Captain James Jabara's Historic Achievement as America's First Jet Ace in Korean War
Seventy-five years ago, during the Korean War, Captain James Jabara from Wichita became the first American to achieve the status of a jet ace. On this day in 1951, Jabara, piloting an F-86 Sabre, shot down two Soviet-built MiG-15s, marking his fifth and sixth aerial victories. This achievement made him the first pilot in history to become a flying ace using jet aircraft. The term 'flying ace' refers to a military pilot who has achieved five or more confirmed aerial combat kills, a standard that originated during World War I. On the day of his historic achievement, Jabara was part of a mission over MiG Alley in northwestern North Korea. Despite a malfunction with his aircraft's fuel tank, which should have forced him to return to base, Jabara continued the mission and successfully engaged enemy aircraft. His actions during the 20-minute battle earned him the Distinguished Service Cross, the second-highest military decoration in the United States. 
