MiG versus Meteor

Challenging the Myth

A story board in the Korean War display at the Australian War Memorial asserts that, “after the first encounter between [RAAF] Meteors and [Chinese] MiGs … it was clear that the MiGs outclassed the Meteors in nearly every way”, a judgment that represents received wisdom. It is, however, inconsistent with the facts.

For the first five months of the Korean War, the RAAF’s No. 77 Squadron, flying P-51 Mustangs, made a vital contribution in the ground attack role. However, the appearance of Chinese Air Force MiG-15s in November 1950 indicated that the air war had entered a new and more dangerous phase.