Soviet MiG-15 Aces of the Korean War

29th GvIAP Into Action

Having helped provide the air defence for Shanghai for much of 1950, 29th GvIAP and the HQ unit of 106th IAD were redeployed to Xiansilipu airfield in the Liaodong Peninsula in the autumn of that year. Their commanding division, 50th IAD, had commenced preparations for combat operations in Korea in October 1950. By then the division controlled both 29th GvIAP and 177th IAP, the latter having arrived from 303rd IAD – this division was to be committed to the conflict seven months later.

177th IAP and 29th GvIAP received new MiG-15bis fighters just prior to being committed to the action over North Korea. Having re-equipped, 50th IAD flew to Anshan on 20 November. Four days later, all divisional aircraft had their red stars replaced with North Korean Air Force markings ready for the fray.

On 1 December, six 50th IAD pilots performed the division’s first combat mission over North Korea when they were scrambled to intercept B-29s detected near Antung. When they returned to Anshan, the Soviet pilots were only able to report damaging two Superfortresses, yet on the basis of camera gun data, Snr Lts Orlov and Grebenkin were each credited with kills (no B-29s were lost according to USAF records). Their victories were the first for both 29th GvIAP and 50th IAD in Korea.

In early December communist forces advanced southwards, and 50th IAD was tasked with protecting North Korean facilities and supply routes up to 75 km (50 miles) from the Chinese border. In reality, Soviet fighters would routinely intercept enemy aircraft at a considerably greater range – sometimes up to 120 km (75 miles) from the Yalu River – as crucial bridges and crossings over the Chongchon and Kuren rivers also had to be protected.

In order to perform these missions more effectively, 64th IAK decided to use Antung airfield, which was the closest base to the North Korean-Chinese border. Now, MiGs taking off from Antung could expand their area of operations as far as Pyongyang and further south. 29th GvIAP redeployed to the new airfield on 3 December, although 177th IAP stayed at Anshan. Antung remained the only forward airfield for 64th IAK fighters for some time to come, although new bases were eventually constructed around the city during the summer of 1951.

Soviet fighters made their first combat sortie from Antung at noon on 4 December 1950 when a flight of MiG-15bis, led by Guards Capt Vedenskiy of the 2nd Squadron, 29th GvIAP, was scrambled to intercept RB-45C Tornado 48-0015 of the 84th Bomb Squadron’s Det A. The enemy reconnaissance aircraft was shot down near Anju, with two of its crew being captured and a third posted as missing in action.

Capt Stepan Naumenko, deputy leader of the 1st Squadron, 29th GvIAP, opened his combat score that same day. He would subsequently become the first Soviet pilot in Korea to achieve five kills. The three pairs of fighters under Naumenko’s charge were scrambled to intercept two enemy aircraft detected near Antung – the contacts were soon identified as F-84s, and the MiGs set off in pursuit. The USAF aircraft dropped their external fuel tanks and tried to break off by diving at high speed, but the wingman lagged behind his leader. Naumenko accelerated to 1050 km/h (650 mph) and gradually caught the Thunderjet. Closing to a range of 600 m (650 yrd), Naumenko opened fire. The F-84 started to trail smoke and flames after the second burst, and it eventually rolled to the right and dived away.

Without slowing down, Naumenko then attacked the lead Thunderjet, which tried to break off after the first burst by rolling and climbing to port. The pilot then banked sharply to starboard, and Naumenko followed, firing two more short bursts from 400-500 m (430-550 yrd). His rounds set the F-84 alight. It too rolled to the right and dived towards the frontline. Naumenko was credited with downing both F-84s, although USAF records indicate that no Thunderjets were lost on this date.