In the 1950s, a North Korean Pilot Defected to the U.S. with a Fighter Jet, Enraging North Korea: A Global Manhunt Ensued

A minor figure bridged the technological gap between the Soviet and American air forces

On September 21, 1953, a North Korean pilot landed a MiG-15 fighter jet at a U.S. Air Force base in South Korea.

For $100,000 and a U.S. green card, this North Korean pilot betrayed his homeland and handed over the Soviet Air Force’s most advanced fighter jet to the Americans. What became of him?

During the Korean War, the support of the Soviet Union was indispensable for China and North Korea to counter the United Nations forces and ultimately achieve victory.

Notably, the infamous “MiG Alley” was a no-go zone for U.S. fighters, instilling fear at the mere mention of it.

The MiG-15, which established this corridor, ended the myth of the invincibility of the U.S. Air Force’s F-86 Sabre.

From that point on, the U.S. military was desperate to infiltrate the Soviet Union and steal the secrets of the MiG fighter.