MiG-17F - Vietnam - 1972
Comments
RandoBeautiful, wow! Also love the detailed history and reference photos. This and your MiG-19 are inspiring work.
MariusThank you mates for having a look and leaving a comment!
@Rando: I am happy you found the time to read the text. There is an even more just under this comment section, I am not sure you saw it. I am indeed trying to prepare for each of my models such short articles. Most of us do such "research" in a form or another anyway, why not try to communicate it further?
RandoIndeed I did read it all! Researching the subjects I build is just as much a part of modeling as anything else to me, so I enjoy seeing what others come up with. You also inspired me to build a MiG-19, that plane has such sweet lines.
MariusThank you mates for the interest.
@Alain: I don't remember exactly, probably Ebay, but you should be able to find it also in some hobby shops:
Step Ladders MiG-15/MiG-17 (Brengun BRL72077, 1:72)
Album info
The Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) received a first batch of 36 MiG-17 'Frescos' supplied by the Soviet Union in 1964. Issued to the 921st Fighter Regiment, the aircraft were flown into Noi Bai airfield from China on 6 August 1964. These aircraft were all either in their natural metal finish or in an overall light grey painting. The first qualified pilots to fly the MiG-17 were already back in Vietnam by the end of 1962.
On 3 April 1965, six VPAF MiG-17s were ordered to support a North Vietnamese aerial counter-offensive in their very first combat mission against US fighter-bombers. The US aircraft were attacking three bridges in several waves. In that encounter, a MiG-17 engaged an F-8 Crusader, which was unaware of the MiG's presence. Pilot Pham Ngoc Lan remembers seeing the F-8 ablaze and exploding. During mission debriefing, his gun camera film revealed a clear image of a blazing F-8. A second F-8 was claimed as shot down and seen crashing by a different MiG-17 pilot of the group. However, according to official US sources, all four F-8Es (from VF-211, off USS Hancock (CVA-19)) were recovered from the encounter, although the jet flown by Lt Cdr Spence Thomas was so badly damaged that he had to land ashore at Da Nang. The only official loss for the US Navy on this mission was the A-4C BuNo 148557, flown by VA-216's Lt Cdr R A Vohden. Nevertheless, Pham Ngoc Lan was later credited with the first American fighter-bomber to be shot down by a North Vietnamese fighter pilot. It appears now indeed, that the VPAF failed to shoot down any enemy aircraft in their debut mission.
On the next day, the US fighter-bombers were expected to engage once more one of the bridges from the previous day. This time, four VPAF MiG-17s downed two of the four attacking F-105Ds, while losing three MiG-17s. The three MiGs that were lost during the course of the action were reportedly shot down by the F-105s according to Tran Hanh, the pilot of the only surviving MiG-17. Since USAF records indicate that no kill claims were made by any of the returning F-105 pilots, perhaps the MiG-17s fell victims to 'friendly' flak.
With the first air encounters against US aircrews and first air bases hit by US fighter-bombers, the VPAF aknowledged the vulnerability of silver aircraft shining from the distance and waiting to be hit on the airfield. By the end of April 1965, several MiG-17s already received a dark-green camouflage painting, in many cases a two-tone green scheme with "snakes".
In the summer of 1965 things took a turn for the worse for the VPAF , as the still maturing fighter force was decimated, with high atrittion due to accidents, friendly AAA fire and further encounters with the US aircraft. According to US records, five VPAF MiG-17s were shot down until the beginning of August 1965, not including the famous probable one from 4 April by a F-100D, while the VPAF claimed 9 downed US aicraft. Nevertheless, neither side could confirm all the other side's claims. The trend of numerous claims and confusion was about to last until hostilities ceased.
By the end of summer 1965, the VPAF contingent of qualified pilots for the MiG-17 was replenished by 30 more, which allowed forming a second fighter regiment, the 923rd 'Yen The' on the 7 September 1965. The 923rd would be equipped with the MiG-17, whilst the 921st now operating both the MiG-17s and MiG-21 fighters. By the end of the year, a second batch of MiG-17s was delivered, to replenish losses and equip the new unit. The MiG-17 number "2072" was part of this second batch and is the only known VPAF MiG-17 with camouflage painting including a second colour which wasn't green.
In February 1969, the Ministry of Defence decided on a new addition. The 925th Fighter Regiment was to be formed at Yen Bai airfield and equipped with MÍG-17F and J-6 (the Chinese version of the MiG-19S) fighters. Within two months, the 925th already had nine MiG-19 and four MiG-17 pilots fully qualified for combat duty (see also: MiG-19S (Shenyang J-6) - Vietnam - 1972 | Album by Redicus (1:72))
In 1971, ten MiG-17 pilots were selected from the 923rd to prepare for ground attack missions. Training commenced with the support of a small Cuban delegation, which helped the Vietnamese improve attack tactics against ships. By March 1972, the 923rd could boast six pilots from its ranks qualified to attack targets at sea. Two modified MiG-17s carrying one 250kg bomb under each wing were to engage the two US destroyers USS Higbee and USS Oklahoma City on 12 April 1972 in the Battle of Dong Hai. One direct hit moderately damaged the USS Higbee, but with no further signifficant results.
At the end of the conflict, the VPAF MiG-17s claimed a total of 73 US aircraft, achieved between 3 April 1965 and 11 July 1972, with 7 additional more claimed by MiG-19s. Nevertheless, not few of these claims are contradicted by US records. The VPAF high command credited a total of four MiG-17 pilots with the ace status: Nguyen Van Bay (7 kills, 1966-1972), Luu Huy Chao (6 kills, 1966-1968), Le Hai (6 kills, 1967-1972) and Nguyen Nhat Chieu (6 kills, later converted to MiG-21, see article: MiG-21F-13 - Vietnam | Album by Redicus (1:72))
From the other side, the U.S. claimed to have shot down or destroyed 204 MiG aircraft and at least six An-2s, of which 196 were confirmed with multiple witnesses/physical evidence (100 MiG-17s, 10 MiG-19s and 86 MiG-21s). However, VPAF admits only 154 MiGs were lost through all causes, including 131 in air combat (63 MiG-17s, 8 MiG-19s and 60 MiG-21s).
The venerable MiG-17 remained in frontline service with the VPAF until the late 1970s, the 923rd re-rolling in the ground attack and maritime strike missions, leaving fighter interception to those regiments equipped with MiG-21s. Eventually employed as a lead-in fighter trainer, the last examples of the MiG-17 were finally retired in the early 1980s.
![1:72 Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F 'Fresco' [Shenyang J-5] (Airfix A03091)](/products/img/9/4/3/1189943-13641-66-t180.jpg)
