This is coolbert: During the Korean War, American F-86 [Sabrejet] pilots, flying missions against MIG-15 communist aircraft, encountered two types of pilots. One was very proficient, the other, woefully inept. The former were referred to as "Honchos". This is the Korean word for "boss". These "honchos" were very aggressive and did not back down from a fight with U.S. aircraft. Rather, they sought out a fight and engaged with vigor. These were Russian piloted MIG's with North Korean or Chinese Communists markings. John Glenn, Marine Corps ace and astronaut, was told much later after the fact, that there was more Russian spoken on the airwaves than any other language on the day he shot down two MIG's. One of the two planes John shot down was piloted by some pilot that was very proficient. This guy, whoever he was, could fly very good. Probably a Russian.

Here is a very interesting web site that talks about "honchos" To see the web site, click here.

Some comments of my own on the above web site. It is mentioned that the Russian appreciation of American fighter pilots was that they were very good. The defector of the MIG-25, Balenko, also had been told the same thing by his Russian instructors. American fighter pilots have a good reputation among their Russian counter-parts. This is due, at least according to the Russians, because of the superior educational background, training, and combat experience that the USAF pilot has. And American fighter pilots are reputed to possess aggressiveness necessary for a fighter pilot [5 % of the combat pilots shoot down 95 % of the aircraft "downed']. This same observed trait was echoed by a Japanese fighter pilot who flew against American "Flying Tigers" in China. This Jap said that the first time he encountered aggressive foes over the skies of China, he knew instantly that these were Americans, and that he was going to have and did have a tough fight. Seems the USAF produces the "right stuff" after all.

The second group of pilots U.S. forces encountered in dogfights over North Korea were woefully inept. How inept was demonstrated by that gun cameras in the Sabrejets that recorded on a number of occasions that these inept pilots, finding a Sabrejet on their tail, would bail out prior to being fired at. Knowing they were going to be shot down, these pilots bailed out and ejected, saving their skins. Probably Chinese pilots with just the bare basic amount of training.

coolbert.