MiG Alley: The US Air Force in Korea, 1950-53

by Thomas McKelvey Cleaver, Walter J. Boyne (Foreword)

Titled after the wartime nickname for the part of North Korea that was the epicenter of a bitter struggle for air superiority over the Korean Peninsula, MiG Alley offers an in-depth analysis of the US Air Force's war in Korea, packed with interesting and exciting personal stories based on first-person testimony from both American and Soviet sources.

Of the many myths that emerged following the end of the Korean War, the prevailing one in the West was that of the absolute supremacy of US Air Force pilots and aircraft over their Soviet-supplied opponents. The claims of the 10:1 victory-loss ratio achieved by the US Air Force fighter pilots flying the North American F-86 Sabre against their communist adversaries, amongst other such fabrications, went unchallenged until the end of the Cold War, when Soviet records of the conflict were finally opened.

From that point onwards, a very different story began to emerge. Far from decisive American victories over an unsophisticated opponent, the aerial battles of the Korean War were, at least in the early years, evenly matched affairs, fought to an approximate 1:1 victory-loss ratio. Though the Soviet victories declined over the following years, this had more to do with home politics than American tactics.
In addition to the aerial combat over MiG Alley, this title covers the full range of US Air Force activities over Korea, including the failed strategic bombing campaign and the escalating nuclear threat. Incorporating first-hand accounts from those involved, both US and Soviet, this new history of the US Air Force in Korea reveals the full story of this bitter struggle in the Eastern skies.

Genres: History, Aviation, Nonfiction, War, Military History, Audiobook, Military Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published November 19, 2019

About the author

Most of my non-fiction writing is in the field of aviation, primarily the history of people, units and events, though I am also interested in technological developments and their influence on events.

I first ran across "serious" aviation writing when I was 10 and found William Green's "All The World's Aircraft, 1954" - the first book I read that seriously dealt with aircraft development beyond picture books. Over the years I read many books by Bill (as I came eventually to know him), and 25 years later he was the first editor to professionally publish an article by me about an aviation topic (a feature about people in California who restored, owned and operated antique airplanes). Not only did he publish the article, he used my photograph for the cover of that issue of Air Enthusiast Quarterly! In the years that followed, Bill became a friend through the mail, a source of valuable insight about writing, and an enthusiastic supporter of my efforts. I've had a lot of success that way with fellow authors.

My interest in the field of aviation must be genetic. My mother's favorite tale about me was that my first word, spoken around age 1, was "o-pane!" when we were in a park in Denver, and I pointed up at a P-38 as it flew overhead.

My father was involved in aviation in the 1930s, and knew most of the Major Names of the era, like Jimmy Doolittle, Roscoe Turner, and even Ernst Udet. (As an aside, I met General Doolittle myself in 1976. Upon hearing my name, he looked me up and down, then shook his head and said "Nope, too young and too tall." Taken aback for a moment, I realized he was thinking of my father, also a Tom Cleaver. Once I identified myself, he told me a story about my father I had never heard before. I later discovered he had near-perfect recall of names and events.) I grew up looking at my father's photo albums of the old airplanes he had been around, which is probably why I most enjoy airplanes from those years.

In addition to writing about airplanes, I take pictures of them in flight. As a result of both activities, I have flown in everything from a Curtiss Jenny to an Air Force F-4E Phantom (definitely the best rollercoaster ride ever), and have additionally been up in World War II airplanes - the P-51 Mustang, P-40 Warhawk, SBD Dauntless, B-25 Mitchell, and many many many times in a T-6. As a pilot myself, I have about 200 hours in a Stearman biplane trainer as a member of a club back in the 1970s. I am certain my personal knowledge of flying as a pilot has helped me put a reader "in the cockpit" in my writing.

While I have advanced college and university degrees, I consider myself an autodidact, and I see the involvement with airplanes as my key to the world of self-education, as I would ask myself "what was that airplane used for?" which led to such questions as "how did that war happen?" I was also fortunate to grow up in a home with lots of books and a father who enjoyed history; between that and forays to the Denver Public Library (a Saturday spent in the stacks at the Main Library was a day in heaven), my education was very eclectic in subject matter.

My "film school" education came on Saturday afternoons spent at the old Park Theater on South Gaylord Street in Denver, where I went every Saturday from age 7 to age 15 when the theater closed, and watched everything that played on-screen. Somewhere along there, I learned the meaning of "good movie."

