F-100D Super Sabre

Ed Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet no. 6025.
The refurbished and rededicate F-100D ceremony at Bonsall Park on Thursday,
December 15, was a proud event and an emotional one for many.

Bonsall Park is located at 59th Avenue and Bethany Home Road. It is split into two parts by Bethany Home Road. The south side of the park has an urban lake with duck and the north side has the F-100D Super Sabre Air Force Jet that served at Luke Air Force Base in 1962-1969. The jet was used to train young pilots. In 1973, the jet was installed at Bonsall Park. The jet was retired from used by United States Air Force and placed into the National Museum of United States Air Force Static Display Program in 1971. Visitors to the park and passers by might not realized that this plane had a pilot, retired Lt. Col Warren H. Rice, who has over 200 missions with the F-100D during the Vietnam War. Thursday's rededication ceremony presented the F-100D or the "Hun" as it was nicknamed, in it newly painted exterior and new identification numbers. This year marks the 40th anniversary of this jets display status. This plane was removed from service in 1971. Not only had Rice flown this type of fighter aircraft, but he had flown some hours in THIS very plane!

The plane new paint and numbers took more than 30 days to complete and involved removing the old paint and finish and giving the jet a new high-tech paint application and updated identification.

A special group of volunteers have helped considerably with the restoration project. Lt. Col. Marc "Dutch" Matthews, Arizona Air National Guard, and Lt. Col. and Mrs. David J. Kempson researched the flight history and background of the plane and are helping with fundraising efforts. A fund has been created to support the annual maintenance of the fighter plane to preserve and maintain it for future generation to enjoy and appreciate. Donations are being accepted, call Michelle Yates at 623-930-2044 or myates@glendaleaz. com for more information. There are wonderful commemorative pins available too! see the city site at : http://www.glendaleaz.com/parksandrecreation/BonsallJet.cfm

Councilmember Lieberman stated, "We, the council, those people behind me, the mayor, the rest of the council and the city of Glendale are 101% behind Luke Air Force Base..." Too many, this F-100D Super Saber is a symbol of freedom. Thanks to a $5000 city -funded contribution from Glendale City Councilmember Phil Lieberman and some dedicated volunteers, the F-100D Super Sabre has been refurbished and rededicated to the military veterans of Arizona who have served our country.

Jet Maintenance Funding

Help support the upkeep and maintenance of this important
military icon. A special fund has
been established dedicated to preserve and maintain the jet for
future generations to enjoy

To make a donation, please contact Michelle Yates at 623-930-2044 or email myates@glendaleaz.com.

Get Your Commemorative
2011 Rededication Pin!

For a donation of $5 or more,
you can receive this pin featuring
the F-100D Super Sabre LA-54 281

commemorative pin

Highlights of the F-100 Super Sabre

The F-100 officially entered USAF service on September 27, 1954, with 479th Fighter Wing at George Air Force Base, California
On September 4, 1955, an F-100 won the Bendix Trophy, covering 2,235 miles at an average speed of 610.726 mph.
The first F-100D flew on January 24, 1956, piloted by Daniel Darnell.
On December 26, 1956, two F-100Ds became the first-ever aircraft to successfully perform buddy refueling.
On May 13, 1957, three F-100’s set a new world distance record for single-engine aircraft by covering the 6,710 mile distance from London to Los Angeles in 14 hours and 4 minutes. The flight was accomplished using in-flight refueling.
On August 7, 1959, two F-100Fs became the first-ever jet fighters to fly over the North Pole.
In Foreign Service, Royal Danish Air Force and Turkish Air Force F-100s soldiered on until 1982.

The jet at Bonsall Park was manufactured by North American Aviation in Inglewood, California, and delivered to the USAF August 1956. Its history is as follows:

The jet was installed at Bonsall Park in 1973. In 1971 it had been removed from active use by the Air Force and placed into the National Museum of the United States Air Force Static Display Program. In 2011 it received a complete facelift that involved removing the old paint and finish and applying a new high-tech paint and updated identification.

Bette Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet no. 7765.

F-100D pilot Retired Lt. Col. Warren H. Rice, from Prescott, AZ, and Glendale City Councilmember Phil Lieberman.

Ed Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet

Lt. Col. Marc "Dutch" Matthews, Lt. Col. Dave Kempson, Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs, and Councilmember Phil Lieberman.

Glendale Councilmember Phil Lieberman and Karen Hesser, Deputy Director, Parks,
Recreation and Library Services examine the plaque at the base of the F-100D

Glendale Councilmember Phil Lieberman interviews Retired Lt. Col Warren H. Rice for Glendale Daily Planet KKAT-IPTV West Metro Valley of the Sun Independent Journalism Cooperative.

Phil was selected to conduct this interview due to his knowledge and love of early aircraft.

Bette Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet no. 7553.

Steve Frate, Glendale Vice Mayor, Dave Kempson, Lieutenant Colonel in the Arizona Air National Guard where he has continuously served the 161st Medical Group since 1988; Colonel Kyle Kobashigawa, 161st Mission Support Group Commander; Councilmember Phil Lieberman, Colonel John Rummel, Flight Surgeon with the Arizona National Guard; Colonel Doug Miller, Commander, 56th Operations, Luke Air Force Base, Arizona.

Bette Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet no. 7556.

Front row: Steve Frate, Glendale Vice Mayor and Karen Hesser, Deputy Director, Parks, Recreation & Library Services, Lieutenant Colonel, Dave Kempson, in the Arizona Air National Guard where he has continuously served the 161st Medical Group since 1988; Colonel Kyle Kobashigawa, 161st Mission Support Group Commander; and Glendale Councilmember Phil Lieberman is holding the paper.

Ed Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet
Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs and F-100D Rt. Lt Col. Pilot Warren H. Rice discuss Luke AFB

Bette Sharpe/Glendale Daily Planet. no 7739

Pilot Rice stands at ease while in front of the news cameras.

Bette Sharpe/ Glendale Daily Planet no. 7538.

The jet that has the nickname the "Hun" is surrounded by red, white and blue.

Lt. Col. Marc "Dutch" Matthews and Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs Look up at the f-100D. Quickly after today's dedication Lt. Col. Matthews returned to the OR and was in scrubs due to the time constraint. Lt. Col. Matthews was one of the two men who were the inspiration behind the restoration. Lieutenant Colonel, Dave Kempson was the other person who felt the passion and had the inspiration as well.