Incident Overview
Date: Monday 27 July 1953
Aircraft Type: Ilyushin Il-12
Owner/operator: Soviet Navy
Location: 4 km from Mao-erh-shan –
ÿ China
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 21 / Occupants: 21
Component Affected: F-86F Sabre aircraftF-86F Sabre aircraft
On July 27, 1953, U.S. Air Force Capt. Ralph S. Parr Jr. was flying an escort mission near Chunggang-jin when he observed an unidentified aircraft in the area. He identified it as a North Korean Ilyushin Il-12 and subsequently decided to shoot it down, resulting in a double-ace status. The aircraft crashed in flames, and the Il-12 was later determined to be a Soviet airliner traveling through North Korean airspace to Vladivostok.On July 27, 1953, U.S. Air Force Capt. Ralph S. Parr Jr. was flying an escort mission near Chunggang-jin when he observed an unidentified aircraft in the area. He identified it as a North Korean Ilyushin Il-12 and subsequently decided to shoot it down, resulting in a double-ace status. The aircraft crashed in flames, and the Il-12 was later determined to be a Soviet airliner traveling through North Korean airspace to Vladivostok.
Description
Shortly after noon on July 27, 1953, U.S. Air Force Capt. Ralph S. Parr Jr. was flying an escort mission near Chunggang-jin is his F-86F Sabre (51-12959) when he noted an unknown airplane in the vicinity. Parr reportedly made several passes by, identifying the plane as a North Korean Ilyushin Il-12. Although later that day the newly signed armistice was to bring an end to the Korean War, he decided to shoot down the plane, thereby obtaining the double-ace status. One long burst of gunfire was enough to cause the Il-12 to crash in flames. The Ilyushin later turned out to be a Soviet airliner traveling through North Korean airspace to Vladivostok. The Ilyushin crashed on Chinese soil.
Primary Cause
The incident likely stemmed from a misidentification of an aircraft and the subsequent decision to engage in a shooting action.The incident likely stemmed from a misidentification of an aircraft and the subsequent decision to engage in a shooting action.Share on:
