This week in history: F-51 downs Yak-9 during Korean War Published Feb. 5, 2013 By Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center Historian KIRTLAND AFB, N.M. -- Feb. 5, 1951: F-51 Mustang pilot Maj. Arnold "Moon" Mullins, 67th Fighter-Bomber Squadron commander, downed a Yak-9 north of Pyongyang, North Korea. On Feb. 5, 1951, in a 67 FBS F-51 Mustang, Maj. Arnold "Moon" Mullins shot down a Yak-9 north of Pyongyang to score the only Air Force aerial victory of the month and his fourth for the war. On Aug. 10, 1950, Mullins destroyed a Yak-9. He downed two Yak-9s in November 1950. Mullins, promoted to lieutenant colonel, returned to the U.S. in 1951. He was killed in 1952 in a T-33 demonstrating close air support maneuvers. Because of the North Korean invasion of South Korea in June 1950, the 67 FBS was moved from the Philippines to Taegu AB, South Korea, in July. At Taegu, the squadron exchanged its P-80 Shooting Star jets for propeller-driven F-51D Mustangs, which were more suited to the ground attack and support role. Due to the changing front lines, the unit moved a number of times. In January 1953, the squadron rejoined the wing at Osan-ni AB, where it transitioned to the F-86 Sabre. The squadron remained in Korea for some time after the armistice. It was reassigned to Kadena AB, Japan, in November 1954.