The MiG-17 Fresco

in Cuba

By Rubén

FAR The MiG-17 was built like a development of the MiG-15, and does its first flight in 1949. Begins its production series in 1952, finishing in 1958. In total are manufactured for the USSR 7,999 MiG-17 of several modifications in 5 factories. The license is delivered to Czechoslovakia, that produces 457, Poland does 606 Lim-5/6 and China 1,828 Jian J-4/5, with what the total of MiG-17 produced reaches the figure of 10,890 airplanes. They are used in 30 countries, and fight in numerous conflicts as the arabic - israils Wars of 1956, 1967 and 1973, Vieetnam, Afganistan, Angola, Ethiopia-Somalia, Chinese (Taiwan, Tibet), Biaffra, Yemen, Sudan, Mozambique, Sri-Lanka, Tanzania-Uganda, and other.

The Fresco in Cuba

The first MiG-17AS arrive at Cuba at the beginning of 1964, destined to Santa Clara, and they substitute the MiG-15bis. Its main mission was to fight as fighter – bombers. They were received of the versions MiG-17AS and MiG-17F several dozens in the 60’s. In spite of what some sources say, they not were received of the version MiG-17PF. The fighter – bombers MiG-17AS were characterized for being capable of shooting air-air missiles, and Cuba was one of the few countries in receiving this rare one version.

In 1963 two F-8 Crusader of an VMF Squadron intercepted two MiG-15 of the FAR, that bother the reccon mission of a Lockheed P-3 Orion, boarding the Cuban water. The pilots of F-8 asked permission to confront the MiGs, but the permission arrive only when each side already go home. One of the Marine pilot, a Major, when arriving to the Key West Base, furious removed the helmet and kick it. To end of 1964 the history is repeated, when two F-8 of the VF-62 ask permission to confront a pair of FAR’s MiG-17 that bother a P-3 to complete its mission. After various minutes of wait, the permission finally was denied them. When they returning, they say that the next time they are going to shoot and alone then to ask permission, that the ROE rules of the moment themselves permit it. Both incidents went in international water, in accord to the American version.

The fighter – bombers MiG-17 were in service in Cuba until the beginnings of the 80’s, when already were assimilated the MiG-23BN, then being substituted totally in their Squadrons.

Left: The MiG-17 in a exercise bombing an objective since 200 meters of height. Maneuvers in the center of Cuba, 1974. The MiG-17 was the standart FAR fighter bomber until the arrival of the MiG-23BN in 1978. Right: one of the camouflage schemes (Andrés Huerta courtesy)

Desertion to USA

The most famous event of the Cubans MiG-17 went the desertion of one of its pilots to United States. This happened October 5, 1969, when the Lieutenant Eduardo Guerra Jimenez lands in the Florida in the MiG-17AS N°232. Guerra Jimenez was one of the Squadrons Leaders of the Santa Clara MiG-17AS Regiment, and he was testing that MiG-17 that was repaired, to leave then to the smaller rank pilots. Guerra lands in the Homestead AFB, Florida, surprisely for the Americans. In that moment in the base was found the personal Boeing-707 of the US President Lindon Johnson, and that incident shows its vulnerability to the Americans. This serious incident provokes debates in the Congress, where the Republican Robert F. Sikes uses it as strong argument in favor of the Radar Program AWACS. After this desertion, is produced a great purge in the FAR, being expelled dozens of pilot friends of Guerra Jimenez or with relatives abroad. The MiG-17 was returned to Cuba, and as says some sources, the transportation airplane that come to return it with the team of specialists of the DAAFAR, "accidentally" overflight various sensitive points as the Nuclear Plant of Turkey Point. The Captain Rafael del Pino was the responsible for the mission of return the aircraft, and the pilot Raul Perez James of flying it in return to Cuba.


The MiG-17AS of Eduardo Guerra. DETAIL & SCALE photos, courtesy of Mario Overall and Mike Little	The same MiG-17AS in flight. See the two fuel tanks and the two aditionals points for missiles typical for the AS version	The MiG-17AS in the Homestead AFB hangars, the flaps are downed	The MiG-17AS don´t have the after burning secction at the turbine, like in the later MiG-17F	The munition depot are open, is one of the first places that must be revised

MiG-17 in foreign campaign. Angola

When was decided in December 1975 to send Cubans regular aviation units to Angola, Castro sends an Squadron with 9 MiG-17F and 1 MiG-15UTI, that become the "first" combat aircrafts of the Angolan Air Force (FAPA), composed only by Cubans, the FAPA was “founded” in a ceremony by the Angolan president Agosthino Neto January 21, 1976. In the ceremony form the MiG-17 and MiG-21. The MiG-17 Squadron Leader was the major Jose A. Montes. The MiG-17F begin to fight against the separatist movement FLEC from Cabinda, at the north direction, leaving to the MiG-21MF the south direction, until the victory in April of 1976. In the following years they take part in attacks against the UNITA, until was substituted by new MiG-21, and then the MiG-17 are delivered to the Angolans.


