Hobby Master 1:72 Mig-15bis, 196th IAP "Lt. Col. E G Pepelyaev" Antung China, 1952 HA2401

The MiG-15 (NATO name Fagot) was designed from information and technology
gathered from captured WWII Germans. The main features of the Mig-15 were its
simplicity and swept wings. The MiG-15bis was an improved single-seat fighter with
better cannon, fuel capacity, avionics and a Klimov turbojet engine developed using an
unlicensed Rolls-Royce Nene engine. All this was put in a strengthened airframe. The
Allies were completely surprised when the Mig-15 arrived in Korea and quickly brought
about the development of the F-86 Sabre.

Under the command of Colonel Yevgeny Pepelyayev the Soviet 196th IAP (IAP =
Istrevitelnye Avia Polk: Fighter Aviation Regiment) arrived in Manchuria in January 1951.
During his year at Antung Air Base he flew 109 combat sorties, 38 aerial combats, and
credited with 19 victories. On January 15, 1952 Pepelyayev flew his last combat sortie in Korea. Back in the Soviet Union on April 22 1952, Pepelyayev was awarded the Golden Star medal - Hero of the Soviet Union, the highest Soviet military decoration.