One against seven? It’s a cake walk.

https://www.militarytimes.com/...us-military-history/

By Claire Barrett
Feb 5, 2026 at 11:49 AM

Naval aviator Capt. Royce Williams, 100, is set to be awarded the Medal of Honor for his 1952 actions during the Korean War, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., announced on Wednesday.

Issa has played a significant role in Williams’ recognition, introducing the “Valor Has No Expiration Act” in 2025 to extend and expand upon the 1996 National Defense Authorization Act. Introduced last June, the act was instrumental in highlighting Williams’ Korean War record.

According to Issa’s press release, the NDAA waived the five-year limitation for Medal of Honor consideration — but only for actions occurring between 1940 and 1990 and only for classified “intelligence activities.”

The Valor Has No Expiration Act seeks to remove such arbitrary timelines and expand the criteria to include classified acts or those withheld from the public record.

In 2023, Williams received the Navy Cross — an upgrade from the Silver Star Medal he previously received on May 7, 1953.

In 1952, flying a F9F-5 Panther fighter, Williams found himself alone, outmanned and piloting what was considered an inferior aircraft, when he was swarmed by seven MiG-15 aircraft. Despite initially flying with two other VF-781 pilots, Williams soon found himself unaccompanied.

“In the moment I was a fighter pilot doing my job. … I was only shooting what I had,” Williams said in a previous account of the fight. “They had me cold on maneuverability and acceleration. … The only thing I could do was out-turn them.”

For 35 minutes, Williams engaged with the enemy, shooting down four of the planes in what is considered the longest dogfight in U.S. military history.

According to the U.S. Naval Institute, no other American fighter pilot has ever shot down four MiG-15s in one fight. Williams’ action, however, was kept classified for more than 50 years, making the pilot ineligible for the Medal of Honor.

That all changed on Wednesday, however, when President Donald Trump called the 100-year-old to notify him that he was to receive the nation’s highest award for valor.

“What Royce did is — still to this day — the most unique U.S.-Soviet aerial combat dogfight in the history of the Cold War, and one in which Royce Williams demonstrated indomitable courage of the highest skill under incalculable duress,” Issa said in a press release.

“It is my honor to have fought all these years for Royce to gain a recognition that he has not sought, but so richly deserves.”

Another article with add'l details of Williams' harrowing dogfight and a pic of him in his 'dogfighting' prime.

https://taskandpurpose.com/new...iams-medal-of-honor/


Navy pilot to receive Medal of Honor nearly 75 years after shooting down 4 MiGs

Retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams downed four Soviet MiGs during the Korean War in the longest dogfight in Navy history.
JEFF SCHOGOL / PUBLISHED FEB 5, 2026 12:10 PM EST

Legendary Navy pilot Royce Williams, who downed four Soviet MiG fighters during the Korean War, will finally receive the Medal of Honor, a White House official confirmed to Task & Purpose.

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) first announced on Wednesday that President Donald Trump had let Williams know that he would receive the U.S. military’s highest award for valor. Issa authored legislation included in this fiscal year’s National Defense Authorization Act that authorized Trump to award the Medal of Honor to Williams.

“My friend, constituent, and hero Royce Williams is 100 years young, a Top Gun pilot like no other, and an American hero for all time,” Issa said in a statement. “The heroism and valor he demonstrated for more than 35 harrowing minutes almost 70 years ago in the skies over the North Pacific and the coast of North Korea unquestionably saved the lives of his fellow pilots, shipmates, and crew. His story is one for the ages and it now has its rightful chapter as Royce receives the Medal of Honor.”

On Nov. 18, 1952, Williams was a Navy lieutenant flying a F9F-5 Panther. He and three other naval aviators were over the Sea of Japan when they spotted seven Soviet MiG-15 fighters that had launched from an airfield near Vladivostok and had been ordered to attack the American planes, according to the Navy.

Two of the Navy planes were ordered to return to their aircraft carrier, USS Oriskany, leaving just Williams and his wingman. Over the course of the next 35 minutes, Williams took on the MiGs in the longest dogfight in Navy history.

Four of the MiGs jumped the two Navy Panthers, but Williams opened fire with his guns and hit one of the Soviet jets. His wingman followed the damaged MiG as the remaining Soviet fighters joined the battle. That meant Williams was now alone and facing six enemy aircraft.

The Soviet fighters were faster and more maneuverable than his Panther, but he had a better gunsight system than the MiGs. Williams flew several tight turns, firing brief bursts at the Soviet planes as they came into his sights. He ended up firing all 760 of his 20mm rounds, downing two more MiGs and damaging a third that later crashed.

One of the MiGs hit William’s Panther with a 37mm cannon round that tore into his wing and peppered his plane with more than 250 smaller shrapnel holes. As Williams coaxed his badly damaged fighter back to the Oriskany, two Navy destroyers accidentally fired on him, but they missed. He managed to put his plane down on the carrier despite rough seas and having to come into the landing much faster than normal to keep his Panther airborne.

For decades after Williams’ dogfight, the U.S. government kept secret the fact that signals intelligence had confirmed the seven enemy jets were Soviet aircraft being vectored by Soviet ground controllers.

Ordered not to discuss the battle with anyone, Williams remained silent for decades. Only after the U.S. government contacted him years later to let him know that the mission had been declassified did he finally tell someone about it for the first time: His wife.

Williams was later awarded the Silver Star for his bravery, which was upgraded to the Navy Cross in 2023.

Speaking to Task & Purpose for a story in June, Williams said he was honored by efforts to have his award upgraded to the Medal of Honor. When asked how he was able to shoot down four Soviet MiGs during the 1952 dogfight, he replied, “I have a God that did it for me.”

The news that Williams would receive the Medal of Honor came shortly after the parents of a soldier killed while shielding a Polish officer from a suicide bomber in Afghanistan would also be recognized with the award.

Long overdue!

I was just out of my teens when the Soviet Union collapsed, so, not around for the Cuban Missile Crisis or most other events that historians look back at as on-the-brink points. But I have to wonder how many similar incidents of actual USSR-USA "force on force" were never made public.

Well deserved. Wow, four MiGs!

BZ Captain . I thought my admiration for Naval aviators recognizing both sailors and Marines couldn't be higher. Shows what I know.

Also, read several different accounts about
Major James Howard, WWII hero.

Here is one:

https://www.thisdayinaviation....y-1944/fre_000414-2/

Here's a video, with errors, exaggerations and maybe AI stuff but its entertaining.

Take it with a grain of salt:

Most excellent.
Williams combat engagement is one the more harrowing air combat stories I've ever heard of.

There's quite the difference between this UTube video and what's in James Howard's Wikipedia entry. Also, the picture looks to be a P-51D (sliding bubble canopy) and not a P-51B.

I've read about that fight several times. Glad to hear he's finally being recognized for his remarkable achievement.

Similar story from Vietnam Nam where Navy Lt Cdr Dick Schaffer engaged 4 MiG-17s and 2 Mig-21s in a 10+ minute dogfight alone in his F8 Crusader. While he didn't score any kills, he did survive against severe odds.

Just watch this last week:

Nice interview with Williams.

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quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Nice interview with Williams.

HRK: You forgot the [FLASH_VIDEO]