Markings for MiG-15bis 1/72

c/n 613234, kpt. Oldřich Paldus, 15th Fighter Regiment, Czechoslovak Air Force, Cottbus Airfield, German Democratic Republic, August 30, 1957

A group of three MiGs-15bis of 15 Fighter Regiment from Žatec Air Base took part in the 2nd Cultural and Sport Celebration organized in Cottbus, German Democratic Republic from late August to early September 1957. The distinctive blue marking was applied on these aircraft especially for this event. During the display two aircraft, this No. 3234, and another MiG-15bis No. 3233 collided. No. 3234 lost the tip of its left horizontal stabilizer, but the pilot managed to keep control of the aircraft and was able to land safely. After the 15th FR was disbanded, two pilots of its display team, Oldřich Paldus and Václav Polášek were transferred to 11 FR in 1958. Capt. Jaromír Palečný joined them in 1959 and as all of them were not tall at all, the display team was unofficially dubbed “Trio Prckos”( “The Three Shorties” in English).

No. 20 Squadron, Egypt., Late 1950s / Early 1960s

Egypt purchased a total of 110 MiG-15bis aircraft from Czechoslovakia. This particular one served with No. 20 Squadron of the United Arab Republic Air Force. The United Arab republic was a federation of Egypt and Syria that lasted from 1958 to 1961. Egypt kept this name untill 1971. No. 20 Squadron was based at Deversoir, El Qabrit and Inshas air bases.

c/n 1315376, ex 64th IAK, Soviet Union, Mid 1950s

This aircraft took part in the Korean War – the communist attempt to occupy the entire Korean peninsula. At the time it was marked with red number 1976 on its fuselage. Back in the USSR, the number was simply overpainted with the yellow 30, as well as the fading North Korean insignia was freshly overpainted. As the North Korean national insignia was simply an extension of the Soviet red star, removing the white outline and adding the red and blue circles, only these circles (rather faded) were visible. The original star was simply overpainted with fresh outlined one. Based on photographic evidence, the insignia was applied on the fuselage only, but it is possible these were painted on the lower surface of the wings as well.

c/n 0320138, 1st Squadron, 101st Reconnaissance Regiment, Szolnok, Hungary, 1972

This MiG was delivered together with another 29 aircraft in April 1962. These originally served with the Soviet Air Force and after the overhaul were supplied in the natural metal finish to Hungary. During the overhaul the aircraft c/n 0320138 had the upgraded wing installed featuring the landing light located at the left wheel well. The light was later covered with a sheet aluminum.

In August 1968 this particular airplane participated in the Warsaw Pact armed forces invasion (except Romania and Albania) to, at that time, Czechoslovakia. Before the invasion it was marked with the red stripes which were later deleted. In March 1970 the aircraft was overpainted in the camouflage colors including all stencils. In September 1975 the airframe was struck off charge having logged 1535 flight hours and was abandoned at the Szolnok airbase.

flown by Maj. Mikhail Ivanovich Mikhin, 518th IAP, North Korea, May 1953

Mikhail Mikhin was born on October 25th, 1923 and right after the graduation from the high school he started his pilot training finishing it in the end of 1944. He did not manage to participate in any combat during the World War Two, however he participated in the air combat over Korea where he was deployed in July 1952 with the entire 518th IAP. The unit remained in the combat zone until the end of hostilities, Major Mikhin shot down 9 enemy aircraft in total (7 x F-86, 2 x F-84) for which accomplishment he was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on July 14, 1953. He remained in the active service of the Red Army Air Force after the Korean War and retired with the rank of Major General in 1980. He passed away on March 25, 2007 in St. Petersburg.