North American F-86A Sabre 116th F.I.S, 81st F.I.W, USAF Shepherds Grove, Suffolk, England, August 1951 1:72 Scale - AA35802 Soon after the end of World War 2, the USAAF(as it was until 1947) vacated the U.K. en masse and it was not until August 1951 that tactical elements of the USAF returned to the U.K. in the form of the 81st Fighter Interceptor Wing. On 27th of that month, F-86A-5 Sabres of the 116th Fighter Interceptor Squadron took up residence at Shepherds Grove in Suffolk, being the first aircraft of this type to be based in Europe. The other two squadrons forming the 81st FIW were the 91st and 92nd F.I.Squadrons.The 81st FIW was re-named the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing and later moved to nearby bases at Bentwaters and Woodbridge. |
