<P> The MiG - 15 was a jet aircraft, supplied in large numbers to Chinese and North Korean forces during the war by the Soviet Union . Owing to their modern design (they were at least a match for the best American jet fighter of the time, the F - 86 Sabre), they played a pivotal role in the air war . </P> <P> At the outbreak of the war, the North Koreans flying Soviet aircraft like the IL - 10 ground attack aircraft and Yak - 9P fighters were easily outclassed by modern American jet aircraft such as Lockheed F - 80 Shooting Star and Republic F - 84 Thunderjet fighters, which meant that UN forces quickly achieved air superiority . </P> <P> By contrast, when the MiG - 15 appeared in Korea, it immediately challenged this air superiority, since it could outclass all fixed - wing American jets in Korea at the time (not to mention the aged propeller - driven P - 51 Mustang). It is believed that Soviet pilots (who all flew MiG - 15s) shot down 142 - 1,106 UN aircraft (depending on whose estimate is used) during the duration of the war, a higher kill total than that of comparable UN units . Despite this superior performance, the MiGs main goal was to counter the USAF B - 29 Superfortress bombers rather than dogfight with other fighters . </P> <P> Recognising the importance of the MiG, the UN command devised Operation Moolah to encourage a MiG pilot to defect to South Korea with a functional MiG for testing . $100,000 (USD) and political asylum were offered as a reward, and North Korean pilot Lieutenant No Kum - Sok eventually defected in September 1953 (claiming to be unaware of the reward), finally providing the US with an example for testing . </P>

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