page generated: January 16, 2004
compiled by Allan Magnus
Below are some air-to-air kills that I have come across, but unfortunately the name of the victorious pilot is unknown to me. I would appreciate any information regarding these claims.
| Date | Comments |
| March 27, 1999 |
Yugoslavia has downed one USAF F-117 fighter just outside of Belgrade. Yugoslav television has released footage of the crash scene, which shows aircraft number AF 82806, modex HO.
The pilot Lt. Dale Zelco (according to Kevin Helm of the F-117A: Aircraft Defense Information Center, Dale Zelco was not the pilot involved) of the 8FS, was rescued approximately 6 hours following the crash.
USAF states that the F-117 downing was the result of three factors.
Sources: Air Forces Monthly, No.138 September 1999 and CNN broadcasts. |
| unknown | A French Aeronaval Super Etendard reportedly shot down one Yugoslav Mi-8 helicopter with its cannons.
Source: "Operacion Fuerza Aliada, Mision Cumplida, by the Editors, Fuerza Aerea Ano.II Vol.1 No.5 1999, Neagari Press, Valencia, Spain via Santiago Flores. |
See known claims for NATO Intervention in Kosovo (Holland)
See known claims for NATO Intervention in Kosovo (USA)
| Date | Comments |
| May 16, 2000 | Ethiopian Sukhoi Su-27 downs an Eritrean Mig-29. Source: via Jonathan Kyzer. |
| February 25, 1999 | Ethiopian Sukhoi Su-27 downs an Eritrean Mig-29. Pilot of Ethiopian Su-27 reported to be Russian/Ukrainian mercenary. |
| February 26, 1999 | Ethiopian Sukhoi Su-27 downs an Eritrean Mig-29. Pilot of Ethiopian Su-27 reported to be Russian/Ukrainian mercenary. |
| Sources: |
"Stern" magazine, March 4, 1999 issue via Zamir Zorcec Croatian Newspaper "Vjesnik" via Damir Zorcec |
| Date | Comments |
| 07/Jan/1992 | During the Yugoslav Civil War, Croatian newspaper articles have claimed that a United
Nations helicopter was downed over northern Croatia by a Serb MiG-21PFM. The shoot down occurred
near the village of Podrut. The helicopter victim was an AB 206L Longranger. A second helicopter,
an AB 206B jetranger II, managed to escape.The Serb MiG-21PFM took-off from Bihac-Airport,
apparently at the time still under Yugoslav control. It fired one or two R-60 AAM missiles.
Two separate, and differing, accounts of the pilot involved have been found. One account, names the Mig pilot as Lt. Emir Sisic. Sisic was identified by former Yugoslav Air Force pilot Danijel Borovic, who had defected with his MiG-21 to Croatia. In a second account the pilot was identified as Capt. 1st Class Radomir Smiljanic. Source: newspaper articles in "Vecernji List" |
See known claims for Yugoslav Civil War (USA)
| Date | Comments |
| 17-18/Jan/1991 | In a night engagement, an Iraqi Mig-23 shoots down Italian Tornado. |
| 17/Jan/1991 | According to Gulf Air War Debrief, the first loss of the war was an USN F/A-18C (AA-403/BuNo.163484), from VFA-81 off the USS Saratoga, flown by Lieutenant
Michael Speicher (KIA). This loss, originally attributed to an SA-6 missile, is now attributed to an Iraqi Mig-25PD.
Source: Vulture's Row: An Online U.S. Naval Aviation Resource, maintained by Robin J. Lee |
See known claims for Gulf War and Operation Southern Watch (Saudi Arabia)
See known claims for Gulf War and Operation Southern Watch (USA)
| Date | Comments |
| 29/Apr/1987 | One Pakistan Air Force F-16 downed by USSR Mig-23s. Some sources state that the F-16 was an "accidental" shoot-down by another Pakistani F-16. Source: Stalins Falcon's, Tomas Polak & Christopher Shores, Grub Street, London 1998 ISBN: 1-902304-01-2 |
See known claims for Afghanistan Civil War(Pakistan)
See known claims for Afghanistan Civil War(USSR)
| Date | Comments |
| 13/Sep/1985 |
Honduran Air Force Super Mystere B2 jet fighters of Escuadrilla de Caza claim one Nicaraguan Fuerza Aerea Sandinista
Mi-8 helicopter shot down with a Shafrir air-to-air missile, while a Mi-25 was reportedly shot down or damaged by 30mm cannon fire from the second SMB2.
