MiG Alley: The US Air Force in Korea, 1950–53 Kindle Edition

I found the book very informative and interesting. It had a lot of iteresting iofo about the KOREAN WAR

Thomas Cleaver has knitted together a history of the air war in Korea. He’s also provided the reader with an inside view of the fighting from both the UN perspective and that of the North Koreans, Chinese and Soviets. In a word, fascinating. He reports dog fights from all combatants point of view.Much of the narrative centers on the UN/US strategy and tactics. It also introduces many of the key players from both sides. While, of course, personally not having any connection to the enemy combatants, some of the UN names are ever-so familiar—Gabrinski, Jabara, Fernandez, Baker, Davis, McConnell et al. These USAF fliers (the Navy contribution was included but certainly not highlighted) carried the fight to MiG Alley and fought it out. The ultimate score was a draw by the best analysis to date.A major part of the book covers the development and performance of all of the Air Force fighters and bombers of the day. The B-29 faired OK and also not OK. Quickly it was relegated to night bombing only and its effect became less than needed. The F-51 (nostalgically known as the P-51) suffered after a year of combat. The B-26, likewise, was limited because this was the jet age. The Shooting Star, F -84 and early F-86 struggles to perform up to expectations against the MiG-15. Later, however, the F-86E & F came on line and changed control of the skies, especially in MiG Alley. The F-86E & F rocked the skies!The book introduces the reader to real Amwrican hero’s flying on the edge. The competition to be the best is intense. Ace. Ace. Ace. Read this fine history of the Korean War (forgotten by history) and give credit to the great aviators who contributes to it.

Perhaps I could use this headline for nearly any more or less accurate story of combat; it was certainly true of Korea even in the air. I'm an ex-USAF pilot and a Vietnam era AF Academy graduate, an airplane modeler. I was in grade school in nearby Lubbock, TX, when Lt. Col George Davis was the leading Sabre ace - and when he died. For 75+ years, I've read most things I could find on the Korean Air War, esp. Sabres v. :Migs; as it happens I'm building a couple of F-86 models (one more for me, another for a friend) at the moment. The book is good motivation for my hobbywork. It is simply the best single volume on the young USAF in Korea, the whole air war, not just the aces, I've yet read. It includes enough of the war's political/military background to be helpful in setting the stage for the war. Make sure you and your friends read the Intro; it's worth the price of the book in making you think about the present. Cleaver, a successful screenwriter, can indeed write. The book is a good read, (but not reading lite). To the degree of my knowledge, it's accurate, and it has a decent couple of photo sections (but it's not at all a photo book). I will read this again soon, as well as Cleaver's other (several) air war books. This book's a painless way to learn a history we NEED to know, and don't. I salute you, Mr. Cleaver. Thank you for your service - and for your service in writing this book. So. at the risk of sounding like the years ago military officer (and airplane nut) that I am, I'll close by saying "Buy it. Read it."

I became familiar with Tom Cleaver's works over the years in the scale modelling community. I'm one of those classic lurkers who never really post, but continually enjoy the level of art and detail people can insert into a lump of plastic. Mr. Cleaver is one of the most prolific aviation modelers I've come across and he's also one of the best. With nearly every aircraft model he displays in the forums he provides accurate historical perspective for both the machines and the men that flew them. If you want to get an idea of the idea of the true gestation period of the P-51 in WWII, or maybe you want to achieve accuracy in the color scheme of a particular aircraft or the pitfalls of a particular kit Tom Cleaver is in the forefront providing advice and letting you know. Like my fellow modelers, I tend to be a bit wonkish about history and historical accuracy. Which brings me to why I got this book, "MiG Alley: The US Air Force in Korea, 1950–53." It started out simply enough with a question I asked Tom, "Why were we using something like the P-51 with its vulnerable liquid cooled engine for ground attack 5 to 7 years later in Korea?" Tom provided some high level explanations, but he also directed me to his book and this is where you get the details of why. But, you get a lot more than that! The Amazon lead in to this book nails it! It is "an in-depth analysis of the US Air Force's war in Korea, packed with interesting and exciting personal stories based on first-person testimony from both American and Soviet sources." You'll have a better understanding of the real story of what American/U.N. pilots were dealing with in the skies over Korea and it was no 10:1 or 11:1 kill ratio cakewalk. The real kill ratio was much closer to parity and the point is well made that the story of their perseverance is all the better and more admirable for it. So, a big thank you to Tom Cleaver for doing the research at putting it out there in such a great narrative. I definitely recommend "MiG Alley..." for aviation enthusiasts and history buffs alike. You won't be disappointed!

This account is in-depth, and appears to be well researched. I don't feel any obvious omissions or errors are present.But it is a fairly dry account of the air war.Interesting, but not very entertaining. It can be kind of a slog.

Lots of great information in this read - reading Chapter 4 ‘Messerschmitt vs Tank’ made me realize just how American and Soviet jet design weighed upon German WWII research. Finishing the book, you get a better perspective on what the Aerial Kill Ratio actually was at different stages of the Korean War.

Bem interessante e tecnicamente informado

Well written account of the Korean air war, giving accounts from pilots on both sides. Author very good, have now bought another of his.

Un ouvrage qui remet les pendules à l'heure en ce qui concerne les "scores" très favorables à l'aviation de chasse américaine. Bien sourcé, ce livre montre que les MiG-15 nord-coréens (pilotés par les Russes et les Chinois) résistèrent avec une certaine efficacité dans les combats aériens contre les F-86 Sabre !

a too detailed, even boring, history of the air war over Korea, in the early '50s it is an honest and very carefully written book, I appreciate it however I feel only those with a strong focus on the matter would read all of it...