Chandler moving iconic Korean War-era plane to Veterans Oasis Park
Oct 12, 2021, 4:00 PM | Updated: Oct 13, 2021, 7:31 am
(City of Chandler photo)
(City of Chandler photo)
PH0ENIX — The city of Chandler announced Monday it would move the Korean War-era plane landmark currently located at Delaware Street and Chandler Boulevard to Veterans Oasis Park.
The F-86d Sabre Dog, on loan from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, will move to the park as part of the new Field of Honor veterans memorial, according to a press release.
A rendering of the memorial, which shows the plane’s new home, is available online. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the memorial is set for Nov. 11.
The plane has bounced around a bit since being put on display in 1961, with its first home being at Dr. A.J. Chandler Park, according to the release.
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It was then moved to the current location during a renovation of the park in the 1980s.
The site holds historical significance as airmen stationed at the nearby Williams Air Force Base would visit the city and wait on the southeast corner of Chandler Boulevard and Delaware Street for a ride back to the base.
Williams Air Force Base was located east of the city and active from 1941 until 1993, with the plane serving as an indication of the strong relationship between Chandler and the Air Force Base.
The F-86d Sabre Dog aircraft set several records reaching speeds that topped out at over 715 mph, according to the release, and was in service from 1951 through 1961.
Housing a targeted radar system in the nosecone, the planes were a defensive aircraft and often used against MiGs, according to the release.
The aircraft was only armed with 24 air-to-air rockets, fired from a retractable tray from the bottom of the fuselage.
Field of Honor at Veterans Oasis Park will recognize the southeast Valley’s past, present and future veterans, according to the official website, and feature six unique memorial themes.
