AII POW-MIA - Cold War Shoot Down Incidents

Excerpt: The object of this paper should be to identify every publicly reported incident of loss of US civilian or military personnel, or of US citizens whose status as US service members or civilian employees is ambiguous, that occurred during Cold War reconnaissance missions directed against any of the states identified above (Soviet Union, non-Soviet Warsaw Pact states, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, North Korea, Cuba and the Peoples Republic of China... excluding periods of armed conflict between the United States and North Korea and North Vietnam...) and to identify the fate of the personnel who were lost, with special emphasis on those incidents, if any, in which personnel were captureed alive and were not later returned to US control.

From: Robert L. Goldrich, Specialist in National Defense
Foreign Affairs and National Defense Division
Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress

This memorandum is provided in response to your letter of April 9, 1992, and our subsequent conversations, requesting a compilation of information on incidents in which US military or other Government aircraft were attacked by Soviet or other Communist forces, resulting in US casualties, other than in military operations incident to and during the Korean adn Vietnam Wars.

We have already forwarded to you two special compilations of such incidents:(1) CRS Archived Issue Brief 83146, Soviet Downing of a South Korean Airliner, January 17, 1984: 18-20; and (2) CRS Unumbered Report entitled Soviet American Reconnaissance Operations and Air Incidents: Spme Generalizations and a Chronology, by Joseph G. Whelan, May 17, 1960. For your convenience, additional copies of these documents are attached to this memorandum. Unless otherwise cited, information in this memorandum is taken from these two previous CRS reports.

In addition, Messrs. Gary Reynolds, James Blakely and Jon Simons of the CRS Congressional Reference Division, under the direction of J. Walter Hadlock, obtained considerable additional information, as well as citations to a few additional incidents, through extensive checking of the index to and microfilm copies of the New York Times. We also have cited some other news reports regarding the particular shootdowns, and obtained a copy of a list of missing Americans from Cold War incidents - primarily shootdowns - forwarded to the Russian Government in early January 1992, by the State Department. The list was originally compiled by the Defense Intelligence Agency. A copy of this list is attached to this memorandum.

Many of the incidents cited are cross-referenced in a variety of sources. Others, inexplicably, are not. We have opted to be as inclusive as possible in any cases where US casualties appear to have incurred, included injuries incident to aircraft crashes and/or parachuting. We have NOT included incidents in which US aircraft may have been forced or shot down, but in which all crew members were returned to US custody unharmed. We do not claim this is an exhaustive account; indeed, the fragmentary nature of the references to these incidents is such that it would surprise us if we had NOT missed some incidents which might qualify for inclusion on this list.

We should also note that other types of Cold War incidents in which US casualties have been incurred are not listed here, such as attacks on, or the abduction of US military or civilian personnel by, Communist intelligence agencies; or covert operations. - #1

Each incident is listed below on a separate page. We have concentrated on identifying the type of aircraft; summarizing the nature of the incident; noting the number of personnel involved and, where available, their names, service affiliations, and grades; and the nature of casualties incurred. We have tried to list as much information as possible about the possibility of capture and incarceration and related US diplomatic representations and statements.

You were particularly interested in cases of individuals who could have been captured alive and not returned to US control. There are no confirmed cases of 'Cold War Shootdown' crewmembers who were taken alive and not returned to US custody - the Soviet Union, its successor states, or other Communist countries have admitted to none. However, the incidents listed below, by count, 103 US aircraft crewmembers who remained unaccounted for, inthat no remains were recovered, or there were no firsthand accounts by survivors that they were definitely dead.

Date: 04/08/50
Aircraft: US Navy 'Privateer'
Crew: 10 {no survivors or remains recovered}

This aircraft was apparently shot down over the Baltic Sea by Soviet aircraft. The Soviets claimed that the plane had violated Soviet airspace over LAtvia and had exchanged fire with Soviet fighters.

