The feat of two US Navy F9F Panther fighters that defeated seven Soviet MiG-15s

The Cold War (1947-1991) was a long undeclared conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies.

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During that long conflict, American and Soviet aviators engaged in several aerial combats, most of them during the Korean War (1950-1953), in which Soviet pilots often flew MiG-15 jet fighters for the North Korean Air Force. However, on November 18, 1952, an incident occurred between the two countries that could have triggered a new world war, but it remained secret for 50 years.

That day, four US Navy Grumman F9F Panther fighters, assigned to squadron VF-781 embarked on the aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CV-34), were flying a combat air patrol over North Korea near Hoeryong, a town located near the border with the USSR. During that flight, they spotted seven Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 fighters, believing them to be North Korean Air Force aircraft. One of the F9Fs experienced engine trouble and had to return to the carrier with its wingman. The two remaining F9Fs engaged in one of the longest dogfights in US naval aviation history.

After being attacked by the Soviets, Lieutenant Elmer Royce Williams and his wingman, Lieutenant Dave Rowlands, received orders to withdraw, but by then they were already fighting for their lives, as the Soviets were attacking them. The American naval aviators were outnumbered (2 to 7) and outmatched in quality, as the MiG-15 was a superior fighter to the F9F. The Soviet fighter was faster and more maneuverable, but a pilot's training and courage can make all the difference even in such an unequal fight.

During this engagement, Royce Williams shot down four of the seven MiG-15s and hit two more. The seventh damaged his F9F and could have brought him down, but Rowlands intervened, forcing the last MiG-15 to flee. After the engagement, Williams managed to land on the USS Oriskani with great difficulty. His aircraft, BuNo 125459, sustained 263 hits. It is almost a miracle that he survived and landed his plane. Williams received the Silver Star in 1953 for valor in that engagement. Due to the tense situation, the incident remained secret until 2002. Williams continued serving in the U.S. Navy, flying 110 missions during the Vietnam War. He retired in 1980. Williams is still alive today: he turned 100 on April 4, 2025, and there is currently a campaign underway to have him awarded the Medal of Honor.

A few days ago, the YouTube channel Yarnhub dedicated one of its excellent videos to recreating that aerial combat between two US Navy F9Fs and seven Soviet MiG-15s, a video of extraordinary quality that reconstructs what happened with great precision:

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Main image: Yarnhub.