F 100 SUPER SABRE
Built at the North American facility at Inglewood, California, 56-3141 was the second to last D-70 built. The 1st known assignment was with the 312th Tactical Fighter Wing, 386th Tactical Fighter Squadron based at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico. On February 18, 1959 the 312th TFW became the 522nd TFS, known as the “Fireballs”.
The first major deployment was likely to Hahn Air Force Base in Germany during the Berlin crisis of 1961 and in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the 522 TFS was forward deployed to Florida
Around the world
Between 1960 and 1964, the 522nd was known to have visited Chubley Bussiers AFB; Incirlik AB Turkey; Dhahran AB Saudi Arabia; Misawa AB Japan; Kunsan AB South Korea; Elmendorf AFB Alaska; and Udon Royal Thailand AFB Thailand. The 522nd deployed to Thailand two more times; the first time was Takhili RTAFB between December 12 1962 and February 15, 1963. The second time was between March 16, 1964 and May 6 1964. During these deployments the 522nd flew in support of forces engaging the Pathet Lao in northern Laos.
Deployed to Clark AFB
Between August 8, 1964 and November 25, 1965, the 522nd deployed to Clark AFB in the Philippines and subsequently to South Vietnam, and finally returned to New Mexico in December 1965.
In the summer of 1972 the 522nd handed over 56-3141 to the 127th TFS “Red Devils” of the Michigan Air National Guard based at Selfridge ANG base. The 127th TFS operated F 100’s until 1978 when they transitioned into A-7 Corsair II. 56-3141 was then placed into storage at Davis- Monthan AFB on March 15, 1979 and received inventory code FE0478.
converted to QF-100
In the early 1980s 56-3141 was one of 209 F-100s converted to QF-100 drone configuration by Tracor Flight Systems Division and received drone code AD-291. On February 22, 1988, 56-3141 was over Holloman AFB when it was damaged after being hit by an AIM-120 fired at it by an F-15.The right side, horizontal stabilizer was blown off of the aircraft, but the pilot remotely flying the aircraft was able to land the damaged fighter at Northrop Field.
56-1341 resided in Marana, Arizona
In mid 1996, 56-1341 resided in Marana, Arizona, at the Evergreen Heritage Collection, and was to be combined with parts from another damaged F-100, to make one complete example; but this was never done.
The long journey of F-100D, 56-1341 finally came to an end when it was traded to the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California, and may be seen in its still damaged condition from its days as a target drone.