On July 17, 1950, based on information obtained from German, Austrian, and Japanese POWs repatriated from the Soviet Union, the US Government presented a note to the Soviet Government claiming that: - #2

Sometime in 1950 and in October 1953, at least one member of this aircraft's crew had been sighted in Soviet "Camp #20" near Taishet, USSR, and "Collective Farm #25", 54 kilometers from Taishet, "said to be under sentence for allged espionage. This American national was described as having suffered burns on the face and legs in the crash of his aircraft and using crutches or a cane."

In September 1950, as many as eight crewmembers of this aircraft had been seen in the area of Vorkuta, USSR. One of these Americans stated that he was serving a 25 year sentence for espionage and had been a crewmember of a downed US aircraft.

The reports concerning such personnel have now become so persistent and detailed, and so credible that, although the United States Government has not been able to identify by name these American nationals now detained by the Soviet Government, it request the Soviet Government to inform the United States Government in detail concerning each American military person who has been detained in the Soviet Union at any time since January 1, 1949, of whom the United States Government has not been heretofor been informed by the Soviet Government, giving in each case the name of the person and the circumstances underlying his detention.

The note went on to itemize the missing crewmembers as noted below. In addition, after noting the above case regarding the April 8, 1950 shootdown and that of June 13, 1952 (see below) the note went on to say that:

While the foregoing specific cases involve the crew members of two aircraft, it may well be that the Soviet Government has in its custody members of the crews of other United States aircraft, particularly members of aircraft engaged on behalf of the United Nations Command side of the military action in Korea since 1950.

The Soviet Government, on August 14, 1956, stated that an 'exhaustive inquiry' into the charges of the US note had been carried out and that no such American military personnel were being held on Soviet territory. - #3

A recent newspaper article also contained information about one crewmember possibly having survived, Lieutenant Robert D. Reynolds: - #4

Articles placed in a Russian newspaper by ARK {a US based POW/MIA research organization} and others... brought information... A Russian came forward who had heard of Lt. Robert D. Reynolds living in the Soviet Union in teh 1950's, said Jane Reynolds Howard, of Middleton, Wis., who was married to Reynolds. The US government had declared him presumed dead in 1951, a year and a day after his Navy plane was shot down over the Baltic Sea.

Fette, John H. .. LT .. USNR
Seeschaf, Howard W. .. LT .. USN
Reynolds, Robert D. .. LTJG .. USN
Burgess, Tommy L. .. ENS .. USN
Danens, Joe H., Jr. .. AD1 .. USN
Thomas, Jack W. .. AD1 .. USN
Beckman, Frank L. .. AT1 .. USN
Purcil, Edward J. .. CT3 .. USN
Rinniar, Joseph N., Jr. .. AT3 .. USN
Bourassa, Joseph Jay .. AL3 .. USN

Date: 11/06/51
Aircraft: US Navy P2V Neptune
Crew: 10 (no survivors or remains recovered)

This aircraft was apparently shot down by Soviet fighters either over international waters about 20 miles from Vladivostok, USSR (according tot he United States) or over Vladivostok (according to teh Soviets). The US did not announce the incident until November 23, 1951. In a protest note dated November 7, but not made public until November 24, the Soviets claimed the aircraft flew over the city and opened fire when 2 Soviet aircraft tried to force it to land, bringing Soviet retaliatory fire. "The Russian pilots were believed to have been 2 who, Moscow announced Nov. 23, had been given the Order of the Red Banner for exemplary fulfillment of their service duties." Crewmembers:(partial list) - #7

This aircraft was apparently shot down by either Hungarian or Pomanian antiaircraft fire near the Yugoslav frontier (the plane was en route fromMunich to Belgrade.) Hungary and Romania charged on November 21 that the aircraft had violated their airspace. "A traveler reaching Vienna from Bucharest Nov. 22 had said he saw Romanians shoot down teh C-47 and that its crewmen were injured but alive." US search efforts were called off November 26.

June 13, 1952: US Air Force Aircraft Lost in Sea of Japan/Kamchatka Peninsula Area

Date: 06/13/52
Aircraft: US Air Force B-29
Crew: 12 (no survivors or remains recovered)

This aircraft was apparently shot down either over the Sea of JApan or near the Kamchatka Peninsula of the USSR. No remains or survivors were recovered by US or allied forces. In the diplomatic note of July 17, 1956, noted above, the US Government states that: - #10

An officer, believed by the United States Government ti have been a member of this crew, was observed in October 1953, in a Soviet hospital north of Magadan near the crossing of the Kolyma River between Elgen and Debin at a place called Narionburg. This officer stated that he had been wrongfully convicted under Item 6 of Article 58 of the Soviet Penal Code.

Busch, Samuel N. .. MAJ
Scully, James A. .. 1LT
Service, Samuel D. .. 1LT
McDonnell, Robert J. .. 1LT
Homer, William B. .. MSG
Moore, David L. .. MSG
Blizzard, William A. .. SSG
Monserrat, Miguel W. .. SSG
Berg, Eddie R. .. SSG
Bonura, Leon F. .. SSG
Becker, Roscoe G. .. SSG
Pillsbury, Danny A. .. A1C

October 7, 1952: US Air Force Aircraft Lost Over Japanese Territorial Waters

Date: 10/07/52
Aircraft: US Air Force B-29
Crew: 8 (no survivors or remains recovered)

This aircraft was apparently shot down by Soviet fighters over Yuri Island, claimed by teh Soviets as part of the Kurile Islands (occupied by the USSR during World War II and retained since then) - a claim not recognized by the US or Japan. US demands for reparations from the Soviet Union were rejected.

July 29, 1953: US Air Force Aircraft Lost Over Sea of Japan Near Siberian Coast

Date: 07/29/53
Aircraft: US Air Force RB-50
Crew: 17 (1 definite killed in action, bodynot recovered; 1 survivor; 2 remains recovered; 13 unaccounted for)

This aircraft was shot down by Soviet fighters approximayely 40 miles east of the Siberian coast (some sources state it was near the Kamchatka Peninsula, which is, of course, also part of Siberia): - #13

Aerial search disclosed a sighting which appeared to be groups of survivors. Also seen in the distance were a dozen small surface craft (presumably Soviet) which were proceeding in teh general direction of the group sighting. Fog and darkness obstructed further observation that day. The following morning, search efforts recovered one survivor. His information established that at least one crew member did not leave the RB-50 and died in the crash. The instensive search efforts failed to find any trace of the other personnel. Subsequently, remains of two other crew members washed ashore and were recovered along the coast of Japan. In reply to State Department inquiries, the Soviets denied any knowledge of the fate of any crew member. No word has been received of the fates of the remaining 13 crew members.

Soviet claims that the aircraft had violated Soviet sirspace and opened fire on Soviet aircraft were rejected by the United States.

Tejeda, Francisco J. .. MAJ
Stalanker, Robert E. .. CPT
Ward, John C. .. CPT
Czyz, Edmund J. .. CPT
Wiggins, Lloyd C. .. CPT
Beyer, Frank E. .. CPT
Sanderson, Warren J. .. CPT
Gabree, Donald W. .. SSG
Hill, Donald G. .. SSG
Goulet, Roland E. .. A1C
Radlein, Earl W,, Jr. .. A2C
Russell, Charles J., Jr. .. A2C
Woods, James E. .. A2C

Date: 09/04/54
Aircraft: US Navy P2V Neptune
Crew: 10 (1 missing, no remains recovered; 9 survivors)

This aircraft was shot down by Soviet fighters approximately 40 miles off the Siberian coast. The aircraft's navigator was missing and presumed dead; the 9 other crewmembers were rescued from teh water by US forces. The Soviet Union charged the plane had enetered Soviet airspace and fired on Soviet aircraft, charges rejected by the United States.

Wayne, John Booth .. CDR
Fisher, John Charles .. ENS
Bedard, William Albert .. Aviation Machinist's Mate
Petty, Frank Edgar .. Aviation Electronics Machinist's Mate 3rd Class
Granera, Anthony Peter .. Aviation Electronics Technician
Stone, Texas Red .. Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class
Mulmollem, Paul Roger .. Chief aviation Machinst's Mate
Pinkevich, Ernest Louis .. Aviation Ordnanceman
Atwell, David Allen .. Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class

This aircraft was shot down by Soviet fighters about 10 miles from teh Soviet-controlled Kurile Islands. One crewmember was killed in the attack. The aircraft crash-landed on the northern Japanese major island of Hokkaido; all 10 other crewmembers survived. The Soviets claimed that the US plane had entered Soviet airspace and fired on Soviet aircraft; the US stated that the plane was never in Soviet airspace and did not return fire when attacked. Another RB-29 was sent up, with fighter escorts, to complete the mission of the first plane.

Date: 06/22/55
Aircraft: US Navy P2V Neptune
Crew: 11 (3 wounded by Soviet fire; 4 injured in crash; all rescued)

This aircraft was attacked by two Soviet fighters in international waters over the Bering Straits between Siberia and Alaska. It crashed on St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, where the crew was rescued.

The Soviet Government, in response to a US diplomatic protest, was unusually conciliatory, stating that:

There was an exchange of shots after a Societ fighter advised the US plane that it was over Soviet territory and should leave (the US denied that the US plane fired at all).

The incident took place under heavy cloud cover and poor visibility, although the allged violation of Soviet airspace could be the responsibility of US commanders not interested in preventing such violations.

The Soviet military was under strict orders to "avoid any action beyond the limits of the Soviet state frontiers."

The Soviet Government, "taking into account... conditions which do not exclude the possibility of a mistake from one side or the other," was willing to compensate the US for 50% of damages sustained (this was the first such offer ever made by the Soviets for any Cold War shootdown incident.)

The US Government stated that it was satisfied with teh Soviet expression of regret and the offer of partial compensation, although it said that the Soviet statement also fell short of what the available information indicated.

Date: 04/18/56
Aircraft: US Air Force RB-47
Crew: NA (all lost and unaccounted for; no remains recovered)

Date: 08/23/56
Aircraft: US Navy P4M Martin Mercator
Crew: 16 (2 remains recovered by US forces; 2 remains recovered by Chinese; 12 totally unaccounted for)

This aircraft was shot down by Chinese fighters while 160 miles north of Taiwan and 32 miles from the Chinese coast; before going down the plane radioed that it was under attack by aircraft. The Chinese stated, through British diplomatic sources, that they had fired on the aircraft believing it to be a Chinese Nationalist (Taiwanese) plane.

Date: 09/10/56
Aircraft: US Air Force RB-50
Crew: 16 (all lost and unaccounted for; no remains)

This aircraft was lost in the middle of a typhoon (hurricane) in teh Sea of Japan. Although "An Air Force spokesman discounted the idea that the B-50 might have been shot down," its operations in an area where several previous Soviet attacks on US aircraft had taken place warrant its inclusion.

Kobayashi, Richard T. .. 2LT
Rahaniotis, Peter J. .. 1LT
Trias, Theodorus J. .. SSG

Date: 06/27/58
Aircraft: US Air Force C-118
Crew: 9 (all captured by Soviets and eventuallt returned to US custody; some injuries sustained in crash landing and parachute escape from aircraft)

This aircraft was shot down by Soviet fighters approximately 30 miles inside Soviet airspace near Yerevan, capital of Soviet Armenia. The US admitted intrusion, asserted it was due to navigational error, and expressed regret. Five of the crewmembers parachuted from teh plane and 4 rode it down until it crashed. All 9 were released by the Soviets on July 7, 1958.

Brannon, Dale D. .. COL
Lyles, Luther W. .. MAJ
Crans, Robert E. .. MAJ
Shupe, Bennie A. .. MAJ
Kane, James T. .. CPT
Luther, James N. .. 1LT
Holman, James G. .. SSG
Reamer, Earl H. .. A2C
Sabo, Peter N. .. A2C

Date: 09/02/58
Aircraft: US Air Force C-130
Crew: 17 (6 killed, bodies returned to US custody; 11 unaccounted for, no remains)

This aircraft was apparently shot down by Soviet fighters 24 miles inside Soviet airspace in Soviet Armenia. At first the Soviets denied any kmowledge of the incident; they later stated that the aircraft had simply "crashed." The remains of 6 crewmembers were returned to US custody on September 24, 1958. The Soviets denied any knowledge of the 11 other crewmembers on October 16, 1958. However, "The Soviet magazine Ogonyok, in a January 15, 1961 article reported that eleven personnel parachuted from the aircraft and were captured in the town of Yerevan... Subsequently Soviet authorities reported the magazine presented incorrect facts." - #26

The two lists below are inconsistent with other information available on the numbers of casualties mentioned above. All accounts agree that 11 crewmembers were unaccounted for and 6 remains returned to US custody. However, 13 names, not 11, are on the list of unaccounted for crewmembers for this aircraft presented in January 1992 to the Russian Government by the US Government. The four names listed below undr the "known dead" category are those men who were listed in a Spetember 13, 1958, New York Times article containing the names of all 17 crewmembers, but who are not among the 13 in the January 1992 list. Presumably, therefore, two of them in the January 1992 list are actually among those whose remains were returned to US custody.

Duncan, Paul E. .. CPT
Petrochilos, George P. .. MSG
Mello, Arthur L. .. TSG
Price, Leroy .. SSG
Oshinskie, Robert J. .. A1C
Bourg, Archie T., Jr. .. A2C
Ferguson, James E., Jr. .. A2C
Fields, Joel H. .. A2C
Kamps, Harold T. .. A2C
Maggiacomo, Gerald C. .. A2C
Mankins, Clement O. .. A2C
Medeiros, Gerald H. .. A2C
Moore, Robert H. .. A2C

Simpson, John E. .. CPT
Swiestra, Rudy J. .. CPT
Jeruss, Edward J. .. CPT
Vallareal, Ricardo M. .. 1LT

This aircraft was attacked by a "Soviet-type" MIG over the Sea of Japan, 85 miles east of Wonsan, North Korea. One crewmember was seriously wounded, but the plane returned to its base in Japan with all crewmembers aboard.

Date: 05/01/60
Aircraft: Central Intelligence Agency U-2
Crew: 1 (captured by Soviets, later returned to US custody)

This was the widely-publicized shootdown of a CIA-controlled U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, piloted by Francis Gary Powers, well inside Soviet airspace, by a Soviet antiaircraft missile. Powers was returned to US custody in February 1962, in exchange for the US return of convicted spy Colonel Rudolf abel to the Soviets.

Date: 07/01/60
Aircraft: US Air Force RB-47
Crew: 6 - #31 (all missing and presumed dead; no remains recovered)

This aircraft was apparently shot down by Soviet fighters about 130 miles off the coast of the Kola Peninsula, USSR, and northern Norway. No remains were recovered; however, on July 4, 1960, US aircraft sighted a "raft-like" object near the missing plane's last known position.

Palm, William A. .. CPT
Posa, Eugene .. CPT
Phillips, Dean B. .. 1LT
Goforth, Oscar L. .. 1LT
Olmstead, Freeman .. 1LT
McKon, John R. .. 1LT

The U2, US and USSR - Francis Gary Powers Shootdown

Cold War Shootdown Incidents - Congressional Research Library of Congress Report

DPMO List of Cold War Incidents

DPMO List of Cold War Loss Personnel

The US-USSR Joint Commission 16th Plenum

US - Russia Joint Commission on POWs

AII NOTE: As of 2000, there have been discussions on the nomenclature of East Sea/Sea of Japan designations. For more on this please go to -
http://www.korea.net/kois/government/issue/Cissue/2000/EastSea.html