F-100 Super Sabre at War

In the late 1940s, North American Aviation was the preeminent manufacturer of military aircraft in the free world. It had produced a long line of stunningly successful aircraft, including the P-51 Mustang and its successor, the F-86 Sabre. Lee Atwood, president of North American at the time, decided the time was right for the next revolutionary step-a supersonic fighter aircraft. Advanced aerodynamic research captured from German aircraft companies in the waning days of World War II convinced him that a supersonic fighter was both attainable and necessary to stay at the forefront of military aviation. The F-100 Super Sabre was not only America's first supersonic fighter, but in fact was the first in the world, predating the Soviet Union's MiG-19 by five months. It would establish many firsts in its distinguished career, including numerous speed and altitude records in its heyday. This revolutionary aircraft would go on to find prominence as a potent fighter-bomber, shouldering yeoman's duty admirably in Vietnam, before being retired in the early 1970s.Gardner, Thomas E. is the author of 'F-100 Super Sabre at War ', published 2007 under ISBN 9780760328606 and ISBN 0760328609.