While the Korean War is usually seen as the first jet vs. jet air war, there is more to the story. One biplane designed in 1928 played a role. The Polikarpov PO-2, with a maximum speed between 81 and 91 miles per hour became an irritant and embarrassment to the U. S. Air force.
The story begins in the Soviet Union during World War II. The PO-2 was designed as a training plane, but in World War II it proved useful in many ways. It could putter along at low levels as an observer aircraft. It could serve as a sort of flying taxi service, and it could be used as a bomber. The Soviet Union needed pilots desperately, and the Communist ideology favored equality for women, so they had women pilots flying in combat. Some flew fighters. One group flew PO-2s as a night bomber. These “Flying “witches” flew over German bases at night and dropped grenades and bombs. Obviously the physical damage was slight, but the resulting loss of sleep added to the misery of Germans on the Eastern Front. The Germans called the raiders “the duty sergeant” and exerted considerable effort to shoot them down.
When the Korean War started, the Soviets supplied PO-2s to their North Korean allies, and soon they were doing night raids over Air Force bases in Korea. They were dubbed “Bed Check Charlie.” They were not likely to do much damage, but a lucky bomb might hit a plane or even a fuel dump or ammo dump. Also the loss of sleep did not help alertness of jet pilots flying the next morning.
POLIKARPOV PO-2
The PO-2 was a wood and fabric biplane which went into service in 1928 and was in production until 1952. Depending on the source you believe, either 20,000 or 40,000 were produced.
Wingspan: 37 ft. 5 in.
Length: 26 ft 9 in.
Height: 9 ft. 11 in.
Weight: 2,167 lbs.
Max speed: 81 or 91 mph (sources differ)
Ceiling: 13,120 ft.
Range: 267 miles
Armament: 1 machine gun, 550 lbs. of bombs
Crew: 2
While it was not as serious a threat as the MIG-15, the “Bed Check Charlie” raids were a nuisance. Something had to be done. The Korean topography complicated the problem. Korea is a country of many mountains. The PO-2 could putter along among the peaks, but an interceptor chasing it had to deal with rocks in the clouds. The fighter chosen to go after “Bed Check Charlie” had to be able to hit Charlie and avoid the peaks - not an easy task.
What would be the best plane to deal with the problem? That’s our first game. I’ll provide a list of possible choices and their technical specs. Make your choice. Then turn to the next section to see a summary or how your choice performed. At that point you will get rules for a solo game of “Hunt for Bed Check Charlie.” That’s the second game.
There were at least seven aircraft available for night intercept duty. Which would you choose? I have provided the statistics on the PO-2 and each of its potential opponents. I have also drawn the PO-2 and the other planes using the same scale so you can compare them. Once you have made your choice, you may move on and read about the actual performance of each plane. I have given each plane die rolls based on that record. The PO-2 gets no shooting or evading die roll because it is simply the target and it always evaded the peaks.
The Choices
F-94 STARFIRE
The Starfire, one of the first all-weather jet interceptors, became operational in 1950 just about when the Korean War started. It was based on the F-80, the U.S. Air force’s first practical jet fighter.
Wingspan: 41 ft. 5 in.
Length: 44 ft. 6 in.
Height: 14 ft. 11 in.
Weight: 24,200 lb.
Maximum speed: 585 mph at 30,000 ft.
Ceiling: 51,400 ft
Range: 1200 miles
Armament: 48 x 70 mm rockets
Crew: 2
F3D SKYKNIGHT
The Skyknight was a 1951 design. It had the honor to be the first night fighter to shoot down another jet, a MIG-15. It was the most effective fighter the U.S. Navy and Marines flew in Korea. At least it shot down the most planes.
Wingspan: 50 ft. 0 in.
Length 45 ft. 6 in.
Height: 16 ft 0 in.
Weight: 26,850 lbs.
Maximum speed: 600 mph at 20,000 ft..
Ceiling: 40,000 f.
Range: 1200 miles
Armament: 4 x 20 mm cannon
Crew: 2
F4U CORSAIR
The Corsair was a World War II veteran as were many pilots in Korea. It was a 1944 design. While the Corsair had been a fighter, by 1950 it was flying close air support mostly. It was a U.S. Navy and Marine aircraft, and there was a night fighter version.
Wingspan: 40 ft.
Length: 33 ft. 4 in.
Height: 15 ft. 1 in.
Weight: 13,120 lbs.
Maximum speed: 425 mph at 20,00 ft.
Ceiling: 37,000 ft.
Range: 1,015 miles
Armament: 6 machine guns
Crew: 1
F7F TIGERCAT
The Tigercat was a twin-engine night fighter in the line of “cat” fighters by Grumman for the U.S. Navy. It had become operational in 1946, too late for World War II.
Wingspan: 51 ft. 6 in.
Length: 46 ft. 10 in.
Height: 16 ft. 7 in.
Weight: 25,720 lbs.
Maximum speed: 435 mph at 22,200 ft.
Ceiling: 40,700 ft.
Range: 1200 miles
Armament: 4 x 20 mm cannon
Crew: 2
FAIREY FIREFLY
The Firefly had served Fleet Air Arm as day and night fighter, and fighter bomber during World War II.
Wingspan: 44 ft. 6 in.
Length: 37 ft. 7 in.
Height: 13 ft. 7 in.
Weight: 14,020 lbs.
Maximum speed: 316 mph at 14,000 ft.
Ceiling 28,000 ft.
Range: 1,300 miles
Armament: 4 x 20 mm cannon
Crew: 2
AD4 SKYRAIDER
The Skyraider was a 1951 design, but it was propeller driven. In Korea an assault version produced about 1952 flew a lot of night missions for the U.S. Navy.
Wingspan: 50 ft. 0 in.
Length 39 ft. 2 in.
Height: 15 ft. 8 in.
Weight: 25,000 lbs.
Maximum speed 322 mph at 18,000 ft.
Ceiling: 28,500 ft.
Range: 1,143 miles
Armament: 4 x 20 mm cannon
Crew: 1
B-26 INVADER
The Invader is sometimes labeled A-26. It was a twin-engine tactical bomber which flew from 1944 in World War II into the Vietnam War. In Korea it often flew night raids for the U.S. Air force.
Wingspan: 70 ft.
Length: 50 ft.
Height: 18 ft. 6 in.
Weight: 35,000 lbs.
Maximum speed: 355 mph
Ceiling: 22,100 ft.
Range: 1400 miles
Armament: 10 machine guns
Crew: 3
Which plane did you select?
More Bed Check Charlie
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