This incident occured during Nicaraguan pursuit of Contra elements into Honduras.
Source:Central American and Caribbean Air Forces, Air Britain Pub., Daniel P. Hagedorn, UK 1993 ISBN: 085130-210-6 |
| Date | Comments |
| 5/Jun/1984 |
Saudi F-15s engaged four Iranian F-4s. Each F-15 claimed one kill with an AIM-7. The Saudi F-15s vectored to the Phantoms
by USAF AWACS, which had been provided by President Reagan to monitor the air space over the Gulf. One of the F-15s involved may have been serial number 1322.
Source: via Stanley J. Parker |
| Date | Comments |
| 1987/1988 |
A SAAF Impala Mk.II shot down by Mig-23MF.
Source: Cuban researcher Ruben Urribarres. |
| 27/Sep/1987 |
A SAAF Mirage F1 damaged by Mig-23MF using R-60 missile, and was destroyed on crash landing at Rundu.
This may be the Mirage F1 claimed by Cuban pilots Mj. Alberto Ley Rivas and Lt. Chao Gondin.
Source: Cuban researcher Ruben Urribarres. |
| 27/Sep/1987 |
A SAAF Puma shot down by Mig-23MF with an R-60 missile.
Source: Cuban researcher Ruben Urribarres. |
| early 1987 |
A SAAF Mirage F1 shot down by Mig-23MF over northern Namibia.
Source: Cuban researcher Ruben Urribarres. |
| 3/Apr/1986 |
A CIA C-130 Hercules shot down by a pair of Mig-21s while on supply drop mission for UNITA rebels.
Source: Cuban researcher Ruben Urribarres. |
| 1-3/Oct/1985 |
An Angolan MPLA Mig-21 shot down by South African Air Force Mirage F-1 during three heavy raids on Angolan positions.
Source: War in Angola: The Final South African Phase, Helmoed-Romer Heitman, Ashanti Pub. Ltd. 1990 ISBN: 0-620-14370-3 via Jonathan Kyzer. |
| 1982 |
An Angolan Mi-8 helicopter shot down by South African Air Force 3 Squadron Mirage F-1CZ.
Source: The South African Air Force At War, Martin Louw and Stefaan Bouwer, Chris van Rensburg Publications (Pty) Ltd. ,1995 ISBN: 0-86846-084-2 via Jonathan Kyzer. |
| 08/Jun/1980 | A TAAG Angola Airlines Yak-40FG (RegNo D2-TYC) shotdown by a Mig-19, possibly of the Zambian Air Force.
Source:Aviation Safety Net |
| 1976 |
A SAAF Impala was shot down by an Angolan Allouette III helicopter.
Source: Cuban researcher Ruben Urribarres. |
| 21/Mar/1969 | A C-47 reportedly crashed at Uli while under attack by Nigerian Mig-17Fs during the Biafran Airlift campaign.
Source:Airlift and Airwar in Biafra and Nigeria 1967-1970, Michael I. Draper, Hikoki Publications, Aldershot, UK 1999 ISBN 1 902109 63 5 |
| Sep/1961 | An Air Courier DC-3 shot down by UN fighters near Kolwezi, Zaire.
Source:Aviation Safety Net |
| 1961 |
During the surveillance of the Tunisian border in 1961 to prevent FLN rebel infiltration from
their Tunisian bases, the Armee de l'Air intercepted 38 small aircraft and helicopters, shooting down 9.
Source: "Les Forces Aeriennes en Algerie (1)", Yves Buffetaut, Wing Masters 20 Jan-Feb 2001, Histoire & Collections, Paris, France |
See known claims for "Operation Daisy" (South Africa)
See known claims for recon flights over SWAPO bases Oct/1982 (South Africa)
See known claims for "Operation Alternator" (South Africa)
See known claims for Nigerian-Biafran Civil War.
| Date | Comments | 22/July/1974 | Two Greek Air Force F-5A encounter two Turkish Air Force F-102s. Greeks claim to have shot down one of the F-102s.
Source:via Patrick N. Theros. |
See known claims for the Cyprus Conflict.
| Date | Comments | 8/Oct/1996 | A Turkish Air Force F-16D (91-0023) shotdown by Greek fighters.
