Crucial and tragic "dog fighting" History between F-86 vs MIG-15
during Koreai
Ifound this book provided the overview of detailed history of combat hisyory
oflong term period,1950-1953, during Korean WAR: US first swept wing fighter,F-86
vs Soviet first swept wing fighter,MIG-15 !
This is a Review on this book from Korean Military Aviation Reasearcher,Young Ki Moon.
I like emphasize as following:
Soviet MIG-15 pilot, Col. Orlov dicclosed episode his shooting down a F-86E with
small damage which sent to Moskow for it's resyoration for Anamy,power of F-86E
including western Technology.on oct,i951(quoted from "Red Wings over the Yalu" by Xiaming Zhang(2002)
US desparately wanted MIG-15 same as Sovit wanted !
In Sept,1953, immediately after Armistice,a North Korean, Senoor Lt.Kum Suk No fled to
Souyh Korea with his a MIG-15 bis, improved version.immediate all tests of this was performed
by Capt. Collins and Maj. Check Yeager AT Okinawa Air Base.
Compairing Power of MIG-15 vs F-86 :
MIG-15 ; slightly faster speed,fly higher, faster rate of climbing, better maneuberbility
including better tightcircle,heavier armament(1-37mm cannon, 2-23mm cannon) aiming
destruction of heavy, strategic B-29 bombers. Soviet air ace, Yevgeni Pepelyaev
pointed weak destructive power of routie american figher's 6-browning 12.7mm machine guns.
it's unstablemaeuverbility at lower level resulted to engine failere !(early MIG-15 had
mechanical problems of elevaodrs)
MIG-15bis : improved version of original MIG-15. increased jet trust powerd engine.with new designed wing.
faster,shdrter range of take off.
F-86A : faster dive speed. good maneuverbility at liw altitude. armament does not mach to MIG-15.
F-86E ; manuverbility and saftyness increased after "All flyihg tail".
F-86F; improved engine power,increased speed, high flying increased maneuverbility.
Become superior fighter than MIG-15bis in evry aspect !!
killing Ratio between F-86 vs MIG-15 :
Killing Ratio is very difficult matters according to diffreent reporters and country.
somedne said different rate ranging from 50%~100% !!
US side: 18;i->10:1, corrected after war favoured to F-86.
anoteher repotre--MIG-15 vs F-86 killing Ratio 3.5:1 if F-80 and F-84 included !:1.
in B-29, Total 34 losted in combat( 16 to fighter, 4 to AAA, 14 to other causes.
B-29 gunners had credited destroying 27 fighters including 16 MIG-15.(quoted from
B-29 SUPERFORTRESS UNITS OF THE KOREAN WAR.2003)
Soviet side :F-86vs MIG-15-2.2:1,.(1952), 1.9:1(1953).Soviet favour.
on the basis of kills attributable to individual pilots,after all cinfirmation,
total shot down-1025.( B-29 66,B-26 7,RB-45 2, RB-50 1, F-47 2 F-51 28,F-80 123,
F-84 181,F-86 574, F-94 11, F4U 1, F6F 3, Metere F.8 26) during this period,
their MIG-15 loss were 307.(quoted from "Soviet Mig-15 Aces of the Korean War,2008);:
Chinese side: lost 224 MIG-15 vs F-86 211. but overall air-to -air kills 1:1.42 in Chinese favour !