Reviews

[JD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very detailed look at the USAF contribution to the war. It gives loads of political background as well as jet development on both sides of the Iron Curtain following World War 2. Because of this, the early part of the book gets frustrating as this drags on for too long. When the author starts with the actual conduct of the air war, the book gets better and it is filled with great detail about the pilots and the operations they took part in. A plus for the book is that it also covers most other UN air units that took part in the war under USAF command. Recommended if you are interested in the subject matter.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book questions the long-held viewpoint that the USAF F86 Sabre Jet had a 10-1 kill rate over the MIG-15s and that the USAF dominated the sky of the Korean War. This is an easily readable revisionist history of the air war from 1950-53.

Cleaver had access to the newly opened Russian and Chinese archives and revealed that the aerial war was more complicated than originally reported. The author revealed how, driven by the new jet aircraft, the aerial war evolved with new doctrine, training and tactics as well as overall strategies. The section dealing with the designing of the MIG-15 and F86 Sabre Jet got technical and a bit boring. But, the section about the men who were the Ace fighters was gripping. Cleaver wrote great descriptions of the aerial dog fights. The book provided more information to help understand the Korean War. History buffs will enjoy this book.

I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is fourteen hours and eleven minutes. David de Vries does a good job narrating the book.

[Wai Zin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book. It gives not only Sabers vs MiG 15 but also a brief account of air operation in Korea by other aircrafts.
This book by using new source materials, re write the kill ratio of air to air combats.

Writing is very clear and the book contain a lot of first hand account by US, UK, Soviet and Chinese pilots.

But no stories by N. Koreans.

Still enjoyable read.

[carl theaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

My parents were stationed at a Sabre base when I was born, so it all must be in my blood !

Author Cleaver packs a lot into this 326 pages, especially considering the first third describes the reasons for the start of the war, and situation of the USAF, including the fascinating race of the development of jet fighters by both sides; The US & the USSR both using different German WW2 technology.

The mainstay of the book is the plenty of stories from the pilots, USAF, and some Aussie and RAF, and great stuff from the other side, the Russian pilots and some Chinese. During the war it was never admitted by either side we were really fighting the Russians in the air, so as to avoid starting WW3.

The effects of various technological advancements, training and tactics used by both sides as each adjusts to the situation shows the keen race for air supremacy. It’s rather telling that kill claims by both sides were exaggerated by about times 2. Human nature ! Proof became available from the USSR for sources in 1992. Plenty of great black and white photos back up the stories.

The author didn’t provide footnotes, or sources other than the interviews, so some of his conclusions make one wonder. Not that they are right or wrong, you just want some backup. This is a USAF story, the Navy contribution is covered in another book by Cleaver. I’m going to have to get it, and maybe watch ‘The Bridges at Toko-Ri’ again !

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book, providing a history of the UN air campaigns in the Korean War. Though titled for one element of the Korean War’s air operations, namely the air-to-air combat of UN fighters against the combined communist air force’s MIG units, the book does step through the many other aviation lines of effort in the conflict. The strategic bombing, close air support, air interdiction, air transport, and aero-rescue efforts undertaken by the UN are all covered and analyzed. But it is the fighter sweeps and escort missions by USAF fighters, and the actions of the Russian & Chinese against this effort, which dominates most of the book. As such, the book sometimes reads a bit lopsided, with a too-quick explanation of why the UN undertook a specific air campaign followed by an in-depth account (to include historical biographies) of the fighter pilots involved and the air combat tactics used on both sides. Despite this apparently unfocused approach, the author does a great job in explaining the back-and-forth battle for air supremacy between the UN (mostly US, but with a smattering of UK and Commonwealth units) and the initially Russian and then Chinese pilots they fought. The American propensity for overstating kill claims, and the resultant effect on operations, is well analyzed in a balanced context. While the manner in which the Chinese managed to build a formidable fighting force against an experienced foe provides solid military history lessons. The book definitely gave me a much better appreciation for the Korean War as a whole. Highly recommended for those wanting to better understand the dynamic nature of early jet-age combat.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent military history of the air war during the Korean Conflict. Cleaver does a great job looking at the important factors that shaped the battle for air supremacy in Korea - how the air war shaped and was impacted by the overall strategic situation; how rotation strategies shaped the air war; the evolution of strategy and tactics by the major players. Cleaver also looks at the conflict through the lens of key players in the struggle - the USAF, Soviet Air Force, and Chinese Air Force, with discussion of Commonwealth and other UN air units as well. The US Navy/Marine section is a bit brief partly because Cleaver has a book that focuses on the US Navy/Marine role.
At the core of the struggle for air supremacy is the battle between the Soviet Mig-15 and the US F-86 Sabre. Cleaver does a nice job relating the history behind the design and development of these aircraft and how those factors shaped conflict and tactics.
As part of the narrative, Cleaver looks at key players including the leading aces from the different countries and the key missions, but there is an underlying analysis of the larger trends at play and an examination of the ultimate impact.
An excellent military history of the air war in Korea.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. Tells the story of the US Air Force in Korea while also detailing the development of fighter jets on both sides of the war.
I read it at the same time as my grandpa who was in the 51st FIW in Suwon Korea. Being able to talk to him about his experiences made the book that much better, not to mention made my questions to him that much better. I would recommend it.

