Hobby Master 1:72 Air Power Series HA2402
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 Fagot Diecast Model
Soviet Air Force 351st Aviapolk, Antung, China, 1953

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 with its swept wings first achieved fame during the Korean War. When it first arrived it could out fly anything the Allies had in the sky. It wasn’t long before the Allies developed the F-86 Sabre to counter this new fighter. There have been over 12,000 Mig-15s manufactured by the Soviets with at least another 6,000 built under license by other countries. The new highly advanced Mig-17 was developed using the Mig-15 as the basis for its design.

Suffering heavy daytime losses over North Korea the B-29s switched to night raids. The Soviets followed by training their Mig-15bis pilots for night-time warfare. Using ground based data and searchlights the B-29s were spotted and the Migs would intercept. Major Karelin’s 6th and final night victory with the 351st Fighter Aviation Regiment (night) based at Antung was a B-29. Karelin managed to land his Mig with 117 bullet strikes and 9 of them through the cockpit and Karelin was not hit. In February 1953 the 351st was rotated back to the Soviet Union.