History
The MiG-15 jet fighter was used in large numbers by the DPRKAF. The first air-to-air combat between UN fighters and MiG-15s occurred on November 1, 1950. The MiG-15 fighter units developed into a major threat against UN air superiority over Korea. The exact number of MiG-15’s destroyed during the Korean War has been debated ever since the end of the war. However, 803,5 MiG-15s are listed as destroyed by USAF aircraft in air-to-air combat. How many of these were operated by DPRKAF, Chinese, the joint Chinese/Korean Air Army and Russian units respectively are unknown.
During the Korean War, the USA put up a huge effort to acquire an airworthy MiG-15 in order to evaluate the Soviet fighter’s performance characteristics. Large numbers of leaflets promising $100,000 as well as political asylum were dropped over the north. There were no takers, but on September 21, 1953, Lieutenant Ro Kim Suk landed his MiG-15bis at Kimpo AB. The MiG-15bis was eagerly evaluated by USAF test pilots, including Chuck Yeager. Incidentally, Ro Kim Suk claimed he had never heard of the $100,000 offer!
Following the armistice in 1953, the MiG-15 became the standard DPRKAF fighter. Large numbers were handed over by Soviet units. It may be presumed that additional deliveries were made. The exact number of MiG-15 Fagot-A and MiG-15bis Fagot-B fighters in DPRKAF service is unknown, but it may be presumed that several hundred aircraft entered service. By the 1980s, the MiG-15 had been largely withdrawn from use as a front-line fighter, but in all likelihood remained in use as an advanced trainer.
The table below is adapted from Yefim Gordon’s book Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15, and lists known details of DPRKAF MiG-15s. The aircraft marked * are MiG-15bis, with the others being earlier-model MiG-15s. As many Soviet-operated aircraft during the Korean War were handed over to DPRKAF charge, details of these have been included as well. However, it is unknown if any of the Soviet aircraft listed below were, in fact, transferred to the DPRKAF.
Individual Details
| Serial | c/no. | Prev. Identity | Delivered | Fate/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03 red | …03? | * | ||
| 07 red | …07? | * | ||
| 12 red | …12? | * | ||
| 13 red | …13? | * | ||
| 16 red | …16? | **, 32 IAD/913 IAP Antung AB, 1953 | ||
| 17 black | …17? | * | ||
| 20 blue | …20? | MiG-15, 50 IAD/177 IAP | ||
| 22 black | …22? | * | ||
| 93 red | …93? | *, 32 IAD/913 IAP | ||
| 033 red | …33? | * | ||
| 039 red | …039? | *, unconfirmed | ||
| 044 red | 134044 | *, 133 IAD/415IAP, 2 ½ kills | ||
| 079 red | …079? | MiG-15, pres in China. Nine kill markings. | ||
| 122 red | ..1..22 | *,303 IAD/17 IAP/1 AE, Miaogow AB | ||
| 125 black | 111025 | MiG-15, 324 IAD/176 GvIAP/2 AE, Antung AB | ||
| 132 red | 121032 | *, 303 IAD/17 IAP, Miaogow AB | ||
| 138 red | 121038 | *, 303 IAD/523 IAP, Miaogow AB | ||
| 146 red | 121046 | *, 303 IAD/523 IAP, Miaogow AB | ||
