The ' Mullah ' Mig ( for Kjer99) by neiwil
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Description
Faced with a potent adversary, in the shape of the MiG-15, the West was eager to obtain a 'sample' for detailed examination.The most desirable option was of course to obtain a flyable example so that U.S pilots could be trained in anti-Mig tactics.
The acquisition of a MiG-15 was code-named 'Operation Mullah'.The U.N allies began dropping leaflets over North Korea, offering $100,000 reward and political asylum to anyone who would deliver a MiG-15 to the U.N side.Teams were also deployed to locate downed aircraft.The first reported result came in July 1951 when a downed MiG-15 was raised from 16ft of water off the Korean coast by Royal Navy ships.The aircraft, an early Kuybyshev built 'Fagot-A' was handed over to the USAF for examination at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton.The aircraft however could not be restored to flying condition.
A year later,another Mig was found in the mountains of North Korea in good condition.A US Army team in a helicopter was sent to retrieve it but could not extract it in one piece.The team "dismantled" the fighter with saws and 'hand grenades'What was left was sent to the Cornell Aero Lab in Buffalo, New York.
The first intact Fagot reached the West on March 5th 1953-the day that Stalin died. Lt Franciszek Jerecki of the Polish Air Force defected in his MiG-15'bis', landing at Ronne airport on the Danish island of Bornholm.The West was allowed to inspect the aircraft but it was kept by the Danish Government.
It was not till September 21st 1953,2 months after the end of the Korean war, that Lt Ro Kim Suk flew his MiG-15'bis' to Kimpo AB near Seoul.The aircraft '2057 Red' build number 2015357, underwent detailed evaluation at Kadena AB,on Okinawa, were it was flown by test pilots Tom Collins and Charles 'Chuck' Yeager, among others.It spent 1954 at Wright-Patterson,AFB and Eglin AFB,Florida.According to the USAF specialists there was nothing unusual in the MiG-15's structure,no 'magic'.The verdict was it was a well built and reliable combat aircraft.Of note was the aircrafts weight,much lighter than contemporary swept'wing fighters (35% lighter than the F-86A and 47% lighter than the Hawker Hunter)Pilots liked the neat weapons arrangement and ease of engine change, but they criticized the low rate of fire, and lack of a gun-ranging radar, which reduced the chances of a kill.
Lt.Ro Kim Suk always maintained he knew nothing about the $100,000 reward(but he accepted it anyway) his MiG-15 is now on display at the U.S.A.F Museum, Dayton,Ohio...
2057 Red was given the US serial 7616, it recieved the nose marking TC616 late in the evaluation process in honour of test pilot Tom Collins.
Not my intended next post, but I felt Jeremy's previous comment was worth expansion.The MiG-15 is out of place in these markings over Kimpo AB, but that's artistic licence :-)
Thanks for looking and any comments......
Comments (23)
warder348
Looks pretty cool with those markings, great story and history!
1971s
Amazing!
thefixer
Great realism you achieved in this..
thecytron
Awesome composition!
peedy
Fantastic image and POV! Corrie
T.Rex
Another fascinating piece of history from you Neil. Yes, the markings are off if that's the Korean air base down below. But, the plane looks great anyway (as compared to the base, er... I'll not comment the base). Fun seeing the US markings on a Mig! I just posted a dedi to you for your royal work! Enjoy! :-)
wotan
Beautiful Bryce scene... well composed and rendered!
steelrazer
Excellent metal texture on the Mig. Makes for a beautiful render. Very nice job!
KnightWolverine
Most Impressive Mig /Aerial View!
Froggy
Effing great looking model mate (don't say that often about an aircraft) - your modelling skills are stratospheric mate! - have you done a mosquito yet?
fly028
Simply Fantastic!!! Outstanding texture of the mig but also, for the background. Very great render!!!
bmac62
Ok, Neil, I am scurrying off to my hangar full of warbirds from Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton. If I have a descent photo or two of this MiG-15'bis' you'll be seeing it soon. I first visited the museum in Dayton in 1968, this MiG was sitting there then and it made a big impression on me all those years ago. I can understand light because it is really quite small. Like your render a lot! Well done and your history notes always get me thinking. I have to refresh myself but isn't the engine a take off on an early Rolls-Royce engine? No need to answer...I'll know shortly:)
ollienorthie
Looks great and cool history lesson. Yeager was involved in a lot of aviation history.
dbrv6
Great history and render! Well done.
UVDan
Excellent illustrated history lesson.
debbielove
Brilliant idea! I too will be looking into the Dayton shots to see what I have.. Tee Hee! Super work as always mate, great info.. Love it! Rob
shamstar
Your history is always a great addition to your wonderful images. great stuff.
Briney
The metal renders up really well ... and it works in so well with the airbase background. Thanks also for intelligence stuff. How does a pilot "defect" in a Mig without getting shot down? I hope he bought beers for all the AA crews who didn't shoot him!
jac204
Nice work on the modeling and render, and fascinating piece of history.
flavia49
very beautiful picture! stunning model
preeder
Yet another nice one to add to your collection Neil.
kjer_99
Thanks, Neil! This is good additional information--some of which was new to me.
android65mar
Excellent render and interesting discourse.