Book Review: F-86 Sabre Aces of the 4th Fighter Wing

Warren Thompson
F-86 Sabre Aces of the 4th Fighter Wing
Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2006
Category: U.S. Air Force - History

Rating: 4-Stars


Thompson's book stands as an introduction to the F-86 Sabre, and to air combat during the Korean War.  Although nowhere as complete as the works by Futrell or Werrell on this subject, Thompson's book includes a fair cross-section of the history, pilot accounts, and photographs from the era.  This is further supplemented with color profiles of the various aircraft and squadrons that participated in the campaign.

For over a year, the 4th Fighter Wing would be the only Sabre wing to be stationed in Korea.  The ability of the Sabre and its air crews to maintain air superiority over the skies of Korea was a crucial element, both in protecting U.S. and allied ground forces from air attack, and in providing cover for allied strike aircraft to support the ground war.

Taken together, F-86 Sabre Aces is a good first introduction into what was one of the most hard-fought wars in U.S. history.