Azerbaijan MiG-15bis

[comrade harps]

Mig-15bis Fagot
a/c Red 44, 312 Eskadrily, 3 Alay, Azərbaycan Hərbi Hava Qüvvələri (Azerbaijan Air Forces), Totana Airfield, Spanish Socialist Republic, 16 April 1954





The MiG-15bis was designed to have a nominal surface attack capability, but most were built as pure air-to-air fighters. During 1953-54, over 3,000 Mig-15bis fighters were converted into fighter-bombers as Fresco and Fluffy fighters surged into frontline squadrons. Changes included revised cannon arrangements, and the addition of bomb racks and rocket mounts. Conversions were completed by a variety of organisations, resulting in several standards. The most extreme, the MiG-15ISH, featured 2 wing-mounted beam-like pylons each capable of carrying 2 bombs in tandem or upto 3 rocket pods. Some variants had their Socialist Union designed cannon replaced by British 30mm ADEN (Mig-15bisADEN) or French DEFA 551 (Mig-15bisDEFA) cannon. Most, though, retained their standard gun armament and had conventional wing pylons for rockets and light bombs. These models collectively retained their MiG-15bis designation.






This MiG-15bis was armed with the standard pair of 23mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 and single 36mm Nudelman N-37 cannon. It carries 6 160mm S-3K rockets with armour piercing high explosive warheads. These were a new type of rocket used against tanks and hardened defensive positions. 







This MiG-15bis, a/c Red 44, is of 312 Eskadrily, 3 Alay, Azərbaycan Hərbi Hava Qüvvələri (Azerbaijan Air Forces). 3 Alay deployed for combat duties in March 1954. Operating from bases in the Spanish Republic, 3 Alay consisted of 310 Eskadrily (flying Mig-17F fighters with blue trim), 311 Eskadrily (MiG-15bis fighter-bombers with green trim) and 312 Eskadrily (Mig-15bis fighter-bombers with red trim). Red 44 is modelled as photographed armed with S-3K rockets at Totana Airfield on 16 April, 1954. On this day the Reds launched Operation Tramuntana, the invasion of North Africa from Morocco to Tunisia. 



The units of 3 Alay flew together on morning and afternoon strikes on the 16th. The first attacked the UN airfield at Tafraoui, near Oran, in French occupied Algeria soon after dawn. The second mission, late in the afternoon, attacked defensive positions on the Oran seafront. UN fighters and flak were encountered on both missions, 3 Alay losing 2 MiG-15bis and a MiG-17F to enemy action. In return they claimed the destruction of "numerous" UN aircraft on the ground at Tafraoui and 3 USAF F-86F Sabres in air combat. 



Lieutenant Elvin Jafarquliyev flew 312 Eskadrily's Red 44 on both missions. On the Tafraoui strike he used the S-3K rockets to hit a line of revetments holding F-86F Sabres of the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing. Most of the unit's Sabres were already in the air, meaning that many of the pens were empty, but Lt. Jafarquliyev said in his post combat report that he saw "2 or 3 Sabres hit." He also strafed air defence positions giving return fire. The afternoon mission saw 3 Alay hit gun emplacements around the port of Oran. Jafarquliyev used his S-3Ks to target fortified defences. Turning for home, Jafarquliyev was engaged by a F-86F flown by Captain Tyler Adams of the 72nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron, USAF. The pair tangled in a low altitude dogfight for a few moments until the Azerbaijan pilot scored an engine hit with the MiG-15's 37mm cannon. Captain Adams, his Sabre's engine disintegrating, disengaged and ejected safely, only to be captured by armed Red wharfies and taken prisoner. He was released via Turkey in a 1972 prisoner exchange. Lt. Jafarquliyev, low on fuel, landed at Almeria to refuel.



Jafarquliyev would survive 55 combat sorties during Operation Tramuntana. He would go on to have a successful career in the Azerbaijan Air Forces, flying MiG-19SFs, MiG-21PF and MF Fishbeds and Su-9 Fishpots. This included a 1958 combat tour flying from bases in southern Spain. Piloting MiG-19SFs, he was credited with shooting down a Free French F-100C Super Sabre, a Mexican F-86H Sabre, 3 F-100D Super Sabres (2 USAF, 1 Pakistani), a Canadian Sabre Mk.6, an RAAF CAC Sabre Mk.32 and a Brazilian Air Force F-86F. His kills earned Jafarquliyev the nickname of Qılınc Qatili (Sabre Killer). He retired with the rank of Polkovnik (Colonel) and is credited with being Azerbaijan's first flying ace.