| 183 red | 121083 | *, 303 IAD/17 IAP, Miaogow AB | ||
| 188 red | 121088 | *, 303 IAD/18 GvIAP | ||
| 192 red | 121092 | *, 303 IAD/GvIAP | ||
| 226 red | 122026 | 303 IAD/18 GvIAP | ||
| 231 red | 122031 | |||
| 271 red | 2015371 | *, 216 IAD/518 IAP | ||
| 300 red | 123100? | *, 351 IAP Antung AB not confirmed | ||
| 325 red | 123027 | *, 351 IAP Antung AB not confirmed | ||
| 327 red | 123027 | *, 303 IAP/18 GvIAP | ||
| 343 red | 123043 | *, 303 IAP/18 GvIAP | ||
| 344 red | 123044 | *, 303 IAP/18 GvIAP | ||
| 345 red | 123045 | *, 303 IAP/18 GvIAP | ||
| 349 red | 123049 | *, 303 IAP/18 GvIAP | ||
| 349 blue | 1315349 or 2315349 | *, 324 IAP/178 GvIAP/2 AE Antung AB | ||
| 351 red | 123051 or 1315351 | *, 303 IAD/523 IAP Miaogow AB | ||
| 393 red | 2315393 | *, 32 IAD/913 IAP Antung AB Four kills | ||
| 406 red | 2415306 | *, 32 IAD/913 IAP | ||
| 408 red | 2415308 | *, | ||
| 502 red | 2515302 | *, 133 IAD/726 IAP | ||
| 503 red | 53210503 or 125003 or 2515303 | *, Joint Chinese/Korean Air Army | ||
| 518 blue | 53210518 or 125018 or 2515318 | *, Joint Chinese/Korean Army | ||
| 546 red | 5321046 | *, 351 IAP Antung AB | ||
| 683 red | 0615383 | *, 303 IAD/523 IAP Miaogow AB | ||
| 684 blue | 0615384 | *, 324 IAD/176 GvIAP/2 AE Antung AB | ||
| 686 blue | 0615386 | *, 324 IAD/176 GvIAP/2 AE Antung AB | ||
| 688 red | 0615388 | *, 190 IAD/821 IAP | ||
| 689 red | 0615389? | *, 324 IAD/196 IAP. To 351 IAP Antung AB | ||
| 708 red | 0715308 | *, 303 IAD/523 IAP Miaogow AB s/d Oct 23, 1951 | ||
| 720 red | 0715320 | *, 50 IAD/29 GvIAP/1 AE Antung AB | ||
| 723 red | 0715323 | *, 50 IAD/29 GvIAP/1 AE Antung AB | ||
| 729 red | 0715329 | *, 324 IAP/176 GvIAP | ||
| 735 blue | 0715335 | *, 50 IAD/29 GvIAP/1 AE Antung AB | ||
| 751 blue | 0715351 | *, 50 IAD/29 GvIAP/1 AE Antung AB | ||
| 768 red | 0715368 | *, 303 IAD/523 IAP Miaogow AB | ||
| 773 yellow | 0715373 | *, 50 IAD/29 GvIAP/3 AE Antung AB | ||
| 780 yellow | 0715380 | *, 50 IAD/29 GvIAP/3 AE Antung AB | ||
| 785 yellow | 0715385 | *, 50 IAD/29 GvIAP/3 AE To 324 IAD/176 GvIAP/1 AE Antung AB as code 785 Blue | ||
| 823 blue | 108023 | 324 IAD/176 GvIAP Antung AB | ||
| 899 red | 1815399 or 53210899 or 5899 | * | ||
| 925 red | 10925 | 303 IAD/16 IAP | ||
| 926 red | 2915328 | *, 32 IAD/535 IAP Antung AB | ||
| 931 black | 2915331 | *, 32 IAD/535 IAP/1 AE Antung AB | ||
| 976 red | 2915376 | *, 351 IAP Antung AB | ||
| 1032 red | 1015332? | *, Joint Chinese/Korean Air Army Preserved Pyongyang, 8 kill markings | ||
| 1355 red | 1315355? | * | ||
| 2057 red | 2015357 | *, Defected to South Korea on Sep 21, 1953 Evaluated by USAF, serial 7616, Preserved NMUSAF | ||
| 2249 red | *, Joint Chinese/Korean Air Army? Preserved Datangshan Air Museum, China |
Pictures
None available at present.
More Information
References
- World Air Forces Directory 2009/2010 (Ian Carroll)
- Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15: The Soviet Union’s Long-lived Korean War Fighter (Yefim Gordon)
Other Sources
To be added.