THE AIR WAR: Tallyho!

One sunny afternoon last week, 31 U.S. Sabre jets, commanded by Colonel Benjamin Preston, let down over "MIG Alley" (the northwestern corner of Korea) for a quick look. "Bandits at eleven o'clock," Preston barked over the radio, meaning: enemy planes ahead, a little to the left. The enemy formation was unusual: twelve twin-engined TU2 bombers and 18 propeller-driven LA9 fighters (both Russian World War II types), guarded by 16 MIG-153. "Tallyho!" yipped Preston, and led his fast jets in for the kill.

The enemy formation was believed to have been sent to cover a Communist attack on U.N.-held islands near the mouth of the Yalu. In any case, the lumbering, thin-skinned bombers were slaughtered like sheep. After the battle, eight TUs, three LAs and one red-nosed MIG had been downed; two of the Sabres suffered minor damage, but all returned safely to their base. It was the first time that Red bombers had been shot down in Korea.

Three of the bombers and the one MIG were destroyed by Major George A. Davis Jr., a slight, blue-eyed Texan who raised his total kills to six and became the fifth ace of the Korean war (he shot down seven enemy planes in the Pacific during World War II). It was the day before his 31st birthday. He and his flight-mates feted their victory with roast beef and whisky.

Next day the Communists won one of their few victories: knocking down three early-model Australian Meteor jets and one U.S. F-80, and losing only two MIGs. Cease-fire and lull were two words that airmen on both sides could not hear and did not heed.