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Victor Belenko | The Pilot Who Stole the Soviet Union’s Greatest Secret

FORGOTTEN HISTORY

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In 1976, the world believed the Soviet Union had built an unstoppable super jet, a fighter so fast and advanced that NATO pilots couldn’t touch it. Hollywood would later turn that fear into fiction with Firefox. But the real story was far more damaging to Moscow. When Soviet pilot Viktor Belenko defected to Japan in a stolen MiG-25 Foxbat, the West finally got its hands on the most feared aircraft of the Cold War. What they discovered shattered years of intelligence assumptions, exposed how badly both sides had misjudged the threat, and revealed that the scariest weapon of the Cold War wasn’t the jet itself, it was the myth surrounding it. Written and hosted by Colin D. Heaton. Forgotten History is a 10th Legion Pictures Production.
This video is for educational and commentary purposes. All information is presented based on publicly available sources. Allegations, claims, and historical accounts are included for informational context, and viewers are encouraged to conduct their own research. #ColdWarSecrets
#MilitaryDefection #AviationHistory
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About us: Host/Military Historian/Film Consultant/US Army and USMC Veteran - Colin Heaton
https://www.historyfilmconsultant.com/
Screenwriter/Director/Producer/US Marine Corps Veteran - Michael Droberg
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-COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER UNDER SECTION 107 OF THE COPYRIGHT ACT 1976
Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976,
allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. #forgottenhistorychannel
SOURCES:
Barron, John. MiG Pilot: The Final Escape of Lt. Belenko. Avon Books, 1983
CIA Museum. “Viktor Belenko and the MiG-25 Defection”
National Security Archive (GWU). Cold War aviation and defector files
Ford Presidential Library. Diplomatic correspondence on the Belenko incident
The New York Times. “Viktor Belenko, Soviet Pilot Who Defected With a MiG-25, Dies at 76” (Nov. 2023)
The Aviationist. Technical analysis of the MiG-25 Foxbat
Stanford University Libraries. Cold War intelligence collections

20 Comments

@randyrhodes3934 8 months ago

There is a book “MiG Pilot”. Where Victor tells his story including how he planned his escape and the dangers he faced. It was a good book on two accounts one was the failure of the Soviet system and the military war plans regarding the MIG 25. It’s a good read. 😊

@elblee231 8 months ago

I was an F4 pilot in Germany at the time and had the privilege of meeting him as he was on his way to the U.S.
He stopped in at several fighter squadrons and spoke about the jet. What I remember is that the intel on the Foxbat was mainly in error due to grossly underestimating the weight of the plane. Thrust to weight ratio was very good due to the pwerful engines, but wingloading was so high that turning performance was horrible.

@Starphot 8 months ago

I remember this incident. I was just out of the Navy as an aviation fire control technician when this occurred. I remembered a comment later of one of the inspectors who said "Even if this has vacuum tubes, it doesn't mean it is outdated".

@auklon3372 8 months ago

The jet that inspired the mighty F15.

@teggyman 8 months ago

Can't wait for the deep dive into the Minnesota riots

@Bumper776 8 months ago

Thank you very much for this. I had never heard of this at all. Ironically, he passed away not far from where I live in Southern Illinois and I do not recall seeing anything about this in the local news. I would love to have met him and thanked him for what he did.

@troyevitt2437 8 months ago

This incident was referenced in the film adaptation of Tom Clancy's "The Hunt For Red October".
The aircraft carrier skipper played by Senator Fred Dalton Thompson (R-Tennessee) said, "We're not talking about some stray Pilot with a MiG; [the Soviets] are gonna want [the Red October] back!"

@roberste 8 months ago

I met Belenko in 1996 when he spoke at an American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics dinner in St. Louis. A most interesting man. Definitely a Cold War hero for the US and the West in general. Thank you for this wonderful video.

@55Reever 8 months ago

I was at the Air Races in Reno/Stead just walking through the pits looking at a couple of restored Yak 9's. A guy standing there right next to me and he was very impressed with the workmanship on the Yaks. Viktor Belenko.

@georgias2157 8 months ago

As a history buff, I really appreciate your content

@-.Steven 8 months ago

Wow, incredible video! What a fascinating story. 14:58 I'd trade a thousand traitors like kissenger for one Soviet jet any day!

@CrocodileDundee-z6p 8 months ago

I vaguely knew about this. Thanks for providing more depth Colin.

@jamesMwebber 8 months ago

Great work and keep it up, Colin. I look fwd to your narration most of all, but all of the forgotten history team is awesome. Always a pleasure to watch your stuff

@josh656 5 months ago

The warning shots were a nice touch.

@U.S.bill2066 8 months ago (edited)

HEY COLIN! I MISS your Narrating! GLAD YOU ARE BACK! "YOU" are why I WATCH Forgotten History

@theresaherman 8 months ago

Old guy here. I was in high school when this happened, but I sure don’t remember this. I did watch the Clint Eastwood movie FireFox.
The Foxbat sure looks like an F-15 Eagle.

@NEOSCISSORSJAGUARPRIME 8 months ago

THE FACT THAT HE'S A PILOT OF A NEW AIRCRAFT BUT STILL FORCED TO LIVE IN ROTTEN BARRACKS SPEAKS VOLUMES OF CRAP LIFE IN THE USSR

@marksolarz3756 8 months ago (edited)

I read the book...one interesting part was his first trip to an American "Grocery store". He thought it was some how fake. How can you have all this variety? Where is the security guards if someone steals something? Where are the bread lines? How is this possible? He would learn.