Air Base.
Please contact me soonest, I would like to hear from you about your time with the 510th at Bien Hoa. I collect information for the squadron archives as well as the 31st Fighter Wing.
Hope to hear from you.
Sincerely,
Paul J. Perron
USAF 81-07
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