17. Surgeon Lieut.-Commander Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Air what information he has as to the number of aircraft of the Communists and of the United Nations forces, respectively, which have been destroyed in, or as a result of, air combat in Korea, up to the latest convenient date.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Mr. Crawley)The latest official figures show that 248 aircraft of the United Nations forces in Korea have been destroyed from all causes, while 418 enemy aircraft have been destroyed and damaged.
Surgeon Lieut.-Commander BennettCan the Minister say how it is that such of these aircraft as have been destroyed in combat have been so destroyed in view of the statement of the Minister of Defence recently, in answer to my Question, that the Chinese Air Force did not operate?
§ Mr. CrawleyI am afraid that I cannot give a full breakdown of the figures, but I think one interesting fact is that 118 M.I.G.15 have been destroyed or damaged as against six American Sabre aircraft.
§ Mr. PickthornCan the Minister say exactly what is meant by "damaged"? Does it mean machines put out of action 2298 so as to be unlikely to be recovered, or exactly what does it mean?
§ Mr. CrawleyI should say, normally put out of action either totally or for a very considerable period.
§ Lord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonHave any M.I.G.15 fallen on our side of the line so that we have had an opportunity of examining them?
§ Mr. CrawleyI understand none.