The Marauders

A six-jet U.S. RB-47 was flying a reconnaissance mission over the Sea of Japan, 50 miles off the North Korean coast, its electronic ears attuned to the radio and radar of the Communist half of the peninsula. Suddenly, two North Korean MIG-17 jet fighters flashed down. Though the U.S. plane was clearly over international waters and flying a course parallel to the Korean shore line, the Red jets opened fire with cannon and machine guns.

With more glee than accuracy, Pyongyang promptly announced that the MIGs had "shot down the spy plane, dealing a powerful blow in self-defense."

In fact, though damaged by the MIG gunfire, the RB-47 limped safely to Yokota Airbase in Japan, with none of its six crewmen injured. It was the eighth air attack on U.S. aircraft by North Koreans since the armistice of 1953. Washington's retort was blunt and potent: the presentation to the South Korean air force of 20 new F-5 fighter planes packing twice the punch at twice the speed of the marauding MIG- 17s.

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