North American F-100D Super Sabre Diecast Model USAF 31st TFW, 474th FS, #55-3731, Joe Engle, George AFB, CA, August 1958, Signature Edition. 1/72 scale die cast by Hobby Master. Joseph Henry “Joe” Engle was born in 1932 in Abilene, Kansas. In 1958 he earned his pilot wings and was assigned to the 474th Fighter Day Squadron located at George AFB flying the North American F-100 Super Sabre. He became a USAF Test Pilot, test flew the X-15 rocket airplane, at 32 he was the youngest man to become an astronaut. In November 1981 he commanded the Shuttle Columbia and retired a Major General in 1986 having spent 224 hours in space. He has flown more than 180 different aircraft types and logged nearly 14,000 flight hours. The "D" variant was the ultimate version of the F-100 with 1,274 aircraft being
produced. The production of the F-100 ended in August 1959. The F-100D arrived in
Southeast Asia in 1962 with its primary mission being close air support and ground attack within South Vietnam. This role was eventually taken over by the A-7 Corsair II. The aircraft became affectionately known as “The Hun”, short for “one HUNdred”. The last F-100 left Vietnam in July 1971 but not before 242 of these aircraft was lost. The “Hun” was eventually replaced by the F-4 Phantom II and the F-105 Thunderchief.