Latest Acquisition- Sabre Jet Fighter

The Memorial is pleased to announce that it has purchased an Australian- built Sabre which will join the Memorial‟s historical collection. The jet fighter is a significant addition to the Memorial‟s holdings on the Malayan Emergency (1950- 60) and Confrontation with Indonesia (1963- 66). As John White, Senior Curator at the Memorial, says “the aircraft fills a major gap in our collection and will allow us to tell the story of RAAF operations during this period.”

The Sabre jet fighter was originally designed and built in the USA as the F-86, and saw operational service during the Korean War. In the early 1950s the Sabre was selected for production in Australia, and 112 examples were made by the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation in Victoria. The local version featured many improvements, including a more powerful Rolls Royce engine and cannon armament. The Sabre was retired from RAAF service in the 1970s and relatively few remain in existence today.

The Memorial‟s Sabre, A94- 954, served with 78 Wing RAAF and was based at Butterworth in Malaysia during the period 1957- 68. The Wing participated in the closing stages of the Malayan Emergency, and later carried out patrol and interception duties during „Confrontation‟ with Indonesia. During its time at Butterworth A94- 954 was flown by 3 and 77 Squadron RAAF and it was also operated by 79 Squadron RAAF at Ubon in Thailand during the mid- 1960s.

Work to acquire the aircraft began in 2010, after news was received that that A94- 954 was being offered for sale by RR Aviation at Wakefield in New Zealand. It had been inspected by Memorial staff in 2009 and its lengthy service in Malaysia was confirmed by records and information provided by RAAF veterans. It was an excellent candidate for preservation. Negotiations to purchase the aircraft and a useful group of spare parts were completed in June 2011 and it arrived in Canberra in July.

The Sabre will be temporarily assembled for the Memorial‟s showcase event, the „Big Things in Store‟ open day. Rebecca Britt, Head of Military Heraldry and Technology, says “this is a once- ayear opportunity to view our wonderful collection in storage including this new addition to the Qantas aircraft collection.” Please join us at the Memorial‟s Treloar Technology Centre located at Callan St, Mitchell on Sunday 18 September 2011. 1. For further information please visit: http://www.awm.gov.au/events/bigthings.asp