MiG-19 fighter jet

The MiG19 was the Soviet Union’s first supersonic fighter jet. Developed in September 1953 by the MikoyanGurevich design bureau, it was the main Soviet fighter jet in the late 1950s. The NATO reporting name for the MiG19 was Farmer. While the MiG19 was replaced early on by newer aircraft including the MiG21 in the Soviet Union, the jet was produced under license by the Chinese as well, and more than 2,800 were operated well into the 2000s. North Korea also operated 60 Chinesmade J6 variants. The MiG19 is especially wellknown in Korea as the aircraft flown by Captain Lee Woongpyung of the North Korean Air Force when he defected to the Republic of Korea. On February 25, 1983, North Korea declared a state of war in response to the Team Spirit war games of the US Forces in Korea. A North Korean MiG19 that had taken off from Gaecheon Airfield in Pyeongannamdo for rocket fire exercises suddenly broke from formation and flew south. The lone MiG19 was piloted by Captain Lee Woongpyung of the North Korean Air Force. Passing over Haeju, he crossed the Northern Limit Line above Yeonpyeongdo Island and safely landed at Suwon Airbase. Captain Lee who had boldly piloted his aircraft into the arms of freedom was a graduate of the Gimchaek Air Force Academy and a member of the North Korean elite. His choice to defect, leaving behind a successful career with good prospects, was a reminder to the Korean people of the value of liberal democracy. Three months after defecting, Captain Lee was commissioned as an Air Force Major of the Republic of Korea Air Force. He made great contributions to enhancing South Korea’s Air Force capabilities, training Korean pilots on North Korean air tactics and producing a variety of research output.