A US-Soviet Dogfight Unknown for 50 years

[akh]

https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/20/asia/korean-war-fighter-pilot-soviet-shootdown-intl-hnk-ml/index.html

An incredible story of a Korean War dogfight. Shot down 4 Mig-15's with a F9F Panther and then had to bury the story for 50 years to avoid inflaming the Cold War. Congratulations Mr. Williams. At 97, I'm so glad the Navy is honoring your exploits in a manner that befits what you did.

[goner]

Thank you for posting the story.

[Sea Fury]

The main distinction being that these were actually Soviet-flagged aircraft. But we were already regularly shooting down Soviet pilots (and they were shooting down our aircraft as well) for almost 2 years by then.

In point of fact the majority of "North Korean" and "Chinese" MiGs that we fought in the middle part of the Korean War had Soviet Air Force pilots, since there hadn't been time to train the required numbers of North Korean and Chinese pilots by the time the Soviet-furnished MiG-15s were pressed into battle. But since they were nominally North Korean- and Chinese-owned aircraft in those respective markings, not much was said. It was long suspected that many MiGs were flown by Soviet "honchos" but it came out many years later that in fact MOST of them were.

[PaddockMoose]

This is still an awesome story