F-100D Super Sabre

Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, 1956-1970

Myrtle Beach Air Force Base F-100D Super Sabre Activation

On 19 November 1956, after more than 10 years of inactive status, the 354th Fighter Group was reactivated at Myrtle Beach Air Force Base.

The first maintenance training aircraft was flown in on 7 December 1950 by the Fighter Day Wing Commander, Colonel Francis. S. Gabreski; the first operational F-1000 was flown in on 5 February 1957 by the Fighter Day Group Commander, Colonel James F. Hackler.

Myrtle Beach Air Force Base F-100D Super Sabre Deployments

Upon becoming operational in the F-100D, the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing (redesignated 1 July 1958) deployed units to the Middle East during the 1958 Lebanon emergency.

The Wing also took part in the Berlin Crisis (1961), the Cuban missile crisis (1962), and the Dominican Republic crisis (1965). During the same period, the 354th Tactical Fighter Wing maintained F-100 squadrons on rotational duty in Italy and Turkey supporting US commitments to NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization).

Southeast Asia Vietnam Deployment

In the late 1960s, with growing United States involvement in Southeast Asia, the 356th Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed to Misawa AFB, Japan, the 352nd Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed to the Phan Rang AB, Republic of South Vietnam; and the 355th Tactical Fighter Squadron deployed to the Phu Cat AB, Republic of South Vietnam.

Super Sabre Transfer to NATO and National Guard

The 353rd Tactical Fighter Squadron moved its operations to Torrejon AFB, Spain, to permanently pick up the Wing's NATO mission. On 10 April 1970, after 13 1/2 years in the Super Sabre, the F-100s reign with the 354th Tactical outer Wing ended. The last six F-100s were transferred to the South Dakota ANG (Air National Guard) at Sioux Falls as the Wing transitioned to the A-7D Corsair II.