SOVIET CHARGE

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30405, 2 April 1964, Page 7

SOVIET CHARGE

‘RB66 Had Camera On’ (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) MOSCOW, March 30. “Izvestia” tonight said that photographic equipment on board the United States R 866 aircraft was switched on when it was shot down over East Germany on March 10. “Izvestia” said: “The R 866 did not intrude into the air space of the German Democratic Republic by accident. Reconnaissance equipment and aerial photography apparatus on board the plane were switched on.”

“Izvestia” said the plane had been maintaining two-way radio contact with the United States Air Force base at Wiesbaden.

Bearing in mind that the American Government had admitted that the plane had strayed into East German air space and had taken steps to prevent similar occurrences, the Soviet and East German Governments had decided to release three crew members, “Izvestia” said.

The newspaper quoted President Johnson’s statement that he had given “strict instructions” to the Air Force to avoid planes flying over East Germany. The three airmen aboard the plane were all detained by the Russians. One who was injured was freed on March 21, and the two others on Good Friday. Denial By U.S.

In Washington, the State Department spokesman denied that the plane had been taking photographs and that it had been in radio contact with Wiesbaden when it was shot I down. He said the United States still wanted the Soviet Union to return the plane, but so far there had been no response to a request.