F-84E Thunderjet, 523rd Fighter Escort Squadron, 27th FIghter Escort Group, Itazuke Air Base, Japan, 1st Lt Jacob Kratt



1st Lt Jacob Kratt was flying as element leader on 23 January 1951. As element leader of a flight of F-84E aircraft flying top cover for twenty-three F-84Es attacking the airfield at Sinuiju, Korea. Lieutenant Kratt spotted eight MiG-15 jet fighters moving to attack a formation of F-84s making a firing pass on Sinuiju at low altitudes. Lt Kratt split off his two plane element and attacked the lead pair of MiGs, shooting down the lead MiG while his wingman shot down the second MiG. The remaining six MiGs, most likel;y flown by Chinese pilots, immediately disengaged and flew to safety across the Yalu River. A this time Lt Kratt and his wingman spotted additional MiG-15s crossing the border headed for the F-84E's that were in the progress of attacking ground targets. Again he lead his two plane element into the enemy formation, shooting down a second MiG-15 in less then two minutes. For his actions that day Lt Kratt was awarded a Silver Star.

Three days later Lt Kratt was credited with shooting down a Yak-3, a type that records from teh former Soviet Union show was never sent to China or North Korea. Based on the date it is likely that the plane Lt Kratt shot down was a Chinese flown Yak-9P. This Yak kill was his third and final air-to -air victory, making Lt Kratt the highest scoring F-84 pilot in the USAF.

You can find this skin and many more at Hawkeye's Hangar.