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I look forward to reading that when it becomes
available. I hope it's also a good source of MiG Korean era camo/markings
illustrations; and for anyone to answer, what might be other good sources on
that? Aerofax "MiG-15" good overall but skimpy on that.
I was re-reading recently "Sabre Jets Over Korea"
by Douglas Evans, first person narrative by 2 victory 4th
Figther Wing pilot in late 51/early 52. Written before Russian
accounts were known in the West, but lots of detail about events and
combats that seem true to the historical record where checkable.
So now some of the small details might add to our knowledge
combined with Russian sources.
For example on 2/10/52 when the American ace George
Davis was shot down, the formation believed to have made the kill
flashed by sporting thin red-white-red stripes around the nose, I understand
Davis' loss could be matched with either Russian or Chinese
claims. 1/6/52 Evans barely escaped black nosed
MiG's; 11/2/51 the opponents had red tails; exceptions he noted
to red noses.
One of his victories is also interesting
compared to Russian records. 10/26/51 he and his wingman Claude
Mitson were credited the only victories of the day in an isolated low
altitude combat. Evans' got guncamera film of an ejection (that the
group cheered at film review next night) and Mitson
confirmed Evan's sighting of the parachute; Mitson's target dove steeply
into a low undercast. The Russian record as I understand (Cull "With the Yanks",
Polak "Stalins' Falcons") is Shebanov (their first jet ace)
disappeared into clouds after attack by an F-80, wreckage found by the
Chinese (with him in it, seemed implied). Given the lack of embellishment
elsewhere in the book I tend to believe Evan's account of the film making
it hard to square unless Evans and Mitson engaged Chinese MiGs and Shebanov was
lost elsewhere to an uncredited claimant, or another Russians was also shot
down, or other Russian accounts point to Shebanov
dying despite bailing out.
Joe
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