Evening star., 1951-01-28
By John Randolph
Associated Press War Correspondent

Korea, Jan. Z1.-Wnat is the
mystery of the MIG-15?
Why have American fighter
pilots shot down 14-and probably
26-of these Russian built jets
while losing only five planes of
their own since November 1?
Why won't the shy Red planes
eyer stray very far from their
Manchurian sanctuary" beyond
the Yalu River?
Who are the Red flyers North
Korean or Chinese Communists?
Or are they first string pilots from
the Russian air force-combat
testing the hottest plane they are
reputed to have?
Ever since the first MIG ap-
peared over Korea last December
the United States 5th Air Force
has been asking these questions.
Air Force Has Some Answers.
BY January 26, after more than
Al days Of MIG combat flying,
with nearly 100 air clashes, IA
confirmed MIG kills and at least
IL more 'probables" the Air Force
has some answers and more ques-
tions.
Lets admit 1.-THE MIG is all
right. It's damned fine air.
plane" said Capt. William w.
Slaughter of the 9th Fighter
Escort Wing. He shot down MIG
in a January % air battle while
flying an older model F-84 Thun-
derjet.
"The F-84 is all right. too"
Capt. Slaughter went on. But if
we were flying the MIG and they
were flying the F-84. I think it
would be murder"
Americans Better Pilots.
That seems to be the key to the
continued American air victories
"a pilot superiority that makes
up for all deficiencies of the older
planes and becomes a crushing
advantage with Americas latest
model jet, The F-86 Sabre.
The MIG is fast, probably
around TOO miles an hour. Some
times it is too fast for its own
good. Older and slower American
planes can outmaneuver it in
close-in fighting.
Pilots who have fought the MIG
call its rate of climb "astound-
ing" 1t has the fighter planes
usual nest of machine guns for
ward. Some models carry what
appears to be cannon of from
20 to 81 millimeters. Possibly they
are different guns undergoing
battle tests.
Not Bothered by Stains.
The MIG is not bothered as
much as some older American
planes by the terrible strains
caused by air compressibility near
the speed OF sound.
Some of the older American
models probably have enough
power to overhaul the MIG. But
they can't take the compressibility
beating. Yet they have beaten the
IRussian-made planes in battle.
The American flyers who have
been fighting the MICS are the
very cream of the Air Forces. BY
World War II standards almost
every one Of them could be a
squadron commander. Many have
been.
An outfit like that isn't just an
ether fighter wing-it's a circus"
of aces.
How do the MICS fight? Usual
ly they attack. Until recently
when extra big flights Of United
States planes have gone looking
for trouble. the attacks come out
of the sun while the Americans
were hitting ground targets.
MIG Alley
Usually the attacks come In
Mig Alley"-the strip of North
Korea between the sacrosanct
Yalu River barrier to Manchuria
and the Chongchon River to the
southeast.
After the battle there are often
one or two limping for home,
trailing smoke. Sometimes one of
them crashes and burns on the
ground.
The big MIG base is at Antung.
"a Manchurian town just across
the Yalu from Sinuiju in North
Korea. The American jets swing
over Sinuiju. spot the MICS
|scramhling for a takeoff across the
river and then have to wait until
the Russian built jets get their
altitude on the Chinese side and
cross over for fight.
Then, when the battle goes
against them, the MICS simply
slide back over the river, reform
in perfect safety, and then come
back for more.
The big question among the
pilots is: Who is doing the enemy