Gabreski shot down in Korea

[Pilot]

Greetings all,

just some time I get an info that Soviet jet ace Shukin Lev Kirilovich has shoot down in Korea US great ace F. Gabreski, 4 FIW, USAF at 2 October 1951. F. Gabreski fly on F-86A Shukin flew on MiG-15.That was eight Shukin claim in Korea and he had an total of 17 claims, two of them shared. Of those victories, two are Mustangs and all of the rest are jets.

Any additional info about this combat?

[Graham Boak]

Osprey has just published Soviet MiG-15 Aces of the Korean War, which I suggest is probably recommended reading to most enthusiasts, but it does not mention this combat.

It does list Shchukin with 15 victories: 1 Mustang, 2 Meteors, 2 F-80s, 5 F-84s and 5 F-86s.

[Pilot]

Very good info Graham. As well in last time ZI have some interest in that war I will going to get this book. is there mention night camouflaged MiG-15?

[Leendert]

Pilot,

It appears that F-86E "51-2746" (Michigan Center/Lady Frances) of Col. Gabreski got badly damaged in this 2 October 1951 encounter and had to be written off once back at base.

Regards,

Leendert

[Pilot]

All right Leendert- I have saved your info, thank you

[Graham Boak]

The book includes accounts of the MiG 15 night fighters, but the photographs only show an overall bare metal machine of Ikhsangaliev, the profiles a similar one of Dobrovichan. Each claimed a B-29 at night. Camouflage is restricted to the blue bellies introduced partway through the war, and the late war experimental 3-tone uppersurfaces.

[Pilot]

I see one profile with black underside so thats why I ask about possible photo source.

Cheers

[JoeB]

Originally Posted by Leendert

Pilot,

It appears that F-86E "51-2746" (Michigan Center/Lady Frances) of Col. Gabreski got badly damaged in this 2 October 1951 encounter and had to be written off once back at base.

I don't agree. 51-2746 was lost to MiG's November 21 1952 and was not damaged on October 2 1951. The a/c's Individual Record Card and "5th Air Force Daily Lost, Damaged and Aborted Aircraft File" agree on that.

No F-86 was lost or damaged Oct 2 1951, per the "File" and relevant daily summaries. One RF-80 of the 67th TRS was lost to MiG's while under escort by 10 F-84's, at 1635 Time Item. F-84 50-1106 of the 136th FBW was lost to an assumed engine bearing failure over South Korea at 1545 Item, per the a/c's preliminary accident report.

Soviet credits that day were: an F-80 and F-86 to 523rd IAP in the morning; two F-80's (types differ in various sources but F-80 in the individual pilots' official scores) to 17th IAP at 1616-1625 Item (probably their takeoff time); and 2 F-86's to the 18th GIAP 1556-1623 Item, one of them credited to Shchukin.

Again keep in mind that the websites which purport to match US and Soviet claims/losses in Korea are simply not reliable, none that I know of anyway.

Joe

[Pilot]

Again keep in mind that the websites which purport to match US and Soviet claims/losses in Korea are simply not reliable, none that I know of anyway.

That's why I ask this subject on forum. So- is the Gabreski shoot down at all or not?

[JoeB]

Originally Posted by Pilot

That's why I ask this subject on forum. So- is the Gabreski shoot down at all or not?

No, not in Korea. As you probably know, during WWII (1944) his propeller struck the ground during a strafing run, he crashlanded his a/c and was captured by the Germans.

Joe