BIRMINGHAM AL- A restoration of an F-86 Sabre Jet that
served as the mascot for Banks High School for over 30 years is now complete
and a new memorial wall is ready for dedication. This historic aircraft is one
of a very few "D" models in existence. It stood proudly on the top of
the local Banks High, serving as a beacon and the symbol for the academic and
athletic successes of so many of her alumni.
In 1961, the Alabama Air National Guard loaned Banks High School a U.S. Air Force F-86D "Sabre", a relic of the Korean War. Painted in school colors of Columbia Blue and Scarlet, the jet became the students pride and mascot. Perched atop and bolted to the roof of the high school building, the Banks Jet epitomized a winning spirit of an athletic program with consecutive 4A state football Championships.
A Banks 1962 graduate, Bucky Wood, would lead alumni efforts to rescue, preserve and restore the jet. After the schools closure in 2007, the state of Alabama agreed to turn over the iconic jet, still on loan from the USAF, to the Southern Museum of Flight. A combination of volunteers, Daniel Metals, Crane Works and the Museum, lead by Wood, yielded a plan to remove and relocate the jet to the Museum for restoration. In August 2007, after 46 years of Mascot duty, the jet descended via crane to a flat bed trailer and was on the road to a new life.
For the next five years, over 100 Southern Museum of Flight volunteers would work to restore the jet to original military condition. Wood's alumni group raised $22,000 to get the job started. An estimated $35,000 would complete the project. The results would be priceless.
Behind the Museum, in the restoration hangar, the "Banks Jet aka F-86" slowly transformed into a showroom new beauty. John Burgin led the restorers' team with Raymond Ross, Peter Torres, George Graham, Michael and Jillian Richardson, John Cook and Forrest Shaffer.
This event and ceremony will be on Saturday Nov 2nd from 10:00 until 2:00 at the Southern Museum of Flight. Lunch will be served. All Banks High graduates, teachers, administrators, coaches and friends are encouraged to attend. While no fee for attendance is necessary, contributions are welcomed. The Southern Museum of Flight is located in East Lake adjacent to the airport at 4343 73rd Street North, Birmingham AL 35206. -Staff report, See related Video