[Tim Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mostly very interesting book I listened to the last few weeks, the second book of the author’s I have read, the other being _Pacific Thunder: The US Navy's Central Pacific Campaign, August 1943–October 1944_ which I read as a physical book and enjoyed.

The book is a very thorough account of the United States Air Force war effort in the Korean War, primarily on the fighter battles in MiG Alley but other operations are covered such as fighter-bomber, bomber, reconnaissance, search and rescue, and ground attack and support missions as well as some on research and development and training. Though I would say 80% of the book is on the USAF, particularly the Fifth Air Force, there is some coverage of U.S. Navy and U.S Marine Corps aviation, other allied aviation, and a good bit on Chinese and Soviet aviation too. I really appreciated when talking about various aerial engagements the author used records from both sides of the conflict, records not available until decades after the war ended, and in profiling various fighter aces they weren’t always American or Allied. The contrast between Soviet and Chinese (and Western) aviation was especially interesting.

Early on, I think around chapter 4 maybe, as other reviewers warned, there is a long section on the technical developments in jet fighter technology. While the Korean War was a seminal moment in the history of jet combat aviation and had both first- and second-generation jet fighters sharing the skies with World War II prop-driven planes (including in a few cases biplanes, detailed in an interesting section towards the end of the book, a problem for the Allies till almost the very end of the war) and understanding the technology was important, I will say this section was dry, dully, and very technical for the most part. Not enough to make me quit the book but it being an audio book, I might have zoned out a bit. Though this section was for me not the greatest, it was interesting over time that the strengths and limitations of different aircraft were shown to be important, not just types but even different models of the American fighter jet the F-86 (and these were not boring asides). Also, the author did a good job of showing the relative strengths and weaknesses of the F-86 and the MiG-15.

Fortunately, most of the book is really interesting. It is at its best in relating particular dogfights or other specific missions, with the narrator doing a different voice for the person narrating a particular dogfight (or more rarely some other operation, such as a search and rescue mission of a downed pilot). The moment-by-moment description of various aerial battles was often quite interesting.

I also appreciated how the book examined with a critical eye some of the myths of MiG Alley (such as how experienced American aviators really were and the truth behind kill ratios, with the truth being that weren’t that different in kill ratios, not say 10 to 1 but closer to maybe 1.3 to 1, and though many Chinese pilots were often highly inexperienced, there were especially early on many inexperienced American pilots as they weren’t always aces from World War II). I also liked the final chapter that examined in depth the question of who won the Korean War in the air and how effective air power was, with the answers being layered and nuanced. There were a few statements made that though Americans as a people forget all the tonnage of bombs dropped on North Korea, North Koreans certainly haven’t forgotten, and though over time the Allies ran out of targets to bomb in North Korea, a great many North Koreans of the time experienced first-hand the death and devastation of a relentless bombing campaign (though one that ultimately arguably failed). Also, there was some good analysis comparing the Korean War air war with the World War II air war, particularly in terms of bombing campaigns and aerial dogfights, and noting overall the places in aviation history held by the Korean War, as it was the last war with dogfights where while ground based radar might help pilots locate in general where the enemy was, it was still up to the pilots to spot them, where aerial combat was dependent upon sight, where missiles didn’t play a role, and also the last really large aerial battles (with fights with 150 or more aircraft in the sky happening a number of times). Also, while the book is on the air war, the author did a good job of providing necessary and useful information on the situation on the ground or at sea as it related to the air war as well as diplomatic efforts and feelings at home in the U.S..

