New Champ

Fifty MIG-15s bore down on a flight of U.N. fighter bombers near the Yalu; up streaked four U.S. F-86 Sabre jets to meet them. Flying the lead Sabre was Captain "Manuel Fernandez Jr., a 28-year-old Miamian on his 117th combat mission (already 17 missions over the standard 100; he wants to fly 150 in all). Fernandez got his sights on a MIG, started firing from 1,200 ft. away. Later he reported matter of factly: "Large pieces started falling off him, and fire broke out in his tailpipe section. He fell over on the left wing, went straight on in and blew up when he hit."

The MIG was Fernandez' 13th, and a new record for jet kills. Previous record-holder (twelve): Colonel Royal N. Baker of McKinney, Texas, Fernandez' former commanding officer.

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