{"id":45472,"date":"2023-01-27T23:06:03","date_gmt":"2023-01-27T23:06:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/01\/27\/korean-war-veteran-awarded-navy-cross-for-downing-four-soviet-aircraft\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:45:41","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:45:41","slug":"korean-war-veteran-awarded-navy-cross-for-downing-four-soviet-aircraft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2023\/01\/27\/korean-war-veteran-awarded-navy-cross-for-downing-four-soviet-aircraft\/","title":{"rendered":"Korean War veteran awarded Navy Cross for downing four Soviet aircraft"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro<\/a> awarded the Navy Cross to retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams on Jan. 20 for downing four Soviet MiG-15 aircraft during the Korean War in what is still the longest recorded dogfight in U.S. military history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Williams, receiving the Navy Cross was an upgrade from the Silver Star Medal he previously received on May 7, 1953, according to a press release from the Navy. He was awarded the medal for actions taken against seven Soviet MiG 15 aircraft while assigned to the \u201cPacemakers\u201d of Fighter Squadron (VF) 781.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On Nov. 18, 1952, then-Lt. Williams, an F9F-5 Panther jet fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Oriskany, was flying a combat patrol mission off the coast of Korea with two other F9F pilots when they encountered the MiGs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fuel pump issue caused the team\u2019s flight leader to return to the carrier. Shortly after, Williams\u2019 wingman chased down the first MiG Williams shot, leaving Williams alone to handle the remaining six MiGs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Williams engaged in a 35-minute dogfight against the Soviet aircraft, shooting down another three while suffering a direct hit to his own aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlthough his own plane was severely damaged by a direct 23-mm hit from one enemy MiG-15 aircraft, he maneuvered to escape yet continued his direction of the engagement until he reached cloud cover in which he dodged the enemy and returned his almost uncontrollable aircraft on board the parent carrier,\u201d his Silver Star citation says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Williams is the only American fighter pilot to down four MiGs in a single fight, the Navy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t