Marville France

The Russian Incidents

We have been able to accumulate some detail pertaining to aircraft of NATO forces that became "Casualties of the Cold War". It is doubtful that the detail provided below is 100% comprehensive, but it does manage to provide some information on the occurrences that took place in the area that would have been "close enough to be concerned" for the RCAF.

10 March 1953	Two USAF F-84Gs based in West Germany crossed into Czechoslovakian airspace and were intercepted by MiG-15s. One was shot down. Extract from 2 Wing Historical Report - Russian Migs shot down an American F-84, based at Furstenfeldbruck. Situation tense.
11 March 1953	Extract from 2 Wing Historical Report - Americans protested shooting down of F-84, demand reparations.
12 March 1953	An RAF AVRO Lincoln long range bomber was shot down over East Germany. Extract from 2 Wing Historical Report - Russian Migs shot down an RAF Lincoln over the Hamburg-Berlin air corridore. Six crewmen killed, another wounded in Russian hospital.
18 March 1953	Extract from 2 Wing Historical Report - S/L RG Middlemiss, OC 421 (F) Squadron in command of 12 aircraft departed Grostenquin the USAF airfield at Furstenfeldbruck, Germany where his squadron will participate in co-operation with other NATO Forces in Operation "Jungle King". All plans and preparatory measures have been completed by W/C Flying this unit so that Operation "Jungle King", for which this Wing is providing air support have been completed. The Operation is scheduled to become effective at 0530Z 19 Mar 53.
24 March 1953	Extract from 2 Wing Historical Report - The following is a short resume of report received from Air Division HQ which briefly summarizes Operation "Jungle King". Twenty Sabres of 2 (F) Wing participated 19 and 20 Mar ten Sabres loved to Furstenfeldbruck. 18 Mar for operations morning of 19 Mar and returned to Grostenquin. 72 sorties were flown by 2 (F) Wing who claim 22 interceptions of which 16 were Canberras. Our aircraft were controlled by 12 AF USAF Radar Organization. Interception of Russian Transport by our aircraft was reported in our A0206 19 Mar and A20 21 Mar.

Comments by Maurice Seymour - A little bit of history, which somehow has been overlooked or forgotten concerning 2 (F) Wing, Grostenquin. In March 1953, an American F-84 and an RAF Lincoln were shot down by Russian MIG-15's after the NATO aircraft strayed off of their flight plan. The only operational aircraft capable of combat with Russian MIG-15's were the F-86's. The USAF had a number of squadrons in England, however we, the RCAF had the only operational F-86's in Europe. The USAF were not ready to deploy their F-86's to Europe and NATO ordered the RCAF to supply aircraft to await the arrival of the Americans. As a result, 421 Squadron with eight aircraft was ordered to fly to Furstenfeldbruck airbase, outside of Munich and to literally hold the fort until the Americans arrived from England. The RCAF ground crew were flown to Furstenfeldbruk by a Bristol Freighter. On our arrival in Furstenfeldbruck we surprised and shocked many of the USAF with our aircraft and our combat ready status. We stayed there about three or four days and returned to GT after the USAF F-86's arrived. I don't believe we flew any combat missions. Our role was to let the Russians know that we were there and ready. As a side note, I recall the USAF, when they arrived had beautiful looking Sabres. Clean, shiny and with about three-hundred ground crew for 12 aircraft. They even had men assigned to clean windshields. Our Sabres were sooty, but operational and we only had tweve ground crew. Oh well. On reflection it was a proud moment. Compare that to to-days Armed Forces.