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In the first two decades of the [[Cold War]], there were a number of shootdowns of American and NATO surveillance aircraft by Soviet interceptors.  (see also:  [[MiG-15]])  Two of the most famous happened within two months of each other, and both involved MiG-19s.  On May 1, 1960, a [[U-2]] piloted by [[Francis Gary Powers]] was detected deep inside Soviet territory, and MiG-19s were sent to intercept.  The U-2 was brought down by an SA-2 surface-to-air missile, but a MiG-19 was shot down by a missile as well, the pilot being killed.

In the first two decades of the [[Cold War]], there were a number of shootdowns of American and NATO surveillance aircraft by Soviet interceptors.  (see also:  [[MiG-15]])  Two of the most famous happened within two months of each other, and both involved MiG-19s.  On May 1, 1960, a [[U-2]] piloted by [[Francis Gary Powers]] was detected deep inside Soviet territory, and MiG-19s were sent to intercept.  The U-2 was brought down by an SA-2 surface-to-air missile, but a MiG-19 was shot down by a missile as well, the pilot being killed.

On July 1 of the same year, an RB-47 with a six man crew was over the Barent’s Sea on an electronic intelligence mission when a MiG-19 came up.  It broke off at first, then returned and started firing.  The bomber returned fire, but it was too late.  Two of the bomber’s six engines were destroyed in the first pass, and the plane soon became uncontrollable.  Three of the crew managed to eject, but only the co-pilot and navigator survived.  They were picked up by a Soviet trawler, and spent the next seven months as “guests” of the [[KGB]] at the infamous Lubyanka prison.  As it usually did in such situations, the Soviet government claimed the bomber was in Russian airspace, although the location of the wreckage indicated that it was almost certainly over international waters when shot down.  The American airmen were finally returned on January 25, 1961, a few days after the inauguration of [[John F. Kennedy]].  The pilot that shot them down was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.<ref>''The Price of Vigilance: Attacks on American Surveillance Flights'', by Larry Tart and Robert Keefe, Ballantine Publishing, 2001</ref><ref>[http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=1881 Fact Sheets:  RB-47 Shot Down]</ref>

On July 1 of the same year, an RB-47 with a six man crew was over the [[Barent’s Sea]] on an electronic intelligence mission when a MiG-19 came up.  It broke off at first, then returned and started firing.  The bomber returned fire, but it was too late.  Two of the bomber’s six engines were destroyed in the first pass, and the plane soon became uncontrollable.  Three of the crew managed to eject, but only the co-pilot and navigator survived.  They were picked up by a Soviet trawler, and spent the next seven months as “guests” of the [[KGB]] at the infamous Lubyanka prison.  As it usually did in such situations, the Soviet government claimed the bomber was in Russian airspace, although the location of the wreckage indicated that it was almost certainly over international waters when shot down.  The American airmen were finally returned on January 25, 1961, a few days after the inauguration of [[John F. Kennedy]].  The pilot that shot them down was awarded the Order of the Red Banner.<ref>''The Price of Vigilance: Attacks on American Surveillance Flights'', by Larry Tart and Robert Keefe, Ballantine Publishing, 2001</ref><ref>[http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=1881 Fact Sheets:  RB-47 Shot Down]</ref>

===The Middle East===

===The Middle East===

[[Syria]], [[Egypt]], and [[Iraq]] all acquired MiG-19s in the early 60s.  Iraqi MiG-19s were involved in strikes against [[Kurdistan|Kurdish]] rebels throughout 1966, and Egypt sent some of its MiG-19s to assist the [[Yemen|Yemen Arab Republic]] against Royalist rebel forces around the same time.  The fighter’s first confrontation with the [[Israel]]is came on November 29, 1966; two Egyptian Farmers were testing the Israeli air defenses when two Israeli Mirages intercepted them and shot both down.  One of the MiGs had the dubious honor of being the first combat victim of the French-made Matra [[air-to-air missile]], which the Israelis had acquired for their fighters; the other was downed by cannon fire.

[[Syria]], [[Egypt]], and [[Iraq]] all acquired MiG-19s in the early 60s.  Iraqi MiG-19s were involved in strikes against [[Kurdistan|Kurdish]] rebels throughout 1966, and Egypt sent some of its MiG-19s to assist the [[Yemen|Yemen Arab Republic]] against Royalist rebel forces around the same time.  The fighter’s first confrontation with the [[Israel]]is came on November 29, 1966; two Egyptian Farmers were testing the Israeli air defenses when two Israeli Mirages intercepted them and shot both down.  One of the MiGs had the dubious honor of being the first combat victim of the French-made Matra [[air-to-air missile]], which the Israelis had acquired for their fighters; the other was downed by cannon fire.

