During the Korean War, the United States launched Operation Moolah, offering political asylum and $100,000 USD to any North Korean pilot who defected to South Korea with a Soviet MiG-15. In 1953, after the shooting stopped, U.S. forces dropped leaflets over North Korea advertising the reward to pilots. On September 21, 1953, North Korean pilot No Kum-Sok flew his MiG-15 to Kimpo Air Base in South Korea, unaware of the offer, and American personnel impounded the aircraft and examined it in detail. Test pilots, including Chuck Yeager, then flew the captured MiG.
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