The Battle

The Longest Dogfight in U.S. Navy History

On his second combat mission of the day, Lieutenant Royce Williams launched from the USS Oriskany (CVA-34) in his F9F-5 Panther, assigned to Fighter Squadron 781 (VF-781). His four-plane division was tasked with combat air patrol near Hoeryong, North Korea, protecting Task Force 77 below.

Contact

• Spotted seven MiG-15s,superior fighters, faster, higher ceiling, heavier armament
• Flown by Soviet Naval Aviation pilots (not North Koreans,unknown at the time)
• Two wingmen returned with mechanical issues, third separated,Williams alone against seven

35 Minutes Alone

• Approximately 35 minutes of continuous combat,the longest dogfight in Navy history
• Engaged all seven MiGs despite a significant aircraft disadvantage
• Shot down four MiG-15s
• Per the 2014 Russian publication Red Devils over the Yalu: Soviet pilots Capt. Beliakov, Lts. Pakhomkin and Vandaev were shot down; Lt. Pushkarev returned to base

263 Bullet Holes

• Aircraft hit repeatedly, sustaining 263 bullet holes
• Lost hydraulics and was completely out of ammunition
• Nursed the crippled aircraft back to the USS Oriskany and made a successful carrier landing
• Aircraft was so severely damaged it was pushed overboard

Sworn to Secrecy

• Debriefed by admirals, the Secretary of Defense, and President Eisenhower
• Classified because Soviet involvement would have escalated the conflict
• Williams never told anyone,not his wife, not his pilot brother,for more than 50 years
• Navy records were altered to credit only one enemy aircraft destroyed

The Truth Emerges

• Records declassified around 2002
• American Legion Magazine cover story, November 2017
• RADM Doniphan Shelton advocated for recognition beginning in 2014, calling Williams’ heroism “unmatched”
• Silver Star (1953) → Navy Cross (December 2022) → Medal of Honor (February 24, 2026)