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
The book is filled with excellent first hand accounts of air combat over Korea as well as great coverage of the development of the first generation of jet fighters. The book is hamstrung by poor organization of chapters and what felt like very repetitive content. Chapters regularly felt like they covered the same material and time period. If the book was slimmed down and organized better it would be 4 stars of engaging first hand accounts. The overall argument of the book is of value and is essentially fully laid out in the begining and revisited in the concluding chapter without much expansion. A good read for fans of the F-86 Sabre

[Matias Myllyrinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice piece on the Korean airwar. After the Cold War archives were opened and it was possible to read the accounts from both sides. Unsurprisingly many claims of air victories in both sides were overstated. Having the accounts of the last eye-to-eye dog fights is a riveting read and recommended for fans of military history.

[Franco Luciano · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did not know the air war in Korea was so evenly contested, and I also did not know how much the protracted bombing campaign over North Korea was such a strong impetus for the ongoing anti-American sentiment still present today.

[Urey Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a frequently fascinating account, primarily of the air war over Korea as waged by the US Air Force… and then primarily focused on the air-to-air war between Air Force pilots flying F86 Sabres and Soviet pilots flying the MiG-15. Cleaver includes ample context of the greater war – the ground campaigns, the logistical interdiction and strategic missions that governed so much of the air war – and the Communists’ indefatigable ability to overcome the damage done.

Cleaver dispels the decades long Air Force mythology surrounding the air war that asserts USAF sustained a 10:1 kill ratio against Communist MiGs, flown largely by Chinese and North Korean pilots, with Soviet training and supply support, and maybe a few Soviet pilots. In the mythology, air superiority defeated Communist armies by destroying supply lines and logistical chains, making it unfeasible to support offensive operations and difficult to retain Communist held territory. The mythology extols US air superiority and the resultant ability to control the battlefield. The truth is different.

Cleaver accessed US, Soviet and Chinese sources to examine the realities of the air war against the context of the political and military aims of the combatants. In fact, the victories claimed by US pilots was inflated roughly 200% over the actual air losses sustained by the Soviets, and the Chinese later in the war. The same exaggeration exists in the Soviet victory totals. It is a lesson learned in WWI, relearned in WWII, learned now again 70 years after the fact in Korea. Pilots make good faith claims based on split second observations… they see damage, they see smoke, they see another enemy plane and their attention is diverted. They do not see the damaged plane arrive back at its base, for example. Coupled with the institutional aspiration to promote a popular image of air warriors, the focus on air-to-air kills began to expand its criteria… becoming a promotion factor as well as a strongly encouraged official public relations metric, much as the focus on body-count distorted military successes in Vietnam years later. US aircraft that were damaged but returned to base were not classified as combat losses, regardless of whether they ever flew again or not. The Soviets made the same record keeping adjustments. Cleaver makes the very strong case that the actual success ratio of the USAF over its Communist opponents was 1.2-1.3:1 – a much closer thing. In fact, in 1951 when Soviet WWII veteran pilots were the daily opponents, the ratio was probably 1:1 at best.

The success of air power was a mixed bag. On the Communist side, the claims of successfully preventing occupation of the North were true. They greatly limited the ground attack role north of the Main Battle Line, as well as essentially eliminated strategic bombing to the point of inconsequential night time raids. The MiGs were so successful against the Air Force B-29 strategic bombers that after 1951 they flew only at night – day time raids were too dangerous. The Soviet MiG pilots accomplished something Nazi Germany never could. Bombing accuracy dropped out of sight. Of course, by late 1951 there was nothing much left to bomb, strategically speaking. MiGs became so dangerous to the ground attack aircraft (F80s, F84s, and WWII-era P51 Mustangs re-designated F51 Mustangs) that the sight of MiGs in their air space caused them to jettison bomb loads and return to base. The Mustangs were shot down by the hundreds because they were completely unsuitable for ground-attack – a single bullet could neutralize the engine cooling system, and the engine would freeze or burst into flames within a minute – but they were all the US had because of the misbegotten cutbacks and total lack of preparation for a conventional ground war that characterized US thinking and policies after WWII.

