Hobby Master Archive

Lt. Belenko was a MiG-25P pilot with the 513th Fighter Regiment, 11th Army, Soviet Air Defence Forces. On September 6, 1976 while flying his MiG-25P “Red 31” Belenko defected to Japan where he was granted asylum. The Japanese seized the opportunity to examine the aircraft and eventually allowed the Americans access to the aircraft. The MiG-25P and Belenko were transported to the U.S. where he was granted citizenship in 1980 and the aircraft was completely disassembled. The aircraft eventually was returned to the Soviets in crates.