Posted on 04/01/2010 11:01:19 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The family of Lt. Col. Bruce Hinton, the first F-86 pilot to score a MiG-15 kill during the Korean War, donated several items to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
On Dec. 17, 1950, Hinton, who was commander of the 336th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 4th Fighter Interceptor Wing, led a flight of four F-86s over northwestern North Korea. To trick the communists, the Sabre pilots flew at the same altitude and speed as F-80s typically did on missions, and they used F-80 call signs. Hinton spotted four MiGs at a lower altitude, and he led his flight in an attack. After pouring a burst of machine gun fire into one of the MiGs, it went down in flames. In April 1951 Hinton shot down a second MiG-15.
According to museum research historian Jeff Duford, at the beginning of the Korean War the best jet fighter the U.S. had in theater was the straight-wing F-80. The communists introduced the swept-wing and much faster MiG-15 into combat in November 1950. It was quite a shock to UN forces, and the MiG-15 threatened to wrest control of the air from UN forces.
"Col. Hinton's kill symbolized the Air Force's answer to the MiG-15," Duford said. "His victory represented the passing of the momentary crisis, and it was the first of hundreds of MiG-15s that Sabre pilots shot down during the Korean War."
Hinton died in November 2009, and many of the donated items will be used in the museum's Korean War exhibit, which is being completely redesigned to commemorate this year's 60th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War. Hinton's story will be highlighted in an exhibit about air superiority, which will include his flying gloves, helmet, scarf and patches. The museum's F-86A is marked to represent the aircraft flown by Hinton.
Further information about the Korean War exhibit will be available on the museum's Web site when it opens this summer. For information about Korean War commemoration activities, visit nationalmuseum.af.mil/korea.asp.
“As a day fighter, the airplane saw service in Korea in three successive series (F-86A, E, and F) where it engaged the Russian-built MiG-15. By the end of hostilities, it had shot down 792 Migs at a loss of only 76 Sabres, a victory ratio of 10 to 1.”
it was still flying as late as the mid seventies in various foreign air forces. I remember seeing a TV news report on the India-Pakistan war that featured a Pak F-86 hot on the tail of an IAF Mirage.
Just one reminder.
Yevgeni Pepelyajev flying NK MiG-15 Shot down 21 US warplanes, most of them F-86s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=GB&hl=en-GB&v=pzPQZNH1hHs&feature=related
Interesting History Channel interview plus film.
Is this any relation to the famous air-racer/warbird pilot Steve Hinton and now his son that won @ Reno Air Races last year?
Thanks for that one!
It’s unlikely to be IAF Mirages, since the first Mirage India operated was the 2000, which came online in the 80s. Most likely Folland Gnat or Ouragan or Mystere.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.