Answer Man: What's the history of old fighter jet at airport?

What's the history of the Korean War-era jet fighter at the Downtown Airport on East Division Street?  — Gary Howard, Springfield

It is an F84F Thunderstreak, a jet fighter that could be modified to carry bombs — including a nuclear bomb. It was built by Republic Aviation in Farmingdale, N.Y.

This particular plane never flew in Korea, although other F84Fs did. It was delivered to the United States Air Force in December 1954. The Korean War had ended in July 1953.

In 1961 it was assigned to U.S. forces in France for air support during the Berlin Crisis — June 4 to Nov. 9 of that year. This was a conflict mainly between Russia and the United States over the occupation of Berlin, Germany's capital city.

In 1964, the plane was in the possession of the Indiana National Guard.

It was moved to Central Missouri State, in Warrensburg, in December 1971. It became part of the school's aircraft maintenance training program at the nearby Skyhaven Airport.

After 35 years there, the plane had limited use in the aviation maintenance program and had deteriorated badly, says Dennis Lamkins, one of many volunteers at the Air and Military Museum of the Ozarks, at 2305 E. Kearney St.  The plane was given to the museum, which wanted to move it to Springfield and restore it.

I am indebted to the museum for the information in this story.

The jet is owned by the Missouri National Guard and is on indefinite loan to the museum.

Museum volunteers  — led by Raymond Hopper — in 2006 dismantled the plane and took it to its current spot at the privately owned airport, 2546 E. Division St.

The volunteer team included aviation mechanics as well as owners of big rigs and hoists. The plane weighs about 14,000 pounds.

The volunteers reassembled it and spruced it up. They finished the job in the fall of 2008.

If you want the feel of sitting in the plane, Gary, the museum has a similar plane on display, says Lamkins. It is a T-33 jet trainer.

The museum is open from noon to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Keep those questions coming. Send them to The Answer Man at 836-1253, spokin@gannett.com, on Twitter @stevepokinNL or by mail at 651 N. Boonville, Springfield, MO 65806.