On the other hand, UN air power (and the USAF in particular) could claim success because they did keep the air war confined in the North. The Communists were never able to provide air cover for their ground forces. They had no ability to attack UN forces, lies of supply, logistical chains or other resources. They had to devote prodigious efforts to keeping their supply lines functioning (and they did), and they had to restrict movements in ways to avoid detection from the air. Each side basically established the battlefield needed to sustain the stale mate on the ground, and was able to maintain it for the all too long a period necessary to convince the Communist side to accept a cease-fire and enter valid negotiations.

Cleaver has provided long missing new data and fresh insights into the Korean War. His text suffers from an implicit assumption that the reader knows as much as he does about dog-fighting tactics, airplane strengths and weakness, aircraft design features and technical limitations. Much better had he assumed the opposite and provided explanations and examples to enhance understanding of what he is talking about. Also, the bountiful repetition of squadron numbers, aircraft serial numbers, and other such trivia becomes somewhat tiresome, although I can understand the value for future researchers focused on unit histories and such. It is a source of some tedium to the average reader. Still, a valuable and necessary addition to the Korean War history.

He has a second book “On The Line” that covers the US Naval air campaign during Korea and I look forward greatly to reading it.

[Penecks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going back for more air warfare, we once again turn to Thomas Cleaver's Korean War narrative with Mig Alley, a decently comprehensive account of the battles south of the Yalu River, with the American air force struggling to keep interdiction lanes open against a colorful bag of Russian, Chinese, and North Korean pilots. Cleaver's formula of matching post action reports from the US, along with relatively new reports from the communist countries, forms the basis of his aerial storytelling.

As with the Frozen Chosen, Cleaver's summary of the war leading up to the stalemates along the 38th parallel is pretty unmatched. Even having read his other work, I felt there wasn't too much retelling, and no textbook paragraphs to bore the reader. After this, we are whisked into the history of jet development, which may be received differently depending on your expectations. I personally found it very informative, with the Soviets and Americans each taking different pieces of Nazi jet tech and advancing it along the lines they thought best. The eventual flagship jets of course being the F-86 Sabre and Mig 15, both having had vast amounts of prior design forks.

The early years of the war are, as usual, the most interesting, with the highest amount of veteran Soviet pilots against a still fledgling jet equipped USAF creating very matched conditions. Perhaps one of the most interesting realizations is how many pilots from both sides ended up making "Ace", despite many planes and pilots returning to their bases or otherwise being rescued, showing the toughness of the aircraft but also the difficulty of estimating enemy losses in frantic combat. We have a decent amount of history from both sides, including some Chinese accounts, especially as they became a larger percentage of the communist fliers after 1951. One truly gets the interesting perspective of aircraft flying at speeds never seen before, yet still having to dogfight like their forefathers with machine gun and cannon.

Due to how they rotated pilots, the Soviet air groups would fall into periods of inexperience as the previous experienced group rotated out; perhaps this slight edge eventually led to the Americans taking more control of the area, forcing Mig packs to stay north of the Yalu River, something of a demarcation line where they tended to be safe. We see of course, many American aces travel across this border to increase their kill counts in gray-area shoot downs.

Cleaver's analysis on who really "won" is interesting, as the USAF tended to accomplish their objectives of battlefield interdiction, yet due to the North Korean way of fighting and the terrain, such bombing did far less than expected, and seemed to have little effect on the troops below. Perhaps this is also a weakness of the book, in that it nearly never mentions land combat past the initial summaries.

Overall, this is another good work on historical air combat, as well as the aircraft involved. There are many good balanced accounts, though it does get into the grit occasionally. Anyone interested in combat aviation or early jets should give this one a look.

