The first V-750 lifted off at 12:04hrs, soon followed by two more. About 40 seconds later, as the RB-57D was at…
SA-2 Guideline
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Cold War EraLosses and Aviation SafetyMilitary Aviation
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Cold War EraMilitary Aviation
Even if it was faster than the Blackbird, the SA-2 SAM was never able to hit the SR-71. Here’s why.
by Dario LeoneNo Blackbird has ever been lost or damaged due to hostile action: in fact, even though over 4,000 missiles have been…
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Cold War EraMilitary Aviation
Voodoo over Cuba: the RF-101 Involvement in the Missile Crisis of October 1962
by Dario LeoneThe RF-8A pilots also cast doubt upon the ability of USAF photo interpreters, and they were annoyed that the USAF crews,…
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Aviation HistoryCold War EraMilitary Aviation
60 Years Ago Today, the Surface-To-Air Missile Scored the First Ever Successful Shoot-Down of an Aircraft
by Dario LeoneOn Oct. 7, 1959 an S-75 Dvina surface-to-air missile was fired by China’s People’s Liberation Army 2nd surface-to-air missile battalion and…
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Cold War EraLosses and Aviation SafetyMilitary Aviation
Takes a Licking and Keeps on Flying: the story of LTJG Al Crebo and his Stricken A-4
by Dario LeoneLTJG Al Crebo wasn’t able to get his stricken A-4E back aboard USS Bon Homme Richard but it did keep flying…
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Cold War EraLosses and Aviation SafetyMilitary Aviation
Mayday! A detailed description of Francis Gary Powers’ U-2 shoot-down
by Dario LeoneLosing a U-2 over the Soviet Union was the nightmare scenario, and Francis Gary Powers was not dreaming. It was around…
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Aviation HistoryCold War EraMilitary Aviation
Francis Gary Powers Jr. reveals exclusive details on the shoot-down of his father’s U-2
by Dario Leone“Especially in light of the U-2 that was shot down over Cuba in 1962, I understood my father’s frustration. All of…
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Cold War EraLosses and Aviation SafetyMilitary Aviation
RF-4C cockpit recording captures the moment its wingman is shot down by North Vietnamese SA-2
by Dario LeoneRF-4C Phantom tail #69-0355 went down during “Vietnam Ceasefire” ops while serving with the 14th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron of the 432nd…
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Cold War EraMilitary Aviation
The story of the Wild Weasel Mission of F-105F Lincoln 03 and the Medal of Honor awarded to Maj. Merlyn Dethlefsen
by Dario LeoneThough he would have been in his right by USAF procedure to follow the rest of the aircraft and leave the…
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Cold War EraMilitary Aviation
The unknown story of the U-2 flight that went lost over the North Pole and nearly escalated the Cuban Missile Crisis
by Dario LeoneTwo Air Defense Command Convair F-102 Delta Dagger interceptors were scrambled to counter the MiG-19s and guide the U-2 home. On…