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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.