The Massachusetts Air National Guard's 102nd Intelligence Wing dedicated an F-86H static display in honor of Apollo 9 astronaut Capt. Russell "Rusty" L. Schweickart and crew chief Chief Master Sgt. Bernard Suszinski in a ceremony held on Otis Air National Guard Base on June 8, 2019.
Speaking at the event was 102nd Intelligence Wing Commander Col. Virginia I. Gaglio, Commander of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, Brig. Gen. James M. LeFavor and Capt. Russell "Rusty" L. Schweickart.
Schweickart flew the F-86H Sabre during the early 1960’s while assigned to the Massachusetts Air National Guard's 101st Tactical Fighter Squadron.
During Schweickart’s tenure, the 101st TFS deployed to Phalsbourg, France to provide close air support to NATO ground forces and performed air interdiction during the Berlin Wall Crisis in 1961. In all, the 102nd Tactical Fighter Wing deployed 82 Sabres for the operation. More