"There were more combat missions flown in Oak Meadow Park than in the Korean War, where it served," said Jim Sugai, former parks supervisor for the town of Los Gatos.

The plane served as play equipment for three decades after its installation in 1974. Both weather and junior pilots gradually wore down the surface of the aircraft, and it was fenced off in 2003. The Los Gatos Town Council voted in September to restore it. When that work is completed later this month, it will finally be ready for "missions" once again.

The price tag for the repairs is going to be about $10,000, with $5,000 defrayed by a donation from a local property owner. When the council voted on it, the cost was thought to be much higher--about $60,000. Still, council members said the cost was justified because of the plane's historical significance.

The plane is reportedly only one of two on loan from the U.S. Air Force for use as park equipment. It actually replaced a plane that had been at Oak Meadow for just a few years before. That one was removed after becoming worn.

The husband of 1970s Los Gatos Councilwoman Ruth Cannon was a retired Lockheed employee, according to J.D. Vanderlaan, who was a town parks commissioner at the time. Cannon's husband told the town about a storage yard in Arizona where old jets were kept. Through him, Lockheed helped transport the plane to Los Gatos.

"We refurbished all of Oak Meadow Park at the time I was on the commission through the tax override," Vanderlaan said. "We built all of the other parks with it, but we had money left over."

After the plane was there a while, the town realized that some children who played on it were crawling into the body and getting stuck.

"It was determined that concrete should be poured down in there," Vanderlaan said. "I heard the mayor speak to Rotary last week and he said the Air Force would probably be surprised to learn that the plane is full of concrete if they tried to pick it up."

After the council's recent vote, the town came in contact with resident Justin Betesfandiar, who does automotive body work. He began repairing the plane last month.

"We're cleaning up all the burrs and torn metal, the little rivets and screws that have come loose, and sanding it down," said Parks and Public Works Director John Curtis.

In addition, some broken and missing parts of the surface are being replaced, and several layers of epoxy and fiberglass cloth are being applied. The new surfacing will allow the plane to remain cool even when in direct sunlight. Previously, the plane would get hot as a result of sitting out in the sun.

Sugai said he is pleased that the council chose to restore the aircraft. Along with a fire engine that was also restored recently, the plane provides a different play experience than traditional slides and swings.

"I'm glad it's not going to be destroyed or eliminated," he said. "I think it's one of the biggest attractions in that park. The conventional playground equipment is fine, but the fire engine and the plane are unique attractions."

Curtis said that, weather permitting, repair work should be completed by the end of May and the fences subsequently removed.

After that, enemy aircraft had better watch out--there are plenty of little Los Gatos pilots ready for action.