Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F, part eleven, more Asian and Middle-East users

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17F was supplied to many countries all around the globe. Among them, the following ones:

• Indonesia: As Indonesia grew closer to communism, the country got closer to the Easter bloc, so in the early 1960s many Soviet-built aircraft were supplied. At least 40 of them were deployed in three airfields in Morotai (northern Makulu), Amahai (Seram) and Letfuan (Banda islands, south-west of Papua). They were deployed at Morotai against PRRI-PERMESTA and the Republic of South Maluku separatists. Their primary mission was to provide air cover for airlift and aerial logistics during the infiltration in Papua and, if the war broke out, they would've provided escort for both Tupolev Tu-16 and Ilyushin Il-28. Some of them were part of an Indonesian aerobatics squadron commanded by Rusmin Nurjadin, who became Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Air Force in 1966.
• Iraq: After the King or Iraq was overthrown in 1958, the Soviets quickly supplied MiG-17Fs among other aircraft to the Iraqi Air Force, to replace the De Havilland Vampire. During the 1960s and early 1970s many more of them were purchased and then forwarded to Syria or Egypt to aid them in the Arab-Israeli Wars. In 1961 the 5th Squadron, based at Rashid Air Base and the 7th Squadron, based at Kirkuk Air Base, were fully equipped with MiG-17F. They were all replaced by more modern types during the 1970s.
• Israel: On 12th August 1968 two Syrian MiG-17Fs landed at the abandoned Betzet air strip, in the northern part of the country. It seems that the pilots were using very outdated maps and landed there by mistake. Both pilots, Lt. Walid Adham and 2nd Lt. Radfan Rifai, were taken prisoners and were released two years later in an exchange of prisoners. The machines were transported to Ramat-David Air Force Base where they were tested, and then sold to the United States. 
• Mongolia: As Mongolia was a Soviet puppet, the Mongolian People's Army Air Force acquired in the mid 1950s at least 36 MiG-17F fighters which were kept in active service until 1990. As we couldn't find graphical information about the MiG-17F in Mongolian colours, the drawing and serial number must be considered as speculative.
• North Korea: The North Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force acquired many MiG-17F in the early 1960s and has kept them in active service even nowadays. Apparently the ones that are officially active are in very bad condition and their flightworthiness is at least questionable. 
• North Yemen: Apparently the Yemen Arab Republic Air Force had in service some few MiG-17F in the 1960s. They saw action during the border clashes between North and South Yemen and many of them were used against royalist rebels. It seems that during those conflicts, the Yemen Arab Republican Air Force only lost two MiG-17Fs.

Sources:

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

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

3. https://warisboring.com/45650-2/

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

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

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

7. https://www.iaf.org.il/4450-46914-en/IAF.aspx

8. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17, part four, Asian users

Note: This will be the last post before our holidays. See you all back in August!
The basic variant of the MiG-17 saw action with various Asian Air Forces.

• People's Republic of China: The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) adquired a number of MiG-17 in the early 1950s, which were designated as J-4. Most of them served with the PLAAF and were later sold to North Vietnam where they saw some action and were denominated, and often misidentified as Shenyangs.
• Democratic Republic of Afghanistan: After the communist coup of 1978 the Afghan Premier Mohammed Daoud Khan relied heavily on the Soviet material to modernize the Army. The USSR supplied the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan with obsolete MiG-17s which suffered heavy casualties during the Soviet-Afghan War. Some of them were still "active" in 1990 but their airworthiness it's doubtful to say the least.
• Mongolia: The Mongolian People's Army Air Force received some MiG-17s in the early 1960s which constituted the bulk of their fighter force. They were replaced in the 1970s by the MiG-21.
• Sri Lanka: After the 1971 communist insurrection, Ceylon received some Soviet material, among them some MiG-17. They were taken over by the subsequent government and kept in active until the 1990s. Nowadays one of them is preserved in a museum.
• North Vietnam: The North Vietnamese Air Force (NVAF) received its first jet fighter aircraft in February 1964. They weren't based in North Vietnamese soil but in mainland China as they were undergoing formation. On 3rd February 1964 the first fighter regiment, No.921 fighter regiment was formed, led by Lt. Col. Nguyen Phuc Trach. Few "pure" (IE Soviet made) MiG-17s served with the NVAF.

Sources:

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

2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam_People%27s_Air_Force

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

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

5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolian_People%27s_Army

6. Salamander Books - The Complete Book of Fighters

Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI, part seven, Asian users part one

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15UTI saw also loads of action in the Asian continent. Here are some countries where it was used:

• Cambodia: The Royal Cambodian Air Force got a single MiG-15UTI by order of the Prince Sihanouk in November 1963 which received many colour patterns during its active live. It operated with the intervention group in the ground-support role. It passed on to the Khmer Air Force and was most probably destroyed during the subsequent combats that ended with the triumph of the Democratic Kampuchea.
• Indonesia: Due to the rise of the Communist Party of Indonesia, the country got closer to the eastern bloc. That's why the Indonesian Air Force bought a batch of Soviet aircraft, among them some MiG-15UTIs from Czechoslovakia. They served as the main trainer of the air force during the decade of the 1960s and served alongside the Aero L-29 until they were phased out.
• Mongolia: The MiG-15UTI was the main trainer of the Mongolian People's Army Air Force. They received it in the late 1960s and early 1970s and they continue to serve in that role until the fall of communism in that country, in 1992.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_MiG-15

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

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

4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongolian_People%27s_Army_Air_Force