Originally posted by Boroda
Back in the 50s in the same waters Americans shot down several Soviet MiG-15s (based on Vladivostok) who didn't even come that close to CV group, outnumbered and with a strict order not to open fire. That was quite easy, but the times changed.
Got your facts a bit mixed up there chum.... The after action reports are available online.
This incident took place on November 18, 1952 when 7 MiG-15s sortied out of Vladivostok and headed straight to the USS Oriskany. The MiGs attacked two F9F-5 Panthers detailed to intercept and identify the incoming aircraft with a 35,000 foot altitude advantage. A third F9F joined the engagement later. 2 MiG-15s were confirmed destroyed, two others damaged. The Naval Reservists flying the Iron Works Panthers returned safely to their ship.
You can find Oriskany's Action report dated from 28 October thru 22 November
here. You can read the Air Group action report (CVG-102) for the same time period
here.Finally, you can read a detailed description of the incident based upon pilot interviews and reports
here. This is on one of my websites. I wrote the piece back in 1999 and placed a condensed version on the website in January of 2001.
For even greater detail, see the Summer/Fall 2001 Edition of Ghost Wings magazine, which includes an in-depth interview with one of the Pilots (Williams). I provided much of the background research and a portion of the photos.
There is also a transcript of the radio conversations between the F9F pilots and the Oriskany. I have a copy. I also have stills taken from the gun camera film from LTjg Rowlands' F9F.
Stan Stokes' painting of the engagement... F9F #106 was Royce Williams' fighter.
The facts are these:
7 MiG-15s flying at 50,000 feet arrived over two F9F-5 flying at 15,000 feet. They split into two sections and attacked, firing on the F9F's. The two Panthers turned into the attack, reversed on the MiGs and shot down 1 and damaged two others (initially credited as one damaged, later review of films showed two different MiGs hit, thus the one was later changed to two).
Meanwhile a third F9F arrived and LTjg John Middleton promptly shot down another MiG, which was observed to crash into the sea, but the pilot did manage to eject. Later, the Soviets conducted an extensive search for the two downed MiG pilots.
So Boroda, what documents do you have to back your propaganda? Any pilot interviews (post Soviet)? I suspect that all you have is what the Soviets stated. Their poor unsuspecting pilots were set upon by vicious horde of American Navy pirates flying without regard for international law...
My regards,
Widewing
