Though each had advantages over the other, in sum the Mig-15 and F-86 were as evenly matched as any two opponents in history. Unfortunately, the Korean War has been under covered, not only in history books but in miniatures gaming too. So it's been difficult to replay battles using two of the most famous and revolutionary aircraft in the history of dogfighting.
Recently I saw a press release here on the TMP by Dom Skelton reporting new releases in his line of 1/600 decals and stock of Tumbling Dice aircraft. I ordered some Sabres and Migs, and Dom was good enough to advise me on the correct decals. I was in business.
What follows is a narrative of a fictional engagement between two, two plane flights of Migs and Sabres during the Korean conflict. It's actually an after-action report of the first dogfight I played with my newly painted minis. I've included pics of the battle, so you can see the excellent quality of Dom's decals and Tumbling Dice aircraft. I used the "Mig Alley Ace" rules by David Schueler (an expansion mod he created for the Avalon Hill's "Mustangs"). The mapsheet is actually of North Korea, and complements of Google. I hope you enjoy it.
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Every day without fail the American B-29s and Navy fighter bombers would make raids across the North. These were normally escorted by F-86s from bases throughout South Korea. Much of the time the Americans flew these missions with impunity. Not today thought flight leader Captain Cho.
He leveled at about 49,000 feet, just about the maximum altitude of his Mig-15. His Wingman, Lieutenant Tran was just off his right wing following his every move perfectly. "That is good," thought Cho. They were flying due south over Pabal-gyo airbase, looking for a fight.
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Cho was considered one of the best pilots in the North Korean air force. He had already flown almost two dozen missions and had three kills, two P-80s, and a P-51. He had tangled with F-86 Sabres a number of times, but had been unable to get the advantage. They were much tougher adversaries than the P-80s or P-51s.
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Cho scanned the sky ahead and below. Just as they passed over Pabal-gyo airbase, he saw the telltale glint of sunlight off the canopy or shiny metal surface of an aircraft. He called it over his radio, "Lt. Tran, aircraft at eleven o'clock low."
Lieutenant Tran leaned forward in his seat straining, but could see nothing. This was Lt. Tran's fourth mission. Last mission, Tran had gotten his first kill, a P-80. The American had just shot down his flight leader, and the had gotten careless, following his victim for too long.
"There are two!" Shouted Cho over the radio. "Now crossing our twelve o'clock, heading southeast, low!" This time Tran saw the reflection. He heard Cho ask ground control if there were any friendly aircraft in the area. The answer came back, "No. Treat all sightings as hostile." They were in perfect position to bounce the Americans.
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"Alright," came Cho's voice over the radio. "We'll make a wide diving right turn onto their tails. Make a single high speed pass, and then climb away. We'll be going too fast for the enemy to respond. Stay in position. Do you understand?" "Yes Flight Leader," Tran responded. As the American aircraft passed to their two o'clock , the two Migs banked in unison and gently noses inched down.
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As they moved from the enemy's five o'clock to their six Tran could clearly see that they were swept wing Sabres. He heard they were good fighter-planes. Cho barked over the radio. "Tran. Remember, stay in formation! I'll make the attack. Stay with me and guard my six. Understand?" "Yes Flight Leader." Tran responded. "Throttle up!" Came Cho's order.
As they dove toward the Americans, Tran saw his airspeed indicator pass through 650 kts and increasing. The Americans flew casually, unaware they were coming. Tran knew what to expect and what he would do. Once Cho shot the enemy leader, the wingman would break right in front of him. It would be an easy kill. It was perfect, another couple of seconds and they would be in range.
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In an instant both Sabre's wings rolled vertical, and both they in opposite directions. Tran was momentarily surprised by the roll-rate and sudden turn of the Sabre, but he was more than confident in his Mig, and besides, he had the advantage of position. Tran broke right too, pulling his nose back hard to get inside the turning enemy wingmnan.
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As the enemy flight leader's plane broke outside of Cho's gunsight he uttered an expletive. "Dammit, they spotted us!" Cho knew that with its faster roll-rate and tighter turn, he could not stay on the Sabre's tail, and continued his power dive flashing through the American formation with a speed advantage of over 200 knts. In an instant he was far beyond enemy gun range. It was then looking back and forth over both shoulders he that he discovered that his wingman was nowhere to be seen. "Tran, where are you? Can you hear me? Tran do you read me? Where are you?
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Tran had never pulled so many "Gs." He was close to blacking out but still the F-86 slipped higher above his gunsight. In a few more moments his advantage would be lost, and the American would be on his tail. He saw that the tight maneuver had reduced his airspeed to 300 knots, and it was falling fast. He could now see the F-86 pulling inside of him, into his four o'clock. Tracers flashed past his canopy, and he felt and heard the sickening bang of fifty caliber machinegun bullets hitting the fuselage just behind him. In another instant the F-86 passed over him. "I'm hit! I'm hit! Flight Leader Cho, I have an American on my tail! Over Pabal-gyo airfield!"
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Cho heard the call on the radio. "That fool. Why didn't he stay in formation. He'll get us both killed." He banked his Mig to the right. It was then that he could see two tiny specs, slightly above and far to the north, moving east. He aimed the Mig's nose in that direction.
Tran rolled left. He was relieved. No warning lights had come on. His engine had not been hit. He was still flying. He kicked the left rudder to break into the Sabre, but the controls felt mushy. He looked back and saw the damage. There were a number of hits to his tail and stabilizer and a piece of the rudder actually seemed to be missing.
Tran realized that he was in trouble. He had let his enthusiasm get the best of him, and had made a foolish mistake. He was in a scissors with an enemy that enjoyed superior maneuverability, and his rudder was now damaged. He also wondered where the American's flight leader was. His thoughts turned to escape.
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Tran and the American Sabre scissored back and forth several times, but his turns were too slow, and the Sabre was again getting in behind him. This time as the Sabre crossed over him from the left, Tran broke left and took off. If he could put even a little distance between him and the Sabre, he could outrun and outclimb his pursuer. He looked back over his right shoulder and was relieved to see the American falling behind.
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He continued his left turn and pulled back on the stick. His altitude and speed started to pick up. He was going to make it. "Flight Leader, I am climbing through 35,000 ft heading northwest over the airfield. I'll…" the words stuck in Trans throat as his Mig was rocked with hits and tracers flickered past his canopy.
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Immediately warning lights and buzzers filled the cockpit and the plane's tail slipped hard to the right as the Mig rolled upside down. He looked over his shoulder. Most of the stabilizer and the entire rudder were gone, and there was black smoke trailing from the jet exhaust. Tran fought the controls but it was hopeless. He was in a spin with no stabilizer or rudder, and he was diving fast through 20,000 feet. He prepared to bail out.
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Flight Leader Cho could now see all three of the other aircraft, but he was still too far to make out who was who. He heard Tran's call that he was climbing to the northwest, and then saw the fifty caliber tracers. He saw sparks and then a trail of smoke from what he now guessed was Tran's aircraft. He watched spiral toward the earth picking up speed. Cho knew that he was now in trouble. He continued to climb through 40,000 feet. In another few seconds he'd be higher than the Sabre's ceiling. Then he could make a high speed run to the Yalu and safety. As he leveled off near 48,000 feet Cho mused that tomorrow, he would have to break in a new wingman.
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Hope you enjoyed it.
