American warplanes have enjoyed virtually untrammeled freedom of the skies ever since regular bombing runs over North Viet Nam began. Only four times in 15 months did North Viet Nam's Russian-built MIGs rise to do battle, knocking down two U.S. fighter-bombers in their initial surprise appearance, then losing five MIG-175 in the next three encounters. But last week, as the U.S. continued to hack away at the vital transportation spokes feeding into Hanoi, the North Vietnamese air force suddenly scrambled into the skies—only to be cut down in a series of swirling dogfights....
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