Shedding old skin

The paint on an F-86L Sabre is sanded off for primer to be applied during the refurbishment of the historic aircraft at the 23d Equipment Maintenance Squadron, fabrication flight hangar at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., June 6, 2012. With the help of several city and base agencies, the plane was relocated from downtown Valdosta to be restored and re-commemorated to the late U.S. Air Force Maj. Lyn McIntosh and the Flying Tigers heritage. McIntosh was born in Valdosta on October 11, 1946, and enlisted in the Air Force in 1969. He died April 25, 1980, during Operation Eagle Claw on a mission to rescue 52 Americans held captive in Iran. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Eileen Meier/Released)

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The sanding man

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jordan Keller, 23d Equipment Maintenance Squadron, uses a sander to remove paint from an F-86L Sabre being restored and displayed at the President George W. Bush Air Park at Moody Field at the fabrication flight hangar at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. June 6, 2012. The historic aircraft was relocated from downtown Valdosta April 25 and has taken 550 man hours and $6,000 in material costs to refurbish. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Eileen Meier/Released)

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Nighttime towing

A newly refurbished F-86L Sabre is towed to its final destination at the President George W. Bush Air Park at Moody Field in the early morning of June 12, 2012, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The historic aircraft originally sat in downtown Valdosta but is now back in the hands of the U.S. Air Force to be displayed with other aircraft that have flown at Moody. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Eileen Meier/Released)

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Hard at work

Moody Airmen work quickly to position a newly refurbished F-86L Sabre onto its display at the President George W. Bush Air Park at Moody Field in the early morning of June 12, 2012, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The historic aircraft arrived on a flat-bed truck April 25 from downtown Valdosta where it was known as a famous landmark that commemorated the late U.S. Air Force Maj. Lyn McIntosh and the heritage of the Flying Tigers. A re-dedication ceremony will be held with the McIntosh family present, forever placing the aircraft with other pieces of history at the air park. McIntosh, a Valdosta native, was one of five Airmen who died April 25, 1980, during Operation Eagle Claw, a mission ordered by President Jimmy Carter to rescue 52 Americans held captive in Iran. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Eileen Meier/Released)

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No crane; just Airmen

Moody Airmen work together to push an F-86L Sabre into position at the President George W. Bush Air Park at Moody Field June 12, 2012, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The F-86 was brought to the base April 25 and has since undergone extensive restoration to preserve a piece of U.S. Air Force history. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Eileen Meier/Released)

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Crash recovery to the rescue

Moody Airmen work together to lift an F-86L Sabre to be mounted to the ground with rubber inflation mattresses at the President George W. Bush Air Park at Moody Field June 12, 2012, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The historic aircraft was brought to the base April 25 by several community and base agencies that helped make the relocation a success. The F-86 has undergone extensive restoration and now resides at the air park. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Eileen Meier/Released)

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Lifting the aircraft

Members of the 23d Equipment Maintenance Squadron and the 23d Civil Engineer Squadron work together to lift an F-86L Sabre to be mounted at the President George W. Bush Air Park at Moody Field June 12, 2012, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The F-86 was moved from downtown Valdosta, Ga., where it was known as a historic landmark, refurbished by Moody Airmen and displayed with other historic aircraft that have flown at Moody. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Eileen Meier/Released)

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Historic aircraft returns home to Moody

Published June 14, 2012

Shedding old skin

The sanding man

Nighttime towing

Hard at work

No crane; just Airmen

Crash recovery to the rescue

Lifting the aircraft