Korean War Database
MiGs over Korea; Part 2: China & North Korea
By Tom Cooper
Oct 28, 2003, 20:57

This Chinese MiG-15bis was reportedly seen in spring of 1953 and shot down in an air combat by Col. Royal "King" Baker.

Originally, the Chinese MiG-15s were serialled in the same style like the Soviet aircraft. With the time, however, in intention to (successfully) confuse the UN intelligence, the aircraft have got four-digit serials. The exact meaning of the inscription on the fuselage of 1177 remains unknown, however.

Like their counterparts in Soviet night-fighter units, the Chinese also started camouflaging their MiG-15 tasked with night-interception. These fighters saw very little service over Korea, however, before 1953, when an increasing number of MiGs was camouflaged.

This MiG-15bis wearing 9 kill markings in the form of yellow-outlined stars was flown by the Chinese pilot Wang Hai in 1953.

This is what a North Korean MiG-15 shot down by Capt. Manuel "Pete" Fernandez during one of air combats in spring 1953 reportedly looked like.

This North Korean MiG-15 was reportedly sighted in spring of 1951.

MiG-15 822 was seen shortly after the war. Sadly, no additional details are known about it.

This was either one of the early Soviet MiG-15s seen in DPRKAF markings, or one of former Soviet aircraft supplied to the DPRKAF in 1951.