Four MiG-15s were downed on 18 November 1952 by Lt. Royce Williams of VF-781, flying off the carrier Oriskany during a series of air strikes against the North Korean port of Hoeryong, right across the mouth of the Yalu River from the major Soviet base at Vladivostok. Williams' victories were notable because all four were flown by Soviet Naval Aviation pilots.
Confirmed by the Soviets.
The one problem with William's claim is that he waited decades until the other two pilots involved were dead before he claimed all four. The Navy saw and still sees it a bit different.
Royce Williams: 1 Kill, one damaged (gun camera). Claims to have shot down 4 MiGs, 6 months after Rowlands' death.
David Rowlands: Initially, 1 damaged. Changed to 1 kill (Soviet confirmation years later). Williams has argued that Rowlands' guns had malfunctioned and he was unable to fire. However, the maintenance report for Rowlands' F9F states "242 rounds 20mm expended". Rowlands commented on the MiG he whacked, "I shot the sh≥t out him." The interview with Rowlands was done in early 1998. Rowlands died in early 2000.
John Middleton: 1 Kill (gun camera).
I've read the after action reports, read the interviews at the time and decades later. I provided material for the article where Williams announced that he had shot down all four MiGs. Naturally, this claim was made after Rowlands and Middleton were dead. My personal opinion of Royce went straight to the crapper.
So, I'll give Williams credit for two, but the other two belong to the other gentlemen. No revisionist nonsense can overcome facts. Still, the gullible will believe it, because there's no one left to dispute it. Except that is for folks like me and John Bruning.
