Thursday 15 November 2018

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bis, various Middle-eastern & African users

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15bis was used by many Middle-Eastern and African countries. Among them we can find:

  • Afghanistan: Back in the mid-1950s the Royal Afghan Air Force underwent a modernization process which made it to withdraw from active service completely outdated aircraft like the Hawker Hind. They bought material almost exclusively from the USSR as it was the cheapest option and, by 1960 their air force was composed of around 100 aircraft, including MiG-15bis fighters and Il-28 bombers. As the country was one of the most conflictive in the region, they weren't never written-off and were most likely used in the many conflicts that the country underwent through the 1970s, 1980s and the 1990s and most of the fighters were, most probably, destroyed. As our main source was a quite blurry photo where the registration numbers can't be read, the registration should be taken as speculative.
  • Algeria: When Algeria achieved its independence and the Algerian Air Force was created, many Arab countries donated second-hand material, like Egypt, which donated some MiG-15, MiG-15bis and MiG-15UTIs. As, by the 1960s the MiG-15bis were outdated, they were employed as advanced trainers until they were withdrawn when they were replaced by more modern types. As we couldn't find reliable graphical source, the drawing should be taken as speculative.
  • North Yemen: As the North Yemen Air Force was supplied, theoretically, by Western powers, the MiG-15bis that served with the North Yemen Air Force were, most likely, captured exemplars. As we couldn't find graphical evidence, the drawing should be considered as speculative.
  • Iraq: When the monarchy was overthrown in Iraq, in the 14th July 1958 revolution, the revolutionary government turned to the USSR looking for new aircraft suppliers. They bought mainly MiG-17s but also some MiG-15bis and MiG-15UTIs which, except for the MiG-17 (which was the most advanced type that the IAF had in inventory during this stage), were used as trainers or advanced trainers. As we couldn't find definitive graphical source, the drawing should be considered as speculative.
  • Pakistan: Apparently, the Pakistan Air Force had a small number of MiG-15 in the very late 1950s. They were most probably some Afghan or even Soviet defector aircraft which landed there and it was interned and repainted. Their fate is unknown and, as there are very little references to the MiG-15bis, the drawing should be considered as speculative.
  • Somalia: Together with the Chinese-built MiG-17s (Shenyang F-5), in the year 1960 they were supplied with both Chinese-built MiG-15UTIs (Shenyang FT-2) and second (or even third) hand MiG-15bis which were intended to be used as advanced trainers. Most likely they were used in the Ogaden war in 1977 and the subsequent wars until they were destroyed. As there aren't graphical references, the drawing should be taken as speculative.
  • South Yemen: When the South Yemen Republic was created in 1967, it had the support of the USSR, which supplied their Air Force with MiG-15bis, MiG-15UTIs, MiG-17 and MiG-21. They most likely saw combat in the war against their Northern neighbours and were all of them destroyed. Again, the drawing should be taken with a grain of salt as it's speculative.
  • Syria: Back in 1955 Syria ordered 24 MiG-15bis fighters and 4 MiG-15UTIs from Czechoslovakia. This order was followed the next year by another batch of additional 24 MiG-15bis. All those fighters were delivered to Egypt which, by October 1956, their pilots were still undergoing training when Israel, backed by the United Kingdom and France, attacked in the course of the Suez Crisis. Most of them were destroyed in the ground during that conflict and, in the afterwards, the Syrian Air Force, ordered the more modern type MiG-17PF.









Sources:
1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_Air_Force
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algerian_Air_Force
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Yemen
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_Air_Force
5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Pakistan_Air_Force
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_Air_Force
7. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Yemen
8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemeni_Air_Force
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Air_Force

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