In 1951, North American proposed to the USAF a supersonic fighter based roughly on the F-86 Sabre. The USAF ordered two prototypes, designated YF-100 Super Sabre--the first of the legendary "Century Series" of American fighters. The prototypes first flew in 1953, ahead of schedule, and performance was as advertised--the YF-100 became the first fighter to achieve supersonic speed in level flight. (At least the first Western fighter--the Soviet Sukhoi Su-7 made the same achievement about the same time.) The USAF ordered it into production as the F-100A in 1954.
Almost immediately, however, the F-100 ran into problems. It was very unstable, subject to sudden rolls and stalls, especially at low speeds. This became known as the "Sabre Dance," and was so prevalent that it led to the premature retirement of the F-100A only three years after it became operational. Modifications were made, primarily a larger tail, and this cured much of the instability issues. It resulted in the much improved F-100C/D series, the latter intended for the tactical fighter-bomber role.
Because of their high speed, cannon armament and wide variety of underwing stores, F-100C/Ds were some of the earliest fighters committed to the Vietnam War. These were used almost always over South Vietnam to support ground troops, though in the first months of Operation Rolling Thunder, they were used over the North as well. A F-100D was credited with the first aerial kill of the Vietnam War in 1965, but they were withdrawn south as North Vietnamese defenses became more advanced. F-100s proved superb in the support role, and were popular with their crews, though the nickname "Hun"--short for One Hundred--could also be attributed to its still-squirrely flying characteristics.
By the end of the Vietnam War, most F-100s were relegated to Air National Guard units (a number of F-100-equipped ANG units served in Vietnam), where they would finally be phased out in 1979. Denmark, France, Turkey, and Taiwan would also use F-100s, with the last leaving Danish service in 1982 in favor of the F-16. Many remain in museums, and a few are flyable.
The history of this F-100C, 54-1786, is a little obscure. It arrived with the USAF's 450th Tactical Fighter Wing at Foster AFB, Texas in 1955, but when Foster was closed in 1958, the history of the aircraft becomes a bit murky. It may have gone to the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing at Nellis AFB, Nevada, or to the 4510th Combat Crew Training Wing at Luke AFB, Arizona. By the mid-1960s, however, 54-1786 had been transferred to the 150th TFG (New Mexico ANG) at Kirtland AFB. Due to heavy losses in the F-100 community in Vietnam, ANG units provided aircraft and volunteers to deploy to South Vietnam; 54-1786 was one of the aircraft sent.
54-1786 survived its Vietnam trip, and upon return to the United States, would be reassigned to first the 116th TFG (Georgia ANG) at Dobbins AFB, and finally with the 138th TFG (Oklahoma ANG) at Tulsa. (It is not certain that 54-1786 served at Dobbins, though the museum lists the aircraft as being assigned to a Georgia-based unit; if so, my dad may have worked with this aircraft during his Reserve assignment at Dobbins.) It was retired in 1975 and eventually donated to the March Air Museum. At first put into fictitous markings of a bare metal F-100 assigned to Vietnam in 1965, it was later accurately repainted in SEA camouflage of the 150th TFG.
I didn't see a lot of F-100s this time around, but this was one of the better preserved Huns.
