ALLEGED SHOOTDOWN OF US AIRCRAFT OVER CHINESE TERRITORY ON 5 OCTOBER 1965

Created: 10/9/1965

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM

alleged shootix)wn of us aircraft over chinese territory5

IIEASE OATI DEC

DIRECTORATE OF INTELLIGENCE Office of Current Intelligence

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it contain* c'jbIHpI information affecting the national the United State* wilhin the meaning ot the espionage laws. USectionsW,. The law prohibits itskor the revclailon ot its contents ln any manner to an unauthorised (Meson, as well as itsny manner prejudicial to the safety or IntrreMff the United Stales or (or the benefit of any foreign government to ihSdrtrinient of the United States.

It Is to be seen only by US personnel especially Indoctrinated and authorised to receive COMMON ICffl^pNS INTELLIGENCEIts security must be raalntamSvip accordance withINTELLIGENCE REG I

Mo action Is to be taken on any COMMUNICAT QSNCE which may be contained herrln, regardless tagese gained, unless such action is first aj Director of Central Intelligence.

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SC No.5

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Office of Current5

INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM

A1leged Shootdown of US Aircraft Over Chinese Territory on October iMbb

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8

An Intensive analysis of all available material concerning the eventsctober does notonclusive answer as toS aircraft was brought down in Chinese territory as Peking has claimed.

The only US plane unaccounted for on 5washich was last observed as it completed its bomb run over thearea at Kep, The pilot reported that he was turning and heading to the southeast. The time was reported8 minutes before the time at which Peking claimed to have shot down an intruding aircraft (all times local Vietnam time). IfThunderchief) pilot, for whatever reason, headed northeast immediately at normal speed he would have been