[Chad Manske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas McKelvey Cleaver’s “MiG Alley: The US Air Force in Korea, 1950–53” stands out as a meticulously researched and refreshingly balanced account of one of the most dramatic air campaigns in military history. Rather than perpetuating the myth of overwhelming American aerial dominance, Cleaver challenges long-held assumptions about the Korean War’s so-called “kill ratios,” revealing through newly accessible Soviet and Chinese records that the early air battles were far more evenly matched than previously believed—often closer to a 1:1 victory-loss ratio rather than the oft-cited 8:1 or 10:1 in favor of the U.S. Air Force. The heart of the book is the fierce contest over “MiG Alley,” a stretch of North Korean sky near the Yalu River where U.S. F-86 Sabres clashed with Soviet-piloted MiG-15s in high-speed dogfights. Cleaver’s narrative excels at putting readers in the cockpit, blending vivid first-hand accounts from both American and Soviet pilots with clear, accessible explanations of jet technology and tactics. He humanizes the conflict by profiling aces from all sides, giving equal weight to the exploits of Soviet, Chinese, and American flyers, and drawing on records from both camps—an approach made possible only after the release of formerly classified documents in the 1990s. Beyond the dogfights, Cleaver offers a comprehensive look at the broader air war: the perilous daylight bombing campaigns by B-29 Superfortresses, the shift to night bombing, and the vital role of air power in shaping the ground war’s outcome. He contextualizes the air campaign within the larger strategic and political framework of the Korean War, from the desperate defense at the Pusan Perimeter to the Inchon landings and the eventual stalemate. What makes “MiG Alley” especially valuable is its commitment to demystifying the legend and presenting the Korean air war as a complex, hard-fought struggle marked by technological innovation, international intrigue, and extraordinary personal bravery. Cleaver’s engaging style and rigorous analysis make this book essential reading for anyone interested in aviation history or the realities of modern warfare.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

The role of the air war in Korea between 1950-1953 was made much clearer by this book. I was aware that the United Nations ground force in Korea initially moved into North Korea, only to be driven back by the North Koreans with support from the Chinese and Russians.

Although the Air Force helped the UN forces evacuate back into South Korea, the remainder of the war on the ground was a stalemate. The UN air forces slowed the enemy down somewhat but never completely dominated the skies. We lost about as many planes as we shot down - so the air was basically a draw. That being said, the author provided excellent, but way too much detail, about individual pilots, which groups they flew with, and who had the most kills.

If anything, the increasing role of the UN air forces by 1953 may have been the stimulus that finally led to a cease-fire at the 38th parallel dividing North and South Korea - where the line remains today - with both sides still armed and presumably ready to re-open a war if given enough provocation.

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is packed with facts and a semi-interesting story of the rapid progression of aircraft technology in the early days of the USAF, obviously focusing on performance, capabilities, and failures/successes in the Korean War. That being said, it was so incredibly dry that I couldn't make it more than 3-4 pages in a single stretch. This book would probably make a great reference for someone writing a research paper or something, but for a casual reader, it's painful. I think I gave it a pretty fair try (40% read), but even as an Air Force officer, I couldn't bring myself to finish it. I will caveat this review with the fact that I'm not a great non-fiction reader in general. I have found that narrative style non-fiction is much easier to digest and much more enjoyable.

[Sean McClintock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas McKelvey Cleaver does a great job of telling a story of a war often overlooked in US military history. Cleaver mixes first-hand accounts with background information about early jet aircraft and overall strategy to give the reader a detailed account of the airwar going on over the Korean peninsula and Manchuria. The point of view of China, North Korea, and Russia is mentioned, which helps to add relevant context for all sides of this conflict. Photographs are also shown to help you see the many aircraft mentioned throughout the story. The only photographs I felt were lacking were of MiG 15 jet fighters, which were a large part of the communist airforces involved and should have had more visual representation.

[Roger Brown]

The first detailed exposition of the air war principally in North Korea 1950-53 that sets straight the actual conditions and results untainted by propaganda (from either side).

Honest eye witness accounts from all the belligerents including the clandestine Russian participation.
For air enthusiasts, this is an essential read in that it contains accounts of the last real eye to eye dogfights in this realm of warfare.

McKelvey also examines the effectiveness or lack thereof of "strategic" air attacks on an essentially backward agrarian country whose limited industrial potential was eliminated early on and the futility of interdiction attempts.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an awesome account of the air war over Korea. It goes into great depth at both the macro and micro scale, from recounting the events of the war and how they specifically related to air power, to the planes and the fighter pilots and the personal accounts of specific dogfights. I really enjoyed this book and could tell that it was very well researched. I loved hearing the after action reports from both the IS and Soviet pilots. I learned a lot that I didn’t know about the war, especially about how evenly matched the combatants were. This conflict should really be better taught and understood in the US.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

A companion to Holding the Line: The Naval Air Campaign In Korea, this one isn't quite as interesting.

