Originally posted by Dinger:
Hallion's text (The Naval Air War in Korea, 1983) adds some details:
The Oriskany had just come into the Korean War on Nov. 2, 1952. The squadron was VF-781, the "Pacemakers", a reserve outfit, and the Oriskany was using the first F9F-5s in the theater (most of the others were -2s, the difference being mostly a bigger engine and a RR gunsight).
I have been doing some research on this event to get to the bottom of the story.
VF-781 only had six F9F-5 Panthers assigned to them. The balance of the Squadron was flying the F9F-2B. The major differences between the -2 and the -5 included increasing the length of the fuselage to accommodate the J-48 engine that made just over 7,000 lbs of thrust in afterburner. This is significantly higher than the 5,750 lbs of thrust powering the F9F-2 (J-42). With the greater power available, the -5 was about 40 mph faster than the -2 (up to about 585 mph at 5,000 ft). The vertical stabilizer was redesigned and notably taller. Other improvements were found in avionics, and the afore-mentioned radar ranging gunsight.
I have read Rowlands's account of the engagement, and it differs from what you have reported in the After Action Report.
Additionally, I have read John Bruning's work on the fight. Bruning interviewed both Middleton and Rowlands. Bruning's accessment credits Middleton and Williams with one kill each. Rowlands gets credit for one heavily damaged MiG, which by Rowlands's account was very badly shot up. Unfortunately, Rowlands was too busy dodging other MiGs to see if the
MiG went in or not. Hence, the damage claim only. Middleton remained in the area alone, flying circles above a Soviet pilot who had bailed out and landed in the Sea of Japan, about 80 miles south of Vladivostok. Finally, Middleton's fuel state required he head for the Oriskany. It is also reported that a slow moving contact was seen on radar
in the immediate area of the Soviet pilot. This is believed to be a Soviet search aircraft. However, it did not arrive until long after the Soviet pilot would have died from exposure.
Bruning concludes that the Soviets fired first, after Williams and Rowlands had avoided the first pass by the MiGs, and latched onto their tails. The second 4 MiG flight then executed a head-on pass with guns blazing. They missed. Williams then requested permission to return fire, and the battle was on. Rowlands apparently got into a Lufberry with several of the MiGs, after scoring with a long burst, which Rowlands last saw descending trailing heavy smoke. Williams shot another MiG to pieces, which was deemed to have crashed into the sea. About this time, Middleton arrived. He spotted Rowlands trying to shake off a MiG at
his six. Making a head-on pass, Middleton hit the MiG solidly and the pilot ejected. With that, the remaining MiGs retired. All three Americans returned to the Oriskany and landed safely. As you mentioned, Williams had taken some battle damage, which left him with trim control only of his rudder. He had taken two 23mm hits.
There's much more to the story, but I believe that we have managed to cover all of the important points.
My regards,
Widewing
