Hobby Master 1/72 HA4319 West German Sabre MK6 JA344 Richthofen
West Germany's first operational jet fighter unit JG 71 was formed in June 1959 equipped with 50 Canadair Sabre Mk.6s.
Canadair Sabre Mk. 6 JG+344 MSN 1757 from JG 71, 2 Staffel was lost on a training flight August 7, 1963 JG+344, piloted by Feldwebel Eckhard Wendt who was lost when it crashed on a target range at Aurich-Brockzetel. The pilot as well as 5 people on the ground were killed. In 1963 the unit moved to Wittmundhafen AB and re-equipped with the F-104, an aircraft Erich Hartmann disliked.
The North American F-86 Sabre was manufactured from 1949 – 1956 and was America’s first swept-wing fighter. As well as being built in the U.S. variants were built in Canada and Australia bringing the total of all variants manufactured to 9,860 units. During the Korean War the Sabre arrived to take on the other swept-wing aircraft of the conflict, the MiG-15 Fagot. The Americans claim they shot down 792 MiGs while only losing 78 Sabres, a 10:1 victory ratio which is greatly disputed.