During the Korean War, MiG Alley was the name given to a strip of airspace on the Korean-Chinese border. Here, Soviet jet fighters known as MiGs unexpectedly turned up to engage much slower American jets, prompting the U.S. to send its F-86 Sabre fighters—the equivalent of MiGs—to take part in some of the fastest dogfights ever seen. The question of what the Soviets were doing over Korea in the first place is one of the issues explored in this NOVA episode. The answer appears to be that Russia was looking for an opportunity to employ its fighters in a real-life battle, and after the Sabre entered the picture, both U.S. and Soviet military powers were keen to score captured enemy jets and pilots. Interviews with former American and Russian fliers reveal much about their countries' objectives at the time, providing insights into what it was like to be interrogated and brainwashed, as well as the sheer difficulty of engaging in battle under the strain of G forces. A fascinating comparison of MiG and Sabre fighters looks at the strengths and weaknesses of each jet, while the story of a Korean pilot's defection to the West—handing the U.S. a prize MiG—makes for powerful drama. In addition, the documentary tracks the search efforts of family members of missing American pilots—in some cases, the unmistakable conclusion is that MIA pilots died in crashes, but in others, there is reason to believe the pilots were captured and wound up in Soviet gulag prisons. A fascinating and often emotional chronicle of early Cold War history—accompanied by printable materials for educators—this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (T. Keogh)
Missing in MiG Alley
(2007) 56 min. DVD: $19.95. WGBH Boston Video. PPR. Closed captioned. ISBN: 978-1-59375-711-3. Volume 23, Issue 4
Missing in MiG Alley
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