When was the sound barrier broken

In the last week there has been some buzz on the internet that in fact an F-86 flown by George Welch broke the sound barrier before Yeager did. This bit of news says that Welch did indeed break the sound barrier in a dive with the new F-86. Welch claims he aimed his dive right at the “Happy Bottom Riding Club” owned by Pancho Barnes. People there say they did hear a sonic boom.
This claim seem plausable since it is well know that unlike the Mig 15 the Sabre could go supersonic in a dive.

What do member here know about this claim?