Poles over Korea

[Sabro 27]

1. OPLMB (Ochotniczy Pułk Lotnictwa Myśliwsko Bombowego - Volunteer Fighter Bomber Aviation Regiment) is a Polish mercenary unit, paid by UN, to fly strike and patrol missions over Korea.

 

On June 25, 1950, North Korea surprised South Korea's forces with a sudden attack. As the UN kicked in, they had to gather all the units they had to help repulse the attack. The USN, USAF, USMC, US Army, RAF and other UN members barely stopped the massive invasion of North Korea, China and USSR. The authorities decided to create a squadron, made of WW2 aces, which wanted to help. Only fewer replied, but that wasn't enough. Hopefully, one of the pilots of Polish origin, wanted to create an unit, made of Poles, that didn't return to the fatherland. The regiment was named similarly to current Polish People's Army units. And so 1. OPLMB, with 16 Polish ace pilots from RAF, USAF and other air forces, were given 16 obsolete P-51D Mustangs. Hopefully the pilots showed the better side of their history and quickly became one of the most effective squadron during the Korean War.

 

 

One of the very first squadron's mission was to bomb the HQ near Seoul. The picture shows P-51Ds with early, US like markings.

 

 

Mostly 4 of the Mustangs were sent on patrols. The pilots only met Yak-9P Franks.

 

 

Squadron Leader with his wingman over the Yellow Sea.

[xrearl 27]

nice!No very nice

Edited April 22, 2016 by xrearl

[Wrench 9,596]

actually, like their Russian counterparts, the aircraft should be carrying Chinese or NK marking. Otherwise, it too obvious, and there'd be major reprocussions 

[+daddyairplanes 9,009]

If I understood correctly, this was more like Polish ex pat pilots, flying for the UN.

[Do335 382]

The pilots only met Yak-9P Franks.

if you fly the 2 early campaigns, the oppos are Yaks and IL10s only, so shouldn't be too hard even for mustangs:D Edited April 23, 2016 by Do335

[Sabro 27]

if you fly the 2 early campaigns, the oppos are Yaks and IL10s only, so shouldn't be too hard even for mustangs:D

 

I'ma check the later campaigns, so the 'pilots' will meet the MiGs :D

 

Amazing mod btw ;)

Edited April 23, 2016 by Sabro

[Sabro 27]

The Black Sunday - 04 November 1950 - mission name given by the squadron members, who took a part of it, after completing it.

 

As the war kept on going on, the USAF started reporting enemy jet fighters, mostly Chinese and Soviet MiG-15 Fagots. After 1.OPLMB's successes, the UN officially set the squadron status as Fighter Squadron. The unit was given a mission to intercept North Korean Il-10 Beasts. As they reached one of the checkpoints, one of the pilots reported two MiG-15 fighters under them. Squadron Leader decided to engage the enemy, and so, the unit was the first to shoot down a jet, using a prop plane. 6 MiG-15s were shot down during the engagement, but one of the P-51s was badly damaged. As the situation calmed down, they continued the mission. Finally, they spotted the primary target, an Il-10 formation. 'This russian piece of shit was the one of the most strong planes I've ever engaged in my career' - said the Squadron Leader after coming back to the airbase. One of the Il-10s was shot down, but a while after, another one was heavily damaged. Then happened the worst: one of the pilots rammed one of the barely flying Il-10. His unit friends could only see his P-51 going down in flames, while hearing the pilot scream on the radio. When they came back to base, a black flag was hang...

 

 

Formation of the P-51Ds, just before meeting the MiGs.

 

 

Squadron Leader's close call with one of the MiGs. One he almost hit, was later the first shot down.

 

 

Squadron's first shot down MiG-15.

 

 

 

 

Few of the rest shot down Fagots.

 

 

Il-10 shot down by the Squadron Leader.

 

 

The saddest moment: P-51D going down in flames.

[Do335 382]

i'm outta likes so, good job, very brave!

[Sabro 27]

The New Ride - 1. OPLM has became one of the most effective UN squadrons during the Korean War, so they have been given 16 unused F-86A-5 Sabres.

 

After the astonishing results in the P-51Ds, UN authorities decided to give the squadron a chance to shine - 16 brand new F-86s. They were supposed to be assigned to another USAF squadron, so the Americans switched to F-80s instead.

About 8 pilots were able to fly, so the squadron flown it's first mission on the new planes in a really big formation. As the MiG-15s were spotted - the hell began. Shells everywhere - everyone was shooting everyone. As a result of this disorder, 7 MiGs were shot down at the cost of 2 F-86s.

The flight was really long. But the final was just about to start. A group of 8 MiGs appeared, led by the ace of the Soviet Union, Lt Col Grigori Kozhedub. As the chaos started, the Squadron Leader quickly targeted Kozhedub's MiG and fired a short burst. The plane was hit, but almost no damage were dealt.

Then the F-86 showed up right behind Kozhedub and fired the deadly burst into his engine, which set afire. He was later captured by UN forces and became POW.

The mission was a big success and led to increasing morale of the squadron.

 

 

First jet to jet dogfight, won by the F-86 pilot.

 

 

Closer look on the F-86 after shooting down another MiG.

 

 

Squadron Leader watching Kozhedub's MiG-15 going down in flames.

[Sabro 27]

War Victim - a mission to rescue the North Korean deserter.

 

The spring of 1951 was a good period for the UN forces. A lot of enemy units were destroyed or abandoned, but that still wasn't enough to win the war. The 1. OPLM received a call from Kim Choi - a North Korean MiG-15 pilot who wanted to escape the communist country and start a new life. 4 F-86s were sent to the meeting point. Kim knew English pretty well, so he told them that there are two other MiG-15s chasing him. The F-86 formation divided to two pairs which succesfully shot down enemy fighters. Kim was escorted to 1. OPLM's airbase. He couldn't prove his happiness other way than giving his MiG-15 to the squadron and showing the pilot the instructions. He later moved to United States. The MiG-15 he left at the airbase was repainted. Squadron Leader decided to give it a try. Just as he taxied to the runway, an alarm started. A big Il-10 formation approaching the airbase was annouced on the radio. "This was the perfect opportunity to test this badboy" - said the Squadron Leader after landing. He took off and quickly spotted bogies.

He applied airbrakes to get behind the Il-10s and fired a short burst. The recoil of the guns made him miss his target, but the second burst hit the enemy's tail, forcing him to turn back. He shot at the second Il-10, which exploded really quick. As his formation members joined him, at least 4 Il-10s were already shot down. Squadron Leader managed to kill one more, then he was out of ammo. His decision was one of the craziest in his life - fly as close to the Il-10 and shot the pilot with his gun from the cockpit. He opened the canopy, flown just by the plane, and took his gun. He fired one shot, he missed. Second hurt the gunner, and the third and the last bullet was shot directly at the Il-10s pilot head. Then he turned back to airbase and annouced a big party this night.

"We need to get more of these" - he said pointing at the MiG...

 

 

Choi's MiG-15 after repainting it.

 

 

The MiG-15 was hit by an Il-10 gunner.

 

 

One of the Il-10s Squadron Leader shot down.

 

 

MiG-15 passing the rest of Il-10s after running out of ammo.

 

 

Close encounter with the Il-10.