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The story of a Yak-23


nscode

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Some of you may have seen this video of the USAF evaluation of Yak-23

 

You must have wondered how it came into US hands. :detective:

 

This is the story, translated from the "Monografija VOCa", or the Monography about VOC. VOC is Vasduhoplovno opitni centar, or Aircraft test center, Yugoslavia.

 

.. a special episode in this period is the examination of Yak-23 and MiG-15 airplanes, after they’ve fallen into Yugoslav arms for a short time. Romanian pilot Mihail Dijakonu defected to Yugoslavia on a Yak-23 jet. The news of this event was not made public for 35 days. Later, another jet, a MiG-15 (number 25) lost its way and flew into Yugoslavia from Hungary. Yak-23 was completely intact, but the MiG-15 broke one of its landing gear legs during the emergency landing. In greatest secrecy, the MiG-15 was repaired, and tests began on both aircraft at the VOC. Pilots who flew these airplanes were captains Vodopivec (17 flights on the Yak, 8,27h in duration and 6 flights on the MiG, 2,40h) and Todorovic (3 flights on the Yak with 1,14h and 3 on the Mig - 1,56h), while captain Prebeg flew only on the Yak-23 (1 flight, 20 minutes). The data saved from this flights show that aircraft gunnery was under test. Yak was soon disassembled and transferred in crates to the USA for testing. The airplane was turned over to the Americans and tested at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and was then returned in a C-124 Globemaster transporter to the “cooperative East-European owner”. For more than 40 years, these tests have remained a secret for the history of American Air Force.

 

Both aircraft were returned to ther owners (Romania and Hungary). Hungary also got their pilot back (who didn't deflect, but was simply lost), but Romanian pilot was granted political asylum.


Edited by nscode

Never forget that World War III was not Cold for most of us.

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What a story! :)

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Great story NSC!

 

The other important mark I'd like to add is that Yugoslavia was leaning onto US at that time, we remember Tito had major issues with Stalin 'cause he didn't practice a harsh communism in Yugoslavia which didn't meet Stalin's plans in Balkans!

 

So Yugoslav People's army was armed with lot's of US inventory at that time, some may remember use of P-80 Shooting Star, F-84 Thunderjet and F-86E and F-86D Sabre between 1961-1974!

 

800px-JRV_F-86D_Sabre_Dog.jpg

 

probably some of the US planes Yugoslavia used was thanks to Hungarian and Romanian pilots!

[sIGPIC][/sIGPIC]

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