Lt. Cdr. W.T. Amen Scores 1st MiG-15 Jet Kill

A first in the annals of Naval aviation was recorded on 9 November 1950 when Lt. Cdr. Tom Amen C.O. of VF-111 scored a MiG-15 kill with a F9F-2 Panther. This was the first jet-to-jet kill for the U.S. Navy. Launching from the USS Philippine Sea and leading a division of four Panthers, Amen's flight was out to escort ADs and F4Us bombing bridges and powerplants. The Panthers were flying flak suppression, armed with 20mm and light frag bombs to hold the enemy gunners down. All of a sudden they were attacked by MiG-15s, who flew right into the Panther formation, so closely that our pilots were able to identify that the enemy pilots were wearing leather helmets. The MiG-15 that was shot down that day was chased by Cdr. Amen and his wingman George Holloman.  The Panthers moved in on the MiG-15, attacking from the rear.  It was all the Panthers could do to stay within firing range of the MiG. Amen and Holloman started lobbing 20mm A.P.T. (armor piercing tracer) and H.E.I. (high explosive incendiary) shells. When the H.E.I. would hit the aircraft, they would explode and light up with a bright sparkling appearance. The tracer with this load was for adjusting fire. All of a sudden, the MiG twisted from its straight path, and trailing smoke and flame nosed over into a dive that continues right into the ground. The aircraft impacted within sight of the Yalua River, the border between Korea and China. Both Amen and Holloman returned safely to the ship to a well-done and welcome aboard. An interesting fact is that Amen that day was flying a Panther borrowed from their sister-squadron VF-112. While VF-111 got the credit for the kill, the VF-112 Panther received the MiG-15 kill mark on their F9F.