The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 - the utmost longevity of scoring

[Franek Grabowski]

The MiG-21 was Bison, ie. with upgraded avionics to pretty modern standards. So not a looser as it may seem.
The exchange of fire was more less as follows. PAF performed an attack on targets behind LOC in Kashmir. IAF scarmbled to intercept the formation and G/C Varthaman went too deep into enemy territory and was downed by F-16. Fortunately he ejected, was a little mauled by locals before rescued by the Pak Army, got a cuppa and few days later was returned. Few weeks later it was claimed by India that G/C Varthaman shot down an F-16 before he was downed himself. Radar screens were produced to substantiate the claim but Lockheed denied any F-16 being lost (they have them under control). Actually no evidence that G/C Varthaman ever managed to fire at anything. On the opposite there was a PAF claim for Su-35, also unsubstantiated.
I know nothing about Atlantic incident.
MiG-21s are operated by few air forces, so there are very slim chances for the type to score again.

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks for the explanation Franek

Cheers
Stig

[GoranA]

If we ignore (yet) unsubstantiated Varthaman claim and consider 100% confirmed Atlantique from 1999 as the last, that would make 33 years span for MiG-21 (there is also even more dubious Syrian claim from 1964 for Israeli Mystere)

F-16 has 39 years between Rafi Berkovich' Mi-8 over Zahle in April '81 and Syrian L-39 over Idlib in March 2020, shot down by Turkish AF


What about geographical distribution of scoring? Are F-16, MiG-21 and Mirage F-1 the only airplanes with shotdowns over 3 continents, or are there any other candidates?

[knusel]

Good evening Gentlemen,

very interesting.
Can you tell me names of the pilots who shot down the Atlantic in 1999 or the Syrian L-39 in 2020 ?

The P-38 scored above 5 continents:
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showth...ight=continent
The P-40, too:
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showth...ll+p-40&page=2

Cheers,


Michael

[GoranA]

Ok , I was thinking about post WW2, but still good to know ...


Regarding 1999 Atlantique shot down - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prashant_Kumar_Bundela

For the turkish victory much less is known, which is logical, considering that it is an ongoing conflict and the pilot is still in service (some hints that aircraft was from 192 filo). More is known about the victim - crew members were Major Hussam Mayhoub (KIA) and Col. Ammar al-Boodi (rescued)

[knusel]

Hello Goran,

I've found the following entry for the first MiG-21 kill:
https://warisboring.com/in-1964-the-...n-oil-company/

Can you tell me if the dubious Syrian claim from 1964 for an Israeli Mystere was earlier ?

Have a nice Thursday,

Michael

[GoranA]

Originally Posted by knusel

Hello Goran,

I've found the following entry for the first MiG-21 kill:
https://warisboring.com/in-1964-the-...n-oil-company/

Can you tell me if the dubious Syrian claim from 1964 for an Israeli Mystere was earlier ?

Have a nice Thursday,

Michael

Hello Michael


Yes, it does seem that the C-82 in 1964 was the first victim for Mig-21

http://baaa-acro.sindev.ch/crash/cra...ndria-2-killed

The incident with the claimed Mystere happened on 13.11.1963 during clashes between Israel and Syria along the Jordan river. Two Syrian Mig-21 attacked one of the Israeli formations and claimed an aircraft, but not much more is known about the incident. It is briefly described in Arab MiGs vol.2, quoting contemporary AP report and an interview. Israeli sources also mention this incident, but as "inconclusive"

There was another incident exactly one year later (that's why I mixed up the dates ), when two Syrian MiG-21s tried to intercept recce Vautour, but were attacked by escorting Mirages. One Mig-21 was damaged (claimed shot down), while the other one fired two Atoll missiles and claimed one SD, although the missiles missed.

So now we have 1964 - 1999 as 100% confirmed (first and the last being 2-engine propeller aircraft)