By its nature, this is a revisionist history, as it contradicts the official Air Force history of the Korean War by presenting evidence from Chinese and Russian sources. The core of this is the claim from the Air Force of a 10 to 1 kill ratio in Korea, that the author shows was closer to 1:1.

My biggest complaint with the book was the lack of footnotes.

[Maryam Bint · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are looking to understand how exactly the Korean War unfolded, from the perspective of the U.S. Air Force, then this book does the job. Concentrating mostly on the attempts of UN forces to gain air superiority over the battlefield, this book illuminates many of the technical, tactical, and logistical problems faced by average American pilots and squadron leaders.
The author clarifies the true nature of the Sabre vs Mig duels near the Chinese border, showing the Mig and its Soviet pilots to be the equal of their counterparts, whilst also making clear the enormity of the American achievement in keeping the battlefield free of enemy ground-attack aircraft.

[Peter L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mig Alley Remembered

60 years or so ago, the USA were surprised by North Korea troops who invaded South Korea. MiG Alley recounts how the US held off the invaders from the north supported by Russian planes & pilots. The battles between Migs & Sabre jets. And years later arguments as to who won & who lost. This book explains how the battles that took place high over Korea, in and around MiG Alley. This book dwells on tactics and the big picture is ever present but the emphasis is on the pilots who aimed to be called “Ace” Many stories & battles in the skies are recounted.

[Yukiko K Pool · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good and Frustrating

Overall, I was disappointed, but I would still recommend purchasing the book. I have been an aviation buff all my life, and I retired as a full colonel. The author's knowledge of military history is a mile wide and an inch deep. Perhaps if I had not read the author's tone deaf introduction I would not have been so alert for errors. The photos at the end alone justify the modest purchase price, and most of the pilot tales were worthwhile. Overall...recommended.

[Baustman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a truly excellent volume of aviation history! It captures all the glamour, ugliness, success, and failure of the U.S. Air Force's efforts during the Korean conflict. That airpower alone could not win war was already historical fact, but it seems no one was reading those history books. The lesson would need to be learned again in Vietnam. Mr. Cleaver's books, in my experience, have all been top-notch, and this is no exception. Highly recommended!

[Tim Jin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading anything about the Korean War is one of my hobbies because as an American Korean, I always want to know where my family came from. "Mig Alley" was interesting. I never knew how the Air Force was a part of this war, but it became tedious. Too many air strikes missions and no stories on the pilots or the people that they were fighting for. I forgot that I was reading about the Korean War.

[Dr Gleyn E Bledsoe]

Poorly researcher and technically inaccurate

The author cobbled together some after action reports and stock photographs to give the perception that the book was factual. In reality,it would appear that any research was superficial at best and his writing contains many technical inaccuracies and his conclusions biased and unsubstantiated. USAF Retired

[Stephen Monjar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The MIG War, as it happened.

A child during the Korean War, I was raised on US propaganda. Now, 70-odd years later, I read “MIG Alley.” Revelation! All was not as it seemed!

The author’s careful, scholarly research reveals a truthful, if revisionist, panorama of the Korean air war. Accurate casualty figures. Cranky personalities. Rule breakers. Spectacular victories. Gloomy realities.

If you really care about Korean War historical accuracy in the face of 1950s exaggeration, here’s your book.

Thanks to “MIG Alley,” now I know. At last.

[Michael Caryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way too much detail on aircraft development.The first four chapters, which I listened to on audible were dense recitations of facts relating to the development of and strengths and weaknesses of various aircraft before the F 86. This was incredibly boring. I started listening to chapter 5 where it actually told what was happening. Most of the rest of it was informative and OK.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book more than I did, I found it hard to get into, I think the material didn’t flow together overly well and there were a lot of names thrown around but only really mentioned briefly. However, it was very well researched with a lot of info that likely wasn’t publicly known until now

[Donald Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very detailed, and sometimes the detail is the enemy of the story. A bit hard to follow. Not a fan of MacArthur. Some assessments a bit off as a result, but does add to the understanding of the developing Air Force during the war and the rise of jet fighters.