Originally Posted by
George Richardson
70 years ago today,Fighter Command received its first swept wing aircraft. Two Canadair Sabres, XD706 & XD720 landed at Linton on Ouse. 66sqn.took them on charge.
These were not even close to being the first two Sabre's the RAF received..!
In fact they were almost in the last batch of aircraft the RAF took on charge, being in a batch of ex-USAF aircraft, rather than the Canadair Sabre's delivered earlier. Most of the RAF Sabre's were in the XB serial range.
The first 3 x Sabre's taken on charge by the RAF flew into RAF North Luffenham on 10th October 1952 after being ferried across from Canada.