Scale Models - View Single Post - Mig-21 P/f "fishbed" Nva

**GEEDUBBYA** · 21-01-2008

Howdy guys,

First thanks for the kind words. As for the markings, yes alot of other countries have used a design similiar to the US "Stars and Bars" aircraft insignia. Now as to whether the Communist North Viet-Namese used this insignia to fool US forces, I would seriously doubt it. The Mig-21 fishbed, the Mig-19 farmer and the Mig-15 are all well known. Although the Mig-15 does at first glance look alot like the F-86 Sabre which fought against the North Koreans during the Korean war, by the time of the viet nam conflict, the Sabre was being phased out of the US inventory.

However, during the Viet name conflict, the US was in the process of installing a device invented in the UK during wwII, the "RFID reader" (Radio frequency Identification Reader) which reads the transponders of aircraft alerting the pilot as to whether the approaching aircraft in question is "friend or foe".
Now not all US aircraft had these 'little black boxes" but as time progressed during the conflict more and more US aircraft were fitted with them.

Another thing that would probably prevent confusion was the paint scheme. By the time of viet nam conflict, the US was camoflauging most of their aircraft, the Mig-21 for the most part remained a bright silver which is highly visible at great distances. Just the "glint" of silver in the distance would sometimes be enough to alert US pilots of the presence of the aircraft even if the radar hadnt discovered the mig yet.

Another thing, the mig-21 was "top of the line" in eastern block military aircraft and was not used on every mission, the viet namese had access to limited numbers of these aircraft and they were usually "kept in reserve" and when they were flown, it was usually not a North Viet namese pilot flying the aircraft according to historical accounts, but instead a soviet pilot sent to North viet name as a "military advisor".

If you would like to read more on the RFID, do a search in google where i am sure you will find all sorts of information.

have a good day and thanks again for the kind words,

Greg

21-01-2008	#5 (permalink)
GEEDUBBYA Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Pine Bluff, Arkansas Real Name: Greg My Models: model planes tanks and helicopters as well as missiles and rockets Visit GEEDUBBYA's Gallery Posts: 1,002 Images: 329	*Howdy guys,* First thanks for the kind words. As for the markings, yes alot of other countries have used a design similiar to the US "Stars and Bars" aircraft insignia. Now as to whether the Communist North Viet-Namese used this insignia to fool US forces, I would seriously doubt it. The Mig-21 fishbed, the Mig-19 farmer and the Mig-15 are all well known. Although the Mig-15 does at first glance look alot like the F-86 Sabre which fought against the North Koreans during the Korean war, by the time of the viet nam conflict, the Sabre was being phased out of the US inventory. However, during the Viet name conflict, the US was in the process of installing a device invented in the UK during wwII, the "RFID reader" (Radio frequency Identification Reader) which reads the transponders of aircraft alerting the pilot as to whether the approaching aircraft in question is "friend or foe". *Now not all US aircraft had these 'little black boxes" but as time progressed during the conflict more and more US aircraft were fitted with them.* Another thing that would probably prevent confusion was the paint scheme. By the time of viet nam conflict, the US was camoflauging most of their aircraft, the Mig-21 for the most part remained a bright silver which is highly visible at great distances. Just the "glint" of silver in the distance would sometimes be enough to alert US pilots of the presence of the aircraft even if the radar hadnt discovered the mig yet. Another thing, the mig-21 was "top of the line" in eastern block military aircraft and was not used on every mission, the viet namese had access to limited numbers of these aircraft and they were usually "kept in reserve" and when they were flown, it was usually not a North Viet namese pilot flying the aircraft according to historical accounts, but instead a soviet pilot sent to North viet name as a "military advisor". *If you would like to read more on the RFID, do a search in google where i am sure you will find all sorts of information.* *have a good day and thanks again for the kind words,* *Greg*