When MiGs first attacked our forces
in Korea they were largely, and secretly, flown by
experienced Russian pilots, and inflicted severe
casualties on our unsuspecting aircraft,
particularly our B29s. Gradually China built up their
own pilot capabilities, but American success in
air-to-air combat was much higher against them than
the Russians, who fought us about equally.
Although China had only 500
fighters of all kinds in July, 1951, within a year
they had built up to 1500 MiG
fighters, based in sanctuaries in Manchuria,
which UN pilots were forbidden to attack.

Enemy Air
Strength at war's end
By Soviet estimates, the Chinese
and North Korean "Unified Air Forces"
(OVA) had 892 aircraft actually available for air
combat: the PRC had 480, and the KPA 412, of which
total 635 were MiG-15 fighters. These were divided
up into seven aviation divisions.
Causes of the Korean Tragedy ... Failure of Leadership, Intelligence and Preparation
The Foundations of Freedom are the Courage of Ordinary People and Quality of our Arms
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