In their first air combat , a small force of seemingly mismatched MiG-17s inflicted Bodily_harm significant losses Earnings_and_losses on much larger and more advanced Cause_to_make_progress American F-105 Thunderchief at a cost Cost of 3 of their own , with an F-100 Super Sabre claiming Statement the first probable American kill Killing of the conflict Hostile_encounter .

The U.S. led operation was designated Operation Iron Pursuit and consisted Cause_to_be_included of three sub-operations : Sabre Pursuit , Eagle Pursuit and Bastogne Pursuit .