Cold war warriors -overflying China with USAF/ROC/CIA planes

[Liberator]

I have been told in 1950s and 1960s the US Govt sent CIA organised but Taiwan / ROC manned Air Force planes deep into China for spy flights and dropping of agents. Elint, Signit and Commint was gained on most of the flights.

What make it very strange is that they used literally warbirds...

Im told B-17s flew in China airspace on sniffer sorties late as 1959 in black paint avoiding Migs at nightime. Sounds like stuff from a movie to me.
Other planes included B-26 Invaders, C-46 Commandos and maybe C-47s?

In the 1960s it was P-2 Neptunes and P-3 Orions flying deep into Chinese airspace and C-130s Hercules flying from Thailand across Burma and into China up to Soviet border in 1969 for secret missions.

Spooky stuff was the Chinese used a TU-4? - B-29 version by Soviets - to shoot down Sp-2 Neptunes??

Does anyone know or have photos of such events? How did they fly in warbird into a frigging communist state so much and SO FAR???? It like totally crazy!!!

What happened to the aircraft do any survive?

Phil

[b29flteng]

It was somewhat common for the USAF to over-fly the USSR in B-29s, B-50s, RB-47s, EB-47s, and RB-45s in the 1940s - 1960s. 280+ men were lost in shoot downs of these planes.

[Pogmusic]

Also used RF-101s and U-2s manned by ROC pilots.

[a26invader]

I can recommend this book:

http://www.bookfinder.com/dir/i/Wings_of_the_CIA-A_History_of_the_CIAs_Operations_from_1945_to_1997/290818270X/

[The Inspector]

GOOGLE 'The Aircraft of Air America" U of Texas press, and if you can find it, 'Air America' by Christopher Robbins, AVON BOOKS copyright 1979,isbn 0-380-89909-4(good details on AA's early days up to the dissolution of the company after Viet Nam).

B-17G-75-VE 44-85531 and B-17G-95-DL 44-83785 painted overall black and used to support rebels in China/Tibet against PRC forces, flown by foreign nationals. Incomplete records from AA seem to indicate at least 4 additional B-17's were used and shot down over PRC/Tibet. '5531 parked in the Philippines Clark Field and given spurious U.S. markings to cut down on curiosity, and parts were removed to support another B-17, suspected eventually scrapped in place. '3785 eventually returned to U.S. to Marianna Az. with Intermountain (Evergreen Air) registered N809Z and used as fire tanker and as Fulton system equipped and used in final scenes of movie "THUNDERBALL". Restored and currently on display @ Evergreen Museum in McMinnville, OR.

Last edited by The Inspector on Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.

It was somewhat common for the USAF to over-fly the USSR in B-29s, B-50s, RB-47s, EB-47s, and RB-45s in the 1940s - 1960s. 280+ men were lost in shoot downs of these planes.

AND a C-130 in 1958 with the loss of all aboard:

http://www.nsa.gov/public_info/_files/c ... _60528.pdf

[Warbirdnerd]

This is also an excellent book on the subject:
http://www.amazon.com/Any-Means-Necessa ... 0374117470
Reg Urshler (Longtime CAF pilot of Gunfighter) is referenced in it from his B-47 days too..

[Clifford Bossie]

Also used RF-101s and U-2s manned by ROC pilots.

As well as "Slick Chick" RF-100As and RB-57Ds flown by USAF and ROC crews and RB-57Fs flown by USAF pilots.

[Kyleb]

The RB-36's also <allegedly> spent quite a bit of time over China too.