Source: from a letter by Serhat Guvnec of Turkey in the "Feedback" column (p.59) of AirForces Monthly magazine, August 2001 issue. |
| Date | Comments |
| 22/May/1948 | RAF Spitfires of 208Sq down 2 Egyptian Air Force Spitfires near Ramat David.
Source:Supermarine Spitfire, Chaz Bowyer, Bison Books, London 1980 p.33 ISBN: 0-86124-140-1.. |
| 31/Oct/1956 | Egyptian AF MiG-15 downs an IAF Piper L-8 Cub during the 1956 Suez Canal War. Source: Phoenix Over the Nile: a History of Egyptian Air Power 1932-1994, Lon O. Nordeen & David Nicolle, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996 ISBN: 156-09862-6-3 |
| 14/Feb/1960 | Egyptian MiG-17 shoots down an IAF Mystere. Source: Phoenix Over the Nile: a History of Egyptian Air Power 1932-1994, Lon O. Nordeen & David Nicolle, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996 ISBN: 156-09862-6-3 |
| 8/Jun/1967 | Egyptian AF MiG-17 shoots down an IAF Super Mystere during the 1967 Six Day War. Source: Phoenix Over the Nile: a History of Egyptian Air Power 1932-1994, Lon O. Nordeen & David Nicolle, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996 ISBN: 156-09862-6-3 |
| 15/Jul/1967 | Egyptian AF MiG-21FL shoots down a IAF Mirage IIIC. Source: Phoenix Over the Nile: a History of Egyptian Air Power 1932-1994, Lon O. Nordeen & David Nicolle, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996 ISBN: 156-09862-6-3 |
| 2/Apr/1969 | Egyptian AF MiG-21FL downs an IAF F-4E during "War of Attrition". Source: Phoenix Over the Nile: a History of Egyptian Air Power 1932-1994, Lon O. Nordeen & David Nicolle, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996 ISBN: 156-09862-6-3 |
| 20/Jul/1969 | Egyptian AF MiG-21FL shoots down an IAF Mirage IIIC during "War of Attrition". Source: Phoenix Over the Nile: a History of Egyptian Air Power 1932-1994, Lon O. Nordeen & David Nicolle, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996 ISBN: 156-09862-6-3 |
| 9/Feb/1970 | Egyptian AF MiG-21 shoots down a IAF Mirage IIIC during "War of Attrition". Source: Phoenix Over the Nile: a History of Egyptian Air Power 1932-1994, Lon O. Nordeen & David Nicolle, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996 ISBN: 156-09862-6-3 |
| 21/Feb/1973 | A Libyan Arab Airlines Boeing 727 was shot down by Israeli F-4 Pantom fighters, crashing near Isma'iliya, Egypt. Source:Aviation Safety Net |
| 7/Oct/1973 | Egyptian AF MiG-21MF shoots down a IAF F-4E during Yom Kippur War. Source: Phoenix Over the Nile: a History of Egyptian Air Power 1932-1994, Lon O. Nordeen & David Nicolle, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996 ISBN: 156-09862-6-3 |
| 11/Oct/1973 | Egyptian AF MiG-21 shoots down a IAF F-4E during Yom Kippur War. Source: Phoenix Over the Nile: a History of Egyptian Air Power 1932-1994, Lon O. Nordeen & David Nicolle, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996 ISBN: 156-09862-6-3 |
| 11/Oct/1973 | Egyptian AF MiG-21 shoots down a IAF F-4E during Yom Kippur War. Source: Phoenix Over the Nile: a History of Egyptian Air Power 1932-1994, Lon O. Nordeen & David Nicolle, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996 ISBN: 156-09862-6-3 |
| 20/Oct/1973 | Egyptian AF MiG-21 shoots down a IAF Nesher during Yom Kippur War. Source: Phoenix Over the Nile: a History of Egyptian Air Power 1932-1994, Lon O. Nordeen & David Nicolle, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996 ISBN: 156-09862-6-3 |
| 21/Oct/1973 | Egyptian Air Force Mig-21 fighters claim an Israeli Nesher during the Yom Kippur War. This may be the same claim as the one above.
Source:"Suez Combat", Shlomo Aloni, AirForces Monthly, October 1999 p.57 ISSN: 0995-7091. |
| 23/Oct/1973 | Egyptian AF MiG-21 shoots down a IAF Mirage IIIC during Yom Kippur War. Source: Phoenix Over the Nile: a History of Egyptian Air Power 1932-1994, Lon O. Nordeen & David Nicolle, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996 ISBN: 156-09862-6-3 |
| 22/Dec/1973 | Egyptian AF MiG-21 shoots down a IAF F-4E. Source: Phoenix Over the Nile: a History of Egyptian Air Power 1932-1994, Lon O. Nordeen & David Nicolle, Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996 ISBN: 156-09862-6-3 |
See known claims for the Middle East Conflicts between Israel and its Arab neighbours.
Numerous were the incidents, where Western nations and Soviet Block nations clashed in air combat. Below is a list of claims found for those tense years of mutual distrust between the two theological camps.
| Date | Comments |
| Nov/1945 | USAF bomber forced to land at Kanggye airfield after attacks by four USSR P-39s Source: Stalins Falcon's, Tomas Polak & Christopher Shores, Grub Street, London 1998 ISBN: 1-902304-01-2 |
| 1949 | USAF B-25 downed over the Black Sea near Odessa by USSR fighters Source: Stalins Falcon's, Tomas Polak & Christopher Shores, Grub Street, London 1998 ISBN: 1-902304-01-2 |
| 04/Aug/1961 | An Iran Air DC-4 (RegNo EP-ADK) was apparently attacked by Soviet fighters after it strayed into Soviet airspace. Aircraft crashed on the SW coast of the Caspian Sea.
Source:Aviation Safety Net |
| 15/Apr/1969 | USN EC-121M (BuNo 135749) of VQ-1 while on a patrol over the Sea of Japan, was attacked and shot down 90 miles off the coast of Korea by North Korean fighters. |
See known claims during the Cold War years.
| Date | Comments |
| 4/Jul/1955 | 4 Republic of China F-84G engage 4 MIG-15 of the People's Republic of China claiming 1 MIG-15 shot-down | 14/Apr/1956 | 4 Republic of China F-84G engage 4 MIG-15 of the People's Republic of China claiming 1 MIG-15 shot-down | 20/Jul/1956 | 4 Republic of China F-84G engage 4 MIG-15 of the People's Republic of China claiming 1 MIG-15 shot-down | 21/Jul/1956 | 4 Republic of China F-86 engage 3 MIG-15 of the People's Republic of China claiming 2 MIG-15 shot-down (possibles) | 5/Jul/1959 | 4 Republic of China F-86 engage 24 Mig-17 of the People's Republic of China claiming 2 MIG-17 shot-down | 16/Feb/1960 | 4 Republic of China F-86 engage 20 MIG-17 of the People's Republic of China claiming 1 MIG-17 shot-down | 13/Jun/1967 | 4 Republic of China F-104 engage 12 MIG-19 of the People's Republic of China claiming 2 MIG-19 shot-down | Source: Chinese Crackers, Air International, April 1994, London, UK p.228 |
See known claims between the Republic of China and Taiwan from 1954 to 1967. (Republic of China)
| Date | Comments |
| 20/Apr/2001 | In an unfortunate incident, a Peruvian Air Force Cessna A-37B shot down a private Cessna 185 that was mistaken for a drug smuggling aircraft.
Source:various newspaper articles plus CNN Web Site |
| summer/2000 | A Peruvian Air Force Su-25 shot down a drug smuggling private aircraft.
Source:"Peruvian Cocaine Killer", Air Forces Monthly, No.153 December/2000 p.26-27 |
| Nov/1992 | Venuzuelan F-16s down an AT-27 Tucano during the November 27, 1992 military coup attempt.
Source: Lockheed Martin F-16: Block 40 and Beyond, Bill Sweetman, World Air Power Journal, Vol.36 Spring 1999, London |
| 09/Mar/1987 | A DC-3 (RegNo N78B) was shot down by a Honduran Mystere fighter near Palamital, Honduras.
Source:Aviation Safety Net |
| 01/Jun/1959 | An Aerolineas Nacionales Curtiss C-46 Commando (RegNo TI-102) was shotdown by a Nicaraguan Air Force MiG-17.
Source:Aviation Safety Net |
See known claims for Argentine Military Coup - Jun/1955 (Argentina)
See known claims for Venezuela Military Coup - 27/Nov/1992 (Venezuela)