In the initial strikes of the [[Six Day War]], most Arab aircraft were destroyed on the ground, but Syrian MiG-19s scored some minor successes on that day.  Syrian Farmers escorted a morning strike on the oil refinery at Haifa, and a MiG-19 on combat air patrol downed an Israeli Super Mystere.  For the rest of the war, with Israel in control of the air, the surviving MiGs were limited to hit-and-run missions.

In the initial strikes of the [[Six Day War]], most Arab aircraft were destroyed on the ground, but Syrian MiG-19s scored some minor successes on that day.  Syrian Farmers escorted a morning strike on the oil refinery at [[Haifa]], and a MiG-19 on combat air patrol downed an Israeli Super Mystere.  For the rest of the war, with Israel in control of the air, the surviving MiGs were limited to hit-and-run missions.

After the war, most Arab countries phased their MiG-19s out of frontline service.  As a result, Farmers played little part in the War of Attrition or the [[Yom Kippur War]], although an Egyptian MiG-19 pilot scored an unexpected victory on May 19, 1969, when he ran into two Israeli Mirages and managed to down one with his cannons.<ref>''Arab MiG-19 and MiG-21 Units in Combat'', by David Nicolle and Tom Cooper, Osprey Publishing, 2004</ref>

After the war, most Arab countries phased their MiG-19s out of frontline service.  As a result, Farmers played little part in the [[War of Attrition]] or the [[Yom Kippur War]], although an Egyptian MiG-19 pilot scored an unexpected victory on May 19, 1969, when he ran into two Israeli Mirages and managed to down one with his cannons.<ref>''Arab MiG-19 and MiG-21 Units in Combat'', by David Nicolle and Tom Cooper, Osprey Publishing, 2004</ref>

===Vietnam War===

===Vietnam War===

===People’s Republic of China===

===People’s Republic of China===

In the 1960s, the Chinese derivative of the MiG-19, the J-6 was the main front-line fighter of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.  There were a number of fights with the Chinese Nationalist Air Force, and J-6 pilots were credited with downing two RF-101s that were on surveillance missions.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_170.shtml PRC/Chinese Air-to-Air Victories since 1950]</ref>  In turn, Nationalist [[F-104 Starfighter]]s downed two J-6s in 1967.<ref>''The Encyclopedia of 20th Air Warfare'', ed. by Chris Bishop, Amber Books, 2004</ref>

In the 1960s, the Chinese derivative of the MiG-19, the J-6 was the main front-line fighter of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force.  There were a number of fights with the Chinese Nationalist Air Force, and J-6 pilots were credited with downing two [[F-101 Voodoo|RF-101s]] that were on surveillance missions.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_170.shtml PRC/Chinese Air-to-Air Victories since 1950]</ref>  In turn, Nationalist [[F-104 Starfighter]]s downed two J-6s in 1967.<ref>''The Encyclopedia of 20th Air Warfare'', ed. by Chris Bishop, Amber Books, 2004</ref>

The Chinese fighters also came in conflict with American planes.  In September of 1965, Chinese J-6s bounced and shot down an American F-104 that strayed over Hainan Island, the pilot ejecting to become a prisoner.<ref>[http://www.vectorsite.net/avf104_1.html F-104 in USAF Service]</ref>  On August 21, 1967, J-6 pilots downed two US Navy [[A-6 Intruder]]s under similar circumstances.

The Chinese fighters also came in conflict with American planes.  In September of 1965, Chinese J-6s bounced and shot down an American F-104 that strayed over [[Hainan Island]], the pilot ejecting to become a prisoner.<ref>[http://www.vectorsite.net/avf104_1.html F-104 in USAF Service]</ref>  On August 21, 1967, J-6 pilots downed two US Navy [[A-6 Intruder]]s under similar circumstances.

One J-6 pilot defected with his plane to [[Taiwan]] in 1983.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E5DE1239F937A25752C1A965948260 New York Times article]</ref>

One J-6 pilot defected with his plane to [[Taiwan]] in 1983.<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C00E5DE1239F937A25752C1A965948260 New York Times article]</ref>