History and Background
The F-6 was the Chinese licensed copy of the Soviet Mig-19 �Farmer�, and was the most mass produced aircraft in the PLAAF service. It formed the backbone of the Chinese PLAAF for more than three decades, with more than 4500 examples produced in China Alone! First entering service with the Soviet PVO regiments in 1958 it also has the distinction of being the worlds first mass produced supersonic aircraft. It easily outclassed its nearest NATO rival the North American F-100 Super Sabre in performance. It had an excellent rate of climb and a fantastic turning ability, and an impressive thrust to weight ratio making it a formidable interceptor and dogfighter. It was also armed with three very powerful NR-30, 30mm cannons. The NR-30�s were a technologically superior weapon for their time, and the rounds could easily pierce the top Armour of all major NATO tanks up to and including the M-60. The Soviet Union discarded the Mig-19 within a short period in preference to the Mig-21 Fishbed. The same fate befell the F-100 Super Sabre and the French Super Mystere B.2, as the USAF and the French Air force�s retired them early in favour of the higher performance Mach II, F-4 Phantom II�s/ F-104�s/ F-105�s and the Mirage III/ V series respectively. The Chinese prior to the 1962 rift with the USSR, had imported all documentation and machinery, so serial production of the F-6 had commenced full swing by the early 60�s.
When Nikita Khrushchev visited China in 1959, and soon after his return to Russia, Sino-Soviet relations took a nose dive. The Chinese were forced to rely on the mig-19 as their mainstay due to the total economic and military boycott imposed by the Soviets on China after the schism in communist dogma forced the two nations apart. The first Chinese produced F-6 was a Mig-19P Farmer B, and it took to the air on its maiden flight on the 17th of December 1958, flown by test pilot Wang Youhuai. The first mig-19S Farmer C designated, J-6, rolled off the assembly lines during the summer of 1961. Based on the fact that the first Chinese built F-6 was in fact a Mig-19P farmer B, this had an effect on the main, Mig-19S Farmer C production. The only external difference between a Soviet and a Chinese manufactured Mig-19S were the number and position of the cooling air intakes on the ventral rear fuselage. Also the Pitot tube on the starboard side was relocated to port, on the F-6. There were also a number of minor differences between the Chinese and the original Soviet Mig-19�s. The State owned Shenyang Aircraft Company made many improvements on the original Soviet design. Most F-6�s were armed with the standard East German weapons pylon on their forward wing leading edge. This pylon was used for rocket pods, but could also carry small bombs. The F-6 was still in full production as late as 1986! As the loss of Russian assistance and a total western technology embargo forced the Chinese to depend solely upon the F-6, throughout the 60�s, 70�s and 80�s!
The First major foreign recipient of the F-6 was the Pakistan Air Force. With the commencement of the 22 days India/ Pakistan war in 1965. The Pakistani�s found themselves facing a total western arms embargo. This had a devastating effect on the Pakistan Air Force, which relied completely on the U.S. for its arms procurements. As a result Pakistan turned to China for help. Negotiations with the Peoples Republic of China started in October of 1965. PAF pilots were sent to China in order to perform minimal flight conversion and technical courses. All operational manuals had to be meticulously and painstakingly translated from Chinese to English, word for word.
Due to the newfound friendship between the two countries, and the recognition and acknowledgement by China of Pakistan�s Geo-strategic position with respect to India. The first 60 F-6�s were donated to Pakistan by the Peoples Republic of China. These first examples were ferried from Hotan Airbase in China by Pakistani pilots who flew them over the Karakoram Mountains to Sargodha Airbase in Pakistan. These fighters were used to equip the No 25 �Eagles� squadron at Sargodha. The new aircraft were introduced to the public during the Republic day parade in the following year on March 23rd 1966. These were all delivered in Natural metal finish and with original Chinese equipment and comprised of such items as throat microphones, and Soviet type VHF communications equipment. The Soviet type gas gun deflectors (muzzle brakes) were also fitted over the NR-30 Cannon. The PAF gradually modified these new aircraft to meet its own requirements. Principal in the modernization program was the addition of pylons outboard of the wing drop tank stations to carry two Aim-9B Sidewinders. The Pakistani F-6�s were unique in having a Western AAM on an Eastern fighter! The original VHF equipment was also removed and replaced by a Ferranti navigation aids/ transponders and American UHF communications equipment. Western types also replaced the KK-2 ejection seats, and as late as the 90�s, the F-6�s sported state of the art, Martin Baker PKD-10L, 0/0 ejection seats.
The F-6 played an important part in PAF operations in the December 71 war. Western analysts who examined the F-6 during that conflict were the first to conclude and reassess that being far from obsolete; the Mig-19 was a very effective air combat type. PAF expertise on the F-6 was fully tested during the 1971 Indo-Pak War. Its three F-6 squadrons, Nos 11, 23 and 25 gave an excellent account of themselves: flying 945 sorties comprising 735 hours and destroying numerous enemy tanks, armoured cars and field guns during the close support missions. In air combat alone, F-6 pilots shot down eight Indian Air Force fighter aircraft including a superior MiG-21 and damaged five more. The air combat details involving the F-6 are as follows:
On 04 December, Flight Lieutenant Javed Latif of No 23 Squadron shot down an SU-7 while it was attacking the PAF airfield at Risalewala. Its pilot Flight Lieutenant Harvinder Singh was killed in action.
Also on 04 December, Flying Officer Qazi Javed of No 25 Squadron shot down an Indian Air Force Hawker Hunter when it came to attack PAF airfield at Mianwali. Its pilot Flight Lieutenant Vidya Dhar Shankar was also killed in action.
On 05 December, Wing Commander Saad A Hatmi, the Officer Commanding of No 25 Squadron and his Number two, Flight Lieutenant Shahid Raza chased two IAF Hunters and shot them down close to Sakesar. Their pilots Flight Lieutenants G.S. Rai and K.L. Malkani were both killed in action.
On 07 December, Flight Lieutenant Atiq Sufi of No 11 Squadron shot down an IAF SU-7 near the battlefront at Samba. Its pilot Flight Lieutenant Jiwa Singh was killed in action.
On 08 December, Wing Commander S. M. Hashmi, Officer Commanding of No 23 Squadron shot down two IAF SU-7s which were attacking Risalewala airfield.
On 14 December, Flight Lieutenant Aamer A Sharif of No 11 Squadron engaged a superior IAF MiG-21 and after a classic battle, shot it down near Nainkot.
