Word: prop-driven
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Dates: during 1951-1951
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Planes v. Missiles. Ever since the end of World War II, the development of such a weapon has been one of the Air Force's main points in the endless arguments over tactical air power. In an age of jet aircraft and atomic weapons, prop-driven planes like the famed F51 Mustang would prove too slow, too vulnerable to interception by enemy jets unless heavily and expensively escorted. The jets themselves could not maneuver fast enough for accurate low-level support work except in relatively flat terrain. Finally, said the Air Force, any "inhabited" plane, no matter how fast...
...Discounting all that must be discounted in a carefully staged, carefully controlled performance, their reports confirm the West's knowledge of Russia's impressive air strength: at least 20,000 first-line planes, about 50% of them jet fighters and light bombers, the rest World War II prop-driven models. Careful estimates put Russian production at about 8,500 new planes each year, almost twice the current U.S. rate. Western intelligence has some hints of Russia's far advanced research in supersonic speed ranges and armament; its hundreds of air bases; its large pool of tough, dedicated...
...week, as the newly appointed commander of the U.S. Air Force's Fourth (Sabre jet) Fighter Interceptor Group, Gabby, now a full colonel, got a chance to try his formula on Communist MIGs in Korea. Some 15 MIG-15 jets had pounced on a mass flight of U.S. prop-driven Mustangs just north of Pyongyang when Gabreski and his Sabres roared to the rescue. In short order Gabby knocked out one MIG-his first kill in Korea. His teammates shot down two more, damaged a third and sent the others streaking home to Manchuria...