PLAAF Korean War Training
Under the impetus of the Sino-Soviet Pact of February 1950, a training system was created which was capable of converting politically reliable manpower into air crews and supporting elements for an operational air force in Communist China. Still further impetus to this training followed in the wake of the outbreak of hostilities in Korea, particularly after the commitment of Chinese Communist ground-force "volunteers" late in 1950. It was not definitely known at that time, but Western intelligence indicated that the training program laid out for the Chinese closely followed that of the Soviet Air Force. Training emphasis was on producing combat units in the shortest possible time by stress on the flying and technical schools and on operational training within the tactical air divisions.
Cadets for the Chinese Communist pilot schools in general were required to have at least a senior-middle-school education (comparable to a US high-school education), or pass an equivalent examination. Applicants were accepted from all strata of society, but they must either be Communist Party members or vouched for by a party member. Age requirements were from 17 to 27. After these requirements had been satisfied, the candidates erre then subjected to mental and physi-cal examinations. Physical requirements were similar to those demanded of U. S. air cadets.
After the recruit has been accepted as a cadet, a period of pre-flight training began. This included political indoctrination and orthodox ground-school training. This phase lasted fromnine months to a year. After the completion of preflight, the cadet was given primary fling train-ing for a period of approximately four months. During this phase, he would solo and attain an average of from 40 to 50 hours of flying time, normally in a Soviet YAK-18 primary trainer. Basic training normally required a period of about four months, a time during which some 30 to 50 hours of flyingtime in Soviet YAK-11 aircraft was acquired. In advanced training, the Chinese Communist cadets specialized in ground-attack, fighter, orbomber aircraft. Approximately 40 hours of flying time were acquired during advanced training. Thus a graduate pilot would have received during his cadet training a total of from 110 to 140 hours of flying time, of which from 7O to 100 would have been solo time.
Fighter trainees received more training in acrobatics and air-to-air gunnery. Approximately 30 hours of flying time was acquired, for a total of about 100 hours upon graduation. The aircraft utilized for this training were the LA-9and LA-11 types.Future bomber pilots are trained along thesame general lines as those employed at the fighter and ground-attack schools, With emphasis onbombing and navigation. Bomber cadets graduated with an estimated 150 hours of flying time, including from 50 to 80 hours in TU-2U trainer-bombers and TU-2 bombers.
Chinese Communist pilots apparently underwent jet training after they had completed training in conventional fighters and had received their Wings. Transition to jets appeared to be accomplished primarily in operational jet-fighter units with MIG-9 jet fighters. Some MIG-15U jet-fighter trainers were also employed. The Chinese Communists depended heavily on the training offered within the USSR. During the early stages of development in 1949 and 1950, several hundred pilot and technical trainees were sent to the USSR and apparently achieved varying degrees of proficiency before being recalled to China.
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