THE AIR WAR: Biggest Dogfight

One day last week 34 U.S. B-29s lumbered up "MIG Alley" to drop 260 tons of bombs on bridges across the lower Yalu. The enemy's fast MIG-15s, squatting on their nests behind the Manchurian border, howled up to attack, 40 strong, in spite of 80 U.S. jets (50 F-84 Thunderjets and 30 F-86 Sabres) escorting the bombers.

The Thunderjets undertook to drive the attackers off (while the Sabres stayed close to the bombers) and did it quickly. After two MIGs had been hit, the rest streaked for safety across the Yalu; the U.S. pilots broke off the pursuit at the...

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