Content deleted Content added
919181512a (talk | contribs) →1951–53: changed to 48 as in the source |
919181512a (talk | contribs) →1951–53: added source |
||
Line 28:
While the Australian government had attempted to order the F-86, to replace Mustangs operated in Korea by [[No. 77 Squadron RAAF]], McDonnell-Douglas was required to prioritize re-equipping the USAF. The British [[Gloster Meteor]] F.8 was the only viable alternative. 77 Squadron on begin converting to Meteors in Japan during April 1951.
USAF pilots nicknamed April 12, 1951 "Black Thursday", after 30 MiG-15s attacked 48 B-29 bombers escorted by approximately 100 F-80s and F-84s. The MiGs were fast enough to engage the B-29s and extend away from their escorts. Three B-29s were shot down and seven more were damaged, with no casualties on the communist side.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b29_12.html|title=B-29 in Korean War}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://sputniknews.com/military/202002161078330230-last-surviving-soviet-ace-of-korean-war-opens-up-on-clandestine-ops-against-us-air-force/|title=Last Surviving Soviet Ace of Korean War Opens Up on Clandestine Ops Against US Air Force|archive-url=http://archive.today/2020.02.16-231136/https://sputniknews.com/military/202002161078330230-last-surviving-soviet-ace-of-korean-war-opens-up-on-clandestine-ops-against-us-air-force/|archive-date = 2020-02-16|url-status=live|quote=In that battle, we knocked 25 of 48 B-29s out of service as they flew to bomb the bridge over the Yalu River[…]I still remember the image in my mind: an armada of planes is flying in combat formation, beautiful, like during a parade. Suddenly we swoop down on top of them. I open fire on one of the bombers – immediately white smoke starts billowing out. I had damaged the fuel tank. And then my comrades arrived. I’d say we thrashed the Americans pretty good. All our fighters returned to the airfield, and the USAF declared a week-long period of mourning and didn’t get up the courage to send bombers to the area for a long time}}</ref> Following this, USAF bomber sorties over Korea were halted for approximately three months. Bomber commanders were forced to discontinue daylight raids, and changed to night missions by small formations.
In the first five months of 1951 the 4th F-IW flew 3,550 sorties and claimed 22 victories. No F-86 Sabres were shot down by MiGs, although a number were lost due to accidents.<ref>War Monthly (1976). MIG V Sabre, by Rodney Steel (p. 42).</ref>
| |||