Operation Moolah offers $50,000 to any pilot who defected with a fully mission-capable Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 to South Korea. The first pilot was to receive $100,000.

The Korean War, a brutal conflict that erupted in 1950, quickly escalated beyond ground combat into a critical proving ground for the nascent age of jet warfare. In this intense aerial struggle, a formidable new adversary emerged on November 1, 1950: the Soviet-designed Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 jet fighter. This aircraft, bearing the NATO reporting name "Fagot," instantly presented an unparalleled challenge to United Nations (U.N.) air forces. Pilots, including those flying the United States Air Force's (USAF) newest and most advanced fighter, the F-86 Sabre, soon reported that the MiG-15 was demonstrably superior in performance. Its speed, altitude capabilities, and climb rate were startling, significantly altering the dynamics of air-to-air combat over the Korean Peninsula and sparking an urgent need for the West to understand this technological marvel. It was against this backdrop that the highly ambitious and intriguing initiative known as Operation Moolah was conceived.

Operation Moolah: A Bold Bid for a MiG-15

Faced with the MiG-15's clear dominance in the skies, the United States Air Force recognized the immense strategic value of obtaining an intact, fully functional example of the aircraft. Such a prize would allow Allied engineers and intelligence experts to thoroughly analyze its design, uncover its strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately develop effective countermeasures and tactical doctrines. This urgent requirement led to the creation of Operation Moolah, a daring psychological warfare campaign launched during the latter stages of the Korean War.

Operation Moolah wasn't about combat; it was about defection. The plan was straightforward yet audacious: influence Communist pilots to defect to South Korea, bringing their coveted MiG-15s with them. To entice potential defectors, the U.S. offered an extraordinary financial reward – a staggering $100,000, which in the early 1950s was an immense fortune, equivalent to millions in today's currency. Beyond the monetary incentive, the offer included guaranteed asylum, resettlement in a non-communist country, and the promise of a life free from persecution, described as "golden opportunities." This appeal was disseminated through various propaganda channels, including leaflets dropped across North Korea and China, as well as radio broadcasts.

The Outcome and an Unforeseen Defection

Despite the significant incentive and widespread宣传 efforts, the immediate success of Operation Moolah in its primary objective remains a subject of debate. No Communist pilot defected directly under the influence of the operation's promise before the Korean Armistice Agreement was signed on July 27, 1953, effectively ending active hostilities. This led many to believe that the operation had failed to achieve its desired result.

However, an extraordinary event occurred less than two months after the armistice. On September 21, 1953, a North Korean pilot, Lieutenant No Kum-Sok, flew his MiG-15 to the Kimpo Air Base in South Korea. Crucially, Lieutenant No later stated that he was completely unaware of Operation Moolah and its generous offer when he made his decision to defect. His motivations were personal, driven by disillusionment with the North Korean regime and a desire for freedom. Regardless of the lack of direct connection to Operation Moolah's inducements, his defection provided the West with precisely what the operation had sought: a pristine, airworthy MiG-15. This aircraft became an invaluable asset, undergoing extensive testing and analysis by U.S. aviation experts, providing crucial intelligence that profoundly impacted Western aircraft design and combat tactics for years to come.

The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15: A Revolutionary Jet Fighter

The aircraft at the heart of Operation Moolah, the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 (Russian: МиГ-15; USAF/DoD designation: Type 14; NATO reporting name: Fagot), was a truly groundbreaking design developed by Mikoyan-Gurevich for the Soviet Union. Its introduction marked a pivotal moment in aviation history, particularly in the realm of jet fighter development.

Design Innovation and Combat Prowess

What set the MiG-15 apart was its pioneering use of swept wings, a design feature critical for achieving high transonic speeds. While early jet fighters often featured straight wings, which performed well at lower speeds, swept wings effectively delayed the onset of "compressibility drag" and allowed the aircraft to approach and even exceed the speed of sound with greater stability and efficiency. In the aerial combat of the Korean War, this innovation translated into a stark advantage. The MiG-15 consistently outclassed contemporary straight-winged jet day fighters employed by the U.N., such as the F-80 Shooting Star and F-84 Thunderjet, often relegating them to less glamorous ground-attack roles as they simply could not compete in high-altitude engagements or speed contests.

The formidable capabilities of the MiG-15 prompted an urgent and decisive response from the United States Air Force, which rapidly deployed the North American F-86 Sabre to Korea. The Sabre, itself a highly capable swept-wing design, engaged in epic dogfights with the MiG-15, famously earning the stretch of sky where these encounters most frequently occurred the moniker "MiG Alley."

A Lasting Legacy

The basic design of the MiG-15 proved incredibly robust and adaptable. When refined and evolved into the more advanced MiG-17, this lineage of Soviet fighters would once again surprise Western air forces. During the Vietnam War of the 1960s, the MiG-17, despite being a subsonic aircraft, proved remarkably effective against much newer and theoretically superior supersonic fighters like the Republic F-105 Thunderchief and the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, particularly in close-quarters air combat scenarios. This demonstrated the enduring quality of the original Mikoyan-Gurevich design philosophy.

The MiG-15 is widely regarded as one of the most produced jet aircraft in history, with estimates placing its total production at more than 13,000 units, including licensed variants built in other countries. Its widespread use and longevity are testaments to its successful design. Remarkably, even today, the MiG-15 remains in active service with the Korean People's Army Air Force, primarily fulfilling a vital role as an advanced trainer aircraft, helping to shape the next generation of fighter pilots.

FAQs About Operation Moolah and the MiG-15

What was the primary goal of Operation Moolah?
Operation Moolah was a United States Air Force (USAF) effort during the Korean War to obtain a fully capable Soviet MiG-15 jet fighter through defection, primarily to study its advanced technology and develop countermeasures.
How much money was offered for a MiG-15 under Operation Moolah?
The U.S. offered a substantial reward of $100,000 (a significant sum in the 1950s) to any Communist pilot who would defect with a MiG-15 to South Korea.
Did any pilot defect directly because of Operation Moolah during the active Korean War?
No, there is no record of any Communist pilot defecting specifically due to Operation Moolah's financial incentive before the armistice was signed on July 27, 1953.
Who was Lieutenant No Kum-Sok and why is his defection significant?
Lieutenant No Kum-Sok was a North Korean pilot who defected to South Korea with his MiG-15 on September 21, 1953, after the armistice. Although he stated he was unaware of Operation Moolah at the time, his defection was crucial as it provided the West with an intact MiG-15 for detailed study and analysis, yielding invaluable intelligence.
Why was the MiG-15 considered superior to many United Nations aircraft during the Korean War?
The MiG-15 incorporated innovative swept-wing technology, which allowed it to achieve higher speeds and operate more effectively at higher altitudes compared to many straight-winged U.N. jet fighters of the time. This gave it a significant advantage in climb rate and speed.
What was the significance of obtaining a MiG-15 for the West?
Acquiring an intact MiG-15 allowed U.S. and Allied engineers to thoroughly examine its design, engine, and weapon systems. This intelligence was vital for understanding Soviet aviation technology, improving Western aircraft designs, refining combat tactics, and developing effective countermeasures against the formidable fighter.
Is the MiG-15 still in service today?
Yes, the MiG-15 remains in service with the Korean People's Army Air Force, primarily utilized as an advanced trainer aircraft.