Soviet Attacks On American Planes

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28747, 19 November 1958, Page 15

Soviet Attacks On American Planes

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17. The United States today released the text of the pro-1 test against alleged Soviet | attacks on United States' aircraft over international ■vaters. The Note, which was handed over in Moscow four days ago. said that if such “dangerou.tactics” were repeated by Soviet aircraft in future. American aircraft commanders would be instructed to take necessary and appropriate defensive action. The Note cited Soviet an attacks on United States aeroplanes over the Baltic Sea and the Sea of Japan. Both had taken place on November 7. In both cases, American aeroplanes withheld their fire, the Note said, “in spite of the dangerous and provocative manoeuvres” by Soviet aircraft. “Within a few hours of these attacks in the Baltic Sea. a United States military aircraft on a flight over the Sea of Japan! was three times intercepted by, Soviet fighter aircraft pairs and subjected to simulated attacks.*’ After citing details of these incidents. the Note went on: “In spite of the dangerous and provocative manoeuvres of Soviet fighter aircraft directed against the American planes in international air space for from the Soviet frontiers, the American planes at all times withheld fire and did not in any way menace the Soviet aircraft.

The Note continued: “However. if such dangerous tactics arc in the f uture repeated j by Soviet aircraft m close prox- I imity to American aim aft in m- j ternational air space, the Soviet I Government should be aware that commanders of American aircraft j will be under instructions to take! the defensive action which they!, consider necessary and appro-1 priate." The State Department spokes-! man. Mr Lincoln White, asked whether this would mean that United States pilots would have new instructions, replied: “111 might." The Note concluded: “The United Stales Government ex-1 pects the Soviet Government to! take measure.*- without delay to stop this interference with American aircraft The Soviet Government bears full responsibility for the consequences of any con- 1 tinuation of this activity." The United Press said the Note, giving details of the Baltic incidents said: “The American aircraft withheld its fire, and fortunately was not hit in spite of the fact that the attacks were launched from behind and without warning. “There cun be no doubt Ilia* the objective of the Soviet fighter aircraft was to destroy the American plane without warning at a I position far outside the Soviet frontiers " The United States plane was:

flying at 33.000 feet. In the incident over the of Japan, the United Press said two Soviet planes took position. 1000 yards off the right wing of the United States plane. One tighter then veered toward th? American aircraft and crossed only 100 feet in front of it. The first pair of Soviet planes left, but two other Russian fighters “took up attack positions" 1000 yards from the American plane. Still later two other Soviet aircraft made simulated attacks on the United States plane, the Note said. The United States air force identified the two aircraft as l RB-475. reconnai>sance version: :of the B-47 stratojet bomber. It ; said they were “on routine navigational flights” I One of the six-jet aircraft flev out of a base in England and th-* other from Japan Neither the Air Fon- nor the Defence Department could 'account for the failuix of tl •- plane over the Baltic to fire bark ‘.after the Communist attack on r The other plane was nut tired upon. l-'rienil Of The Family I,” there's a cough or cold in .our family circle you will -nd a friend in Baxters Lung Prc-M-rvcr •'Baxters'' has become m crcasinttly popular with each I succeeding generation because "Baxters" is a fast-acting cour.it and cold remedy. Baxters. Ltd.. ■ Chch. -Advt.