Hobby Master 1/72 HA5910 MIG-17F Fresco C Nguyen Van Bay 1972

The Soviet built Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 (Fresco) was initially called the MiG-15bis+45° and completed its maiden flight on January 13, 1950 and entered service in 1952. There were five variants of the MiG-17 with the MiG-17F (Fresco C) becoming the main variant. The new Klimov VK-1F engine was the first Soviet built engine with an afterburner and variable nozzle. The installation of this new engine gave the MiG-17F double the rate of climb of previous variants and greatly improved vertical maneuvers. This aircraft lacked radar and was purely a day-time fighter.

In 1972 the area of Dong Hoi was being bombarded by U.S. ships sitting off shore in the Gulf of Tonkin. MiG-17Fs # 2047 and 2011 from the 923rd Fighter Regiment were modified to carry bombs to attack and destroy the U.S. ships. On April 19, 1972 MiG-17s from the 923rd “Yen The” led by Nguyen Van Bay (B) and Le Xuan Di attacked using 500 pound bombs. The USS Higbee received a hit on the rear turret while the cruiser USS Oklahoma City received minor damage.