One of the nine MiG-17F send to Angola en 1975. The personal of the photo are angolan (Vasco Enrique, Air International)	The Cubans fighters in Angola had the roundels of the FAPA	Another MiG-17F scheme. Picture of Chris Banyai-Riepl

Ethiopie

In December of 1977 begin to arrive FAR units to this country, among them an MiG-17F Squadron and one of MiG-21, that participate in support air missions in the counter-ofensive that begun January 22, 1978, and that finishes with the rout of Somalia and the total liberation of the Ogaden in March 13. The Cuban aviation made 1,013 combat missions, the half of them with MiG-17F, that destroy innumerable tanks, gun, and other enemies objective. The MiG-17F pilot Lieutenant Eladio Campos dies when he was shoot down by the Somali AAA. As interesting fact, in this conflict the Cuban MiG-17/21 Cuban together the Ethiopian F-5A/B/E against a country with MiG-17/21 too. Although encounters in the air do not occur between Cuban and Somali MiGs, therefore the Ethiopian already conquered the air superiority before the Cubans arrived. The Cubans MiGs remain in Ethiopia, but they not fight more in this country, in spite of the Ethiopian conflict with Eritrea, and in spite of Western non base rumors. In September of 1989, with the new international changes, the last Cubans leave Ethiopia, being carried some equipment. See this war in detail.

In others Countries

In South Yemen the Cubans pilots fight in the MiG-17 of this country since 1973, in borders collisions with North Yemen and Saudi Arabia. In Guinea Bissau during the 70’s a group of Cubans pilots fly too the MiG-17, forming and creating the local Air Force, and participating in missions against air space and naval violations.

The Cubans pilots assessed their colleagues of Vietnam. They helped to resolve the dilemma MiG-17/MiG-21 at the end of the 60’s. In 1971 the Vietnamese high command chooses 10 pilots of the 923° regiment, for to be prepared in attacks to American ships. Its preparation was in charge of the Cuban advisor "Ernesto". This famous operation is made on April 18, 1972, when Li Xuan Di and Nguyen Van Bay in two MiG-17F with two 250kg bombs, attack the Oklahoma City cruiser and the DD-806 Higbee destroyer of the 7° Fleet, causing them diverse damages.

Characteristics of the MiG-17AS and MiG-17F

Cuba has two versions of the fighter-bomber MiG-17:

MiG-17AS Fresco A - Practically are the basic MiG-17, but with two complementary external points under the wings for air-ground rockets S-21 and air-air missiles K-3 (AA-2 Atoll).
MiG-17F Fresco C - First flight in September of 1951, the production beginning was in 1952. Engine Klimov VK-1F with afterburning section, thrust dry 2,600 kg, and 3,380 kg with a-f

MiG-17AS (MiG-17F)

Year...................................................1949 (1951)
Lenght, m..........................................11,26 (11,26)
Wingspan, m........................................9,60   (9,63)
Height, m.............................................3,80   (3,80)
Wing area, m2...................................22,60 (22,60)
Weights
Empty weight, kg..............................3,798 (3,950)
Normal take off weight, kg................5,340 (5,354)
Maximum take off weight, kg............5,929 (6,069)
Fuel, kg............................................1,173 (1,170)
Performances
Máximum Speed, km/h......................1,070 (1,154)
Maximum Speed at sea level, km/h....1,060
Range, km.........................................1,165 (1,160)
Range with adicionals tanks, km.........1,907 (2,020) Ceiling , m..........................14,700 (16,470)
Climb, m/s ................................75 (65 without AB)
G.........................................................8   (8)
Engine................Klimov VK-1A (Klimov VK-1F)
Dry thrust, kg..................................2,700 (2,600)
Thrust with afterburning........................no (3,380)
Armament
Gun...................................one 37mm ND-37D with 40 rounds and two 23mm guns N-23 with 80 rounds each (MiG-17F the same)
Combat Load
Two 50,100 or 250 kg bombs, until 500 kg in total, four 190mm rockets TRS190 or 212mm ARS212 or two rockets blocs. Two air-air missiles R-3S (AA-2 Atoll)

Pictures

Enrique Carreras in a MiG-17AS come back home after an fire exercise, Cienfuegos 1971 (Enrique Carreras, Por el dominio del aire)

Rafael del Pino flying in a MiG-17AS. See the air-air missiles K-3 (AA-2 Atoll) in the external points, a characteristic of the "AS" version (Rafael del Pino, Proa a la Libertad)

The MiG-17AS of the DAAFAR Museum has this scheme in the 80´s. Courtesy of Andres Huerta

The MiG-17AS N°212 are today in a park, for the pleasure of the childrens. In Cuba many write off fighters of different versions, are parks or military schools (Rubén)

Colors of the MiG-17 by the firm Albatros