Thanks for the photo or drawing!
Capt. Williams was the best pilot that day. He had more situational awareness than simply dumb luck. He kept his energy level up and made the MiG-15's fight on his level and not to their own advantage. The Russian pilots could have backed off and easily picked off the F9F-5 Panther, but they pressed an engagement giving the Panther snap shots. When turning and losing speed and energy before you end up in the weeds if you have a window to bug out safely you do it if you can. Adrenaline got the better of the MiG pilots and at the very end when the Captain finally had a MiG on his tail his wingmen showed up again and took care of that.
You have to wonder in a political system that choses pilots and tells them what to do and some of those MiG pilots may not have really liked flying at all, as apposed to an American system where young men dream of flying and can't wait for every moment they get some stick time and love every moment in the air - the motivation factor and flying skills make a big advantage.
Captain Williams was the better pilot that day! He had guts, audacity, was there to CAP and protect his battle group, did not back off and flew well enough in a tough plane. His only luck was the MiG's were bad shots and when they did make hits on the Panther they were not lethal. Read about the flight and he only had fully functional stabs with no rudder or flaps and landed at 170 knots just to keep it stable and still flying. They dumped the F9F over the side after he caught a 3 wire because it was so shot up.