A MiG-15 to freedom : memoir of the wartime North Korean defector who first delivered the secret fighter jet to the Americans in 1953

on September 21, 1953, U.s. Airmen At Kimpo Air Base Near Seoul, Korea, Were Startled To See Landing A Mig-15, The Most Advanced Soviet-built Fighter Plane Of The Era, Piloted By Senior Lieutenant No Kum-sok, A 21-year-old North Korean Air Force Officer. Once He Landed, Lieutenant No Found That His Mother Had Escaped To The South Two Years Earlier, And They Were Soon Reunited. At His Request, No Came To The United States And Became A U.s. Citizen. His Story Provides A Unique Insight Into How North Korea Conducted The Korean War And How He Came To The Decision To Leave His Homeland. Preface / No Kum-Sok -- Foreword / J.R. Osterholm -- 1. Crossing the Line -- 2. Growing Up Under the Japanese -- 3. Maturing Under the Communists -- 4. North Korean Naval Academy -- 5. The Korean War Breaks Out -- 6. The Allies Retreat -- 7. Volunteer for the Unknown -- 8. Flight Training in Manchuria -- 9. Flying the MiG-15 -- 10. Aerial Combat Against F-86 Sabres -- 11. Battles in MiG Alley -- 12. The End of the Manchurian Sanctuary -- 13. Communist Party Membership -- 14. Struggle for Survival -- 15. Final Decision to Flee -- 16. Interrogation -- 17. America Tests the MiG-15bis -- 18. What an Interesting Country -- 19. My Early Adjustment -- 20. Success -- 21. Retrospective on North and South Korea. On September 21, 1953, US airmen at Kimpo Air Base near Seoul, Korea, were startled to see landing a MiG-15, the most advanced Soviet-built fighter plane of the era, piloted by Senior Lieutenant No Kum-Sok, a 21-year-old North Korean Air Force officer. At his request, No came to the US and became a US citizen. This book presents his story.