Retired F-86E Sabre (serial# 1728) of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) acting as gate guard for Jinnah Hall on Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam (The Mall), Lahore, photographed during a dust storm on May 25, 2011. Construction number of this Sabre is also 1728.
Actually it's a Canadian-built Canadair CL-13B Sabre Mk 6 which was designated as F-86E Sabre in PAF. Canadair CL-13B Sabre Mk 6 in PAF inventory were ex-Luftwaffe (German Air Force) aircraft acquired through Iran after 1965 Indo-Pak war.
This particular Sabre sported serial number JB-231 during its service with Luftwaffe.
Photographed on Pakistan Defence Day (September 6, 2012). Looks like someone has painted No. 11 Squadron "Arrows" emblem on vertical stabilizer. But according to PAF history books, "Arrows" was never equipped with F-86E Sabre. Addition of prefix "55" in serial number "55-1728" on rear section is also wrong. Should have been "1728" on rear section and "728" on front section of fuselage. And, in place of complete Pakistan flag on vertical stabilizer there should have been white star & crescent on green square aligned with top line of vertical stabilizer. PAF aircraft began sporting complete Pakistan flag on vertical stabilizer in 1997.
In today's City42 newspaper, found an article about this F-86E Sabre.
According to the article, Pakistan Air Force (PAF) gifted this Sabre to Lahore Metropolitan Corporation in May 1982. The aircraft in dismantled condition arrived in Lahore in a container from Karachi (probably from PAF Base Masroor in Karachi).
It was unveiled as Jinnah Hall gate guardian on July 28, 1983.
Retired F-86E Sabre (serial# 1728) of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) acting as gate guard for Jinnah Hall on Shahrah-e-Quaid-e-Azam (The Mall), Lahore, decorated to celebrate August 14 - Pakistan Independence Day anniversary.