[Luftwaffe1946]

Mig-15bis Fagot
a/c Red 44, 312 Eskadrily, 3 Alay, Azərbaycan Hərbi Hava Qüvvələri (Azerbaijan Air Forces), Totana Airfield, Spanish Socialist Republic, 16 April 1954





The MiG-15bis was designed to have a nominal surface attack capability, but most were built as pure air-to-air fighters. During 1953-54, over 3,000 Mig-15bis fighters were converted into fighter-bombers as Fresco and Fluffy fighters surged into frontline squadrons. Changes included revised cannon arrangements, and the addition of bomb racks and rocket mounts. Conversions were completed by a variety of organisations, resulting in several standards. The most extreme, the MiG-15ISH, featured 2 wing-mounted beam-like pylons each capable of carrying 2 bombs in tandem or upto 3 rocket pods. Some variants had their Socialist Union designed cannon replaced by British 30mm ADEN (Mig-15bisADEN) or French DEFA 551 (Mig-15bisDEFA) cannon. Most, though, retained their standard gun armament and had conventional wing pylons for rockets and light bombs. These models collectively retained their MiG-15bis designation.






This MiG-15bis was armed with the standard pair of 23mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 and single 36mm Nudelman N-37 cannon. It carries 6 160mm S-3K rockets with armour piercing high explosive warheads. These were a new type of rocket used against tanks and hardened defensive positions.







This MiG-15bis, a/c Red 44, is of 312 Eskadrily, 3 Alay, Azərbaycan Hərbi Hava Qüvvələri (Azerbaijan Air Forces). 3 Alay deployed for combat duties in March 1954. Operating from bases in the Spanish Republic, 3 Alay consisted of 310 Eskadrily (flying Mig-17F fighters with blue trim), 311 Eskadrily (MiG-15bis fighter-bombers with green trim) and 312 Eskadrily (Mig-15bis fighter-bombers with red trim). Red 44 is modelled as photographed armed with S-3K rockets at Totana Airfield on 16 April, 1954. On this day the Reds launched Operation Tramuntana, the invasion of North Africa from Morocco to Tunisia.



The units of 3 Alay flew together on morning and afternoon strikes on the 16th. The first attacked the UN airfield at Tafraoui, near Oran, in French occupied Algeria soon after dawn. The second mission, late in the afternoon, attacked defensive positions on the Oran seafront. UN fighters and flak were encountered on both missions, 3 Alay losing 2 MiG-15bis and a MiG-17F to enemy action. In return they claimed the destruction of "numerous" UN aircraft on the ground at Tafraoui and 3 USAF F-86F Sabres in air combat.



Lieutenant Elvin Jafarquliyev flew 312 Eskadrily's Red 44 on both missions. On the Tafraoui strike he used the S-3K rockets to hit a line of revetments holding F-86F Sabres of the 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing. Most of the unit's Sabres were already in the air, meaning that many of the pens were empty, but Lt. Jafarquliyev said in his post combat report that he saw "2 or 3 Sabres hit." He also strafed air defence positions giving return fire. The afternoon mission saw 3 Alay hit gun emplacements around the port of Oran. Jafarquliyev used his S-3Ks to target fortified defences. Turning for home, Jafarquliyev was engaged by a F-86F flown by Captain Tyler Adams of the 72nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron, USAF. The pair tangled in a low altitude dogfight for a few moments until the Azerbaijan pilot scored an engine hit with the MiG-15's 37mm cannon. Captain Adams, his Sabre's engine disintegrating, disengaged and ejected safely, only to be captured by armed Red wharfies and taken prisoner. He was released via Turkey in a 1972 prisoner exchange. Lt. Jafarquliyev, low on fuel, landed at Almeria to refuel.



Jafarquliyev would survive 55 combat sorties during Operation Tramuntana. He would go on to have a successful career in the Azerbaijan Air Forces, flying MiG-19SFs, MiG-21PF and MF Fishbeds and Su-9 Fishpots. This included a 1958 combat tour flying from bases in southern Spain. Piloting MiG-19SFs, he was credited with shooting down a Free French F-100C Super Sabre, a Mexican F-86H Sabre, 3 F-100D Super Sabres (2 USAF, 1 Pakistani), a Canadian Sabre Mk.6, an RAAF CAC Sabre Mk.32 and a Brazilian Air Force F-86F. His kills earned Jafarquliyev the nickname of Qılınc Qatili (Sabre Killer). He retired with the rank of Polkovnik (Colonel) and is credited with being Azerbaijan's first flying ace.

Very interesting.....

[Old Wombat]

That's pretty, for a MIG, but then I am partial to those "amoeba" style schemes. 

[su27rules]

  

[sandiego89]

Attractive color scheme. Nicely done

[chrisonord]

I am liking that Comrade 

[HarryPhishnuts]

That's a great looking build. Superb job on the camo 

[frank2056]

I love the camo. Is this the 1/72 Eduard kit?

[comrade harps]

I love the camo. Is this the 1/72 Eduard kit?

Hobby Boss.

[comrade harps]

That's pretty, for a MIG, but then I am partial to those "amoeba" style schemes. 

I had to think about the amoeba for a moment, but l get it and like the name. Thank you.

[NARSES2]

Come out well, looks good 

[DogfighterZen]

Very nice camo and choice of colors!