MiG-17 FRESCO

ARCHIVE TREASURES

The Soviet MiG-17 Fresco entered service in 1952, and while it appeared similar to the previous MiG-15 Fagot, it featured a far more advanced aerodynamic design. It was operated by all three Soviet Air Arms (Air/ Air Defence and Naval), and this photo probably depicts a regimental flypast of a Skoryyclass destroyer by at least eight Soviet Naval Aviation Fresco-A aircraft. Unfortunately, a Soviet censor has been hard at work on this photo, removing aircraft and hull numbers as well as the MiG-17’s conspicuous fuselagemounted cannon. However, based on the configuration of the ship it’s likely this was taken during the early 1950s, as many were later modified, by removing one of the torpedo packs.