Incident Overview
Date: Thursday 11 June 1964
Aircraft Type: Lockheed RB-69A Neptune
Owner/operator: Republic of China Air Force – ROCAF
Registration Number: 54-4037
Location: near Qixia County-Level City, Yantai, Shandong Province –
ÿ China
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 14 / Occupants: 14
Component Affected: Neptunes, cameras, electronics intelligence gear, MiG-17 fighters, Ilyushin 28/Harbin H-5 jets, Tupolev Tu-4 aircraftNeptunes, cameras, electronics intelligence gear, MiG-17 fighters, Ilyushin 28/Harbin H-5 jets, Tupolev Tu-4 aircraft
In 1954, the US CIA acquired seven Neptunes, configuring them with cameras and electronics intelligence equipment. Five of these were stationed in Taiwan and operated by the Republic of China Air Force. They were utilized for intrusion ELINT missions over mainland China, including dropping agents and disseminating propaganda leaflets. Flights were typically conducted at night. The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) employed MiG-17 fighters to intercept the intruders, while Ilyushin 28/Harbin H-5 jets were used to drop flares and illuminate the Neptunes, and Tupolev Tu-4 aircraft were fitted with radar.In 1954, the US CIA acquired seven Neptunes, configuring them with cameras and electronics intelligence equipment. Five of these were stationed in Taiwan and operated by the Republic of China Air Force. They were utilized for intrusion ELINT missions over mainland China, including dropping agents and disseminating propaganda leaflets. Flights were typically conducted at night. The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) employed MiG-17 fighters to intercept the intruders, while Ilyushin 28/Harbin H-5 jets were used to drop flares and illuminate the Neptunes, and Tupolev Tu-4 aircraft were fitted with radar.
Description
The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) acquired seven Neptunes in 1954 and configured them with cameras and electronics intelligence gear. Five of those were stationed in Taiwan and operated by the Republic of China Air Force. They were reportedly used to conduct intrusion ELINT missions over mainland China, dropping and supplying agents, and dropping propaganda leaflets. Missions were usually flown at night. Aircraft used by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) to intercept the intruders were MiG-17 fighters. Ilyushin 28/Harbin H-5 jets were used to drop flares and used search lights to illuminate the Neptunes for the MiG-17s. Additionally, Tupolev Tu-4 aircraft were fitted with radar.
Source of Information
https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol-57-no-2/pdfs/Bergin-Overflights.pdf, http://myplace.frontier.com/~anneled/ColdWar.htmlhttps://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/csi-studies/studies/vol-57-no-2/pdfs/Bergin-Overflights.pdf, http://myplace.frontier.com/~anneled/ColdWar.htmlPrimary Cause
Intelligence gathering and surveillance operations.Intelligence gathering and surveillance operations.Share on:
