The MiG-15 first appeared in the skies over Korea in 1950. In a dogfight, the MiG-15 outperformed the F-86 because it could accelerate faster and was more manoeuvrable when flying over 10,000 feet, or around 3,000 metres. The small fighter also had two 23-millimeter guns and one enormous 37-millimeter cannon, which wreaked havoc on the F-86 and the bombers it was escorting.
When the MiG-15 appeared on the Korean Peninsula, there was widespread conjecture that the Soviet Union had provided airframes—and Russian pilots—to the communist cause in North Korea.
These rumours were not false. During their time in captivity, some United Nations prisoners of war reported having communication with Russian pilots. Some American fighter pilots had also overheard MiG-15 pilots conversing.
4