Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17PF, part three, European Users 2

With almost 700 machines manufactured, the MiG-17PF was exported to most (if not every) countries inside the Warsaw Pact. In many of these it was the first radar-equipped jet fighter. According to our sources, 698 machines were manufactured between 1954 and 1956 alone at Aerial Factories number 21 and 31 located at Gorky and Tblisi respectively. Among the various users the MiG-17PF served with, apart from those we posted in the first part (or part two, depending on your way of counting) are the following ones:

• Bulgaria: In 1955 the Bulgarian People's Air Force received a batch of MiG-17F and PFs. They served for a long time alongside the more advanced MiG-19, until the late 1970s when they were replaced by the MiG-21 and MiG-23. In fact, by 1989 there wasn't any MiG-17 of any kind in active role with the Bulgarian Air Force.
• Czechoslovakia: The Czechoslovak Air Force bought some few MiG-17PF from the USSR and got them into service. They also obtained a license to manufacture it locally under the designation of Aero S-104. We didn't find exact numbers of the production of the S-104, but they were manufactured at Aero Vodochody, in Prague, from 1956 until at least 1962 (if not later). They served until the very late 1970s when they were replaced by more modern types.
• East Germany: In 1956, with the creation of the Air Forces of the National People's Army, the MiG-17PF was supplied to the NVA (Nationale Volksarmee). It was, together with the regular MiG-17F the main bulk of the NVA fighter force. The PFs served alongside more advanced types like the MiG-19 until being replaced by more advanced types in the fighter role, namely the MiG-21 or the MiG-23.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-17

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_Air_Force

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovak_Air_Force

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Forces_of_the_National_People%27s_Army

5. https://www.valka.cz/Mikojan-Gurevic-MiG-17PF-kod-NATO-Fresco-D-t44624

6. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17PF, part two, European Users

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17PF is a high subsonic fighter produced in the USSR from 1954 until 1956, and until 1960 in Poland. It was a regular MiG-17F equipped with an Izumrud RP-2 radar placed in a radome at the frontal air intake of the aircraft. It was powered by the Klimov VK-1F engine which had a thrust power of 5046 lb and was armed with three cannons; two 23 mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 autocannon and one 37 mm Nudelman N-37 placed in the nose under the engine. It had two pylons with a capacity of up to 500 kg in stores with provisions to carry a combination of rockets or bombs, but most of them carried additional external fuel tanks. It was exported to most of Warsaw Pact countries:

• Hungary: In 1954 a batch of MiG-17PF was delivered to the Hungarian Air Force. They served 1974 when they were replaced by more modern types.
• Romania: Just like Hungary, Romania got a batch of PFs in 1954. They were kept in active for a long period of time as some of them were still active in the late 1980s when communism fell in Romania. 
• USSR: The MiG-17PF served alongside the MiG-17F in the Soviet Air Defence Forces from the mid-1950s until the late 1960s when they were serving alongside more modern types. They were gradually replaced by more modern types.

Sources:

1. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-17

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Air_Defence_Forces

3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_Air_Force

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_Air_Force

5. https://www.valka.cz/Mikojan-Gurevic-MiG-17PF-kod-NATO-Fresco-D-t44624

6. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17PF, part one, Asian users

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17PF  (NATO codename 'Fresco D') is an all weather fighter variant of the MiG-17F equipped with an Izumrud radar and armed with three 23 mm NR-23 cannons. It was exported to many countries:

• Indonesia: Just like it happened with the MiG-17F, Indonesia got some PFs in the early 1960s (which, unlike the 'F' ones, weren't assigned to the acrobatics squadron). They were deployed together with the 'F' ones in three squadrons, in Maluku, Seram and Banda Islands to provide air cover for the early infiltration in West Papua. Some of them were also present in Leftuan Air Base assigned to close air support duties, replacing some old North-American B-25 Mitchell and Douglas A-26 Invader. 
• Iraq: Apparently, together with the MiG-17F the Iraqi Air Force got some PFs during the 1960s as part of the Soviet aid. They served, most probably, in 5th and 7th squadrons in Rashid and Kirkuk respectively. As we couldn't find graphical information, the drawing should be considered as speculative.
•  North Korea: During the 1970s is known that the North Korean Air Force had active a great number of MiG-17s, among them many PF ones. Apparently some of them may still be active nowadays, but their status is unknown. 
• North Vietnam: Some PFs served with the North Vietnamese Democratic Republic Air Force in the 921st 'Sao Dao' Fighter Regiment. The first PF arrived in North Vietnam during the end of 1965. Their first nocturnal victory came on 3rd February 1966 when, according to North Vietnamese sources, Lam Van Lich (who piloted the fighter depicted below), shot down two A-1H Skyraiders over Cho Ben. Those claims, however, do not match up with USAF loss records.
• Syria: Twenty MiG-17PF were delivered to Syria in 1957 and were assigned to squadrons defending the capital Damascus, based at Mezzeh Military Airport. After the creation of the United Arab Republic in February 1958, the air force was reformed and a fully-equipped MiG-17PF squadron was formed, called No.31 'Crow Bat' squadron. After the end of the United Arab Republic, the squadron was reinforced. However this time it was also equipped with regular MiG-17Fs. They served well until the 1970s passing over two wars, the Six-Days War in 1967 and the Yom-Kippur War in 1973.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-17#Asia

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesian_Air_Force

3. https://www.valka.cz/Mikojan-Gurevic-MiG-17PF-kod-NATO-Fresco-D-t44624

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_People%27s_Army_Air_and_Anti-Air_Force

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraqi_Air_Force

6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Air_Force

7. Osprey Publishing - Aircraft of the Aces 130 - MiG-17/19 Aces of the Vietnam War

8. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters