Which US Air Force pilot achieved the most aerial victories in the Korean War (16)?

Joseph C. McConnell achieved the most credited aerial victories by an American pilot in the Korean War, with 16 MiG-15s destroyed. Flying F-86 Sabres, he became the war’s top American jet ace.

McConnell served with the 39th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron of the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing and scored all 16 of his victories between 14 January and 18 May 1953. His final combat mission brought down two MiGs and damaged another. He was then sent back to the United States, becoming America’s first triple jet ace.

The number 16 refers to credited aircraft destroyed, while McConnell was also credited with five damaged. That distinction matters because victory totals in air warfare were based on official combat claims and assessments, not simply every aircraft attacked. James Jabara was another celebrated U.S. jet ace, and George Davis was a prominent Korean War fighter pilot, but neither exceeded McConnell’s credited total.

McConnell died in a test-flight accident at Edwards Air Force Base in 1954, only about a year after his Korean combat service ended.