The Foundation of Freedom is the Courage of Ordinary People
History On Line
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MiG
Killers
USAF pilots shot down about 400 MiGs
during the Korean War. The MiG altitude advantage,
50,000 feet against 42,000, and faster climb rate were
offset by the Sabre's greater maneuverability and
faster dive rate. Both had max speeds in level flight
of about 660 MPH. MiG armament was two 23mm and one 37mm cannon,
against the Sabre's six .50 caliber machine guns
and more accurate and reliable gunsight. The principal
MiG advantage was that it could usually choose the
times of battle, and the Sabre's advantage was that
our pilots were usually a lot better.

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4th Fighter Interceptor Group -
the MiG Killers. Major James Jabara, left, the
world's first jet ace, shakes hands with
Captain Manuel "Pete" Fernandez minutes
after the Captain destroyed two MiGs over
MiG Alley. Jabara ended the war with
the second highest kill claim record of 15, and
Fernandez was right behind with 14.5.
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The leading jet ace of the Korean
Conflict was Capt. Joseph McConnell, Jr. who
scored his first victory on January 14, 1953.
In a little more than a month, he
gained his 5th MiG-15 victory, thereby becoming
an ace.
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On the morning of May 18, 1953,
McConnell shot down two MiGs in a furious air
battle and became a "triple ace." On
another mission that afternoon, he shot down his
16th and last MiG-15.
A little more than a year later,
August 25, 1954, while testing an F-86H at
Edwards AFB, California, Capt. McConnell crashed
to his death.
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The MiG had the altitude
advantage, 50,000 feet against 42,000. Both had
max speeds in level flight of about 660 MPH. The
MiG could climb faster while the Sabre was more
maneuverable and could dive faster. The MiG's
altitude advantage negated its poorer dive
characteristic and allowed it to choose the time
of combat, often a killing edge. As the MiGs
could always break off and head for sanctuary in
Manchuria, even when defeated they could escape
to fight another day.
MiG armament was two 23mm and one
37mm cannon, against the Sabre's six .50
caliber machine guns, and the Sabre had a more
accurate and reliable gunsight.
Maintenance of the Sabre was
always a serious problem.
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Death in the night . Credit for
the first jet night kill went to this Marine
flying team, Major William Stratton, Jr.
(pointing) and Sergeant Hans Hoglind. Flying a
Douglas "Skylight" they shot down a
YAK-15.
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YAK-15
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F-86 |
During the war the USAF pilots
claimed over 800 enemy planes. Postwar research
revised that figure downward to 379, closely
matching the admitted Russian losses of 345. The
Air Force has not disclosed, perhaps does not
fully know, which pilot claims to revise, so the
contemporary numbers stand although known to be
generally more than twice as high as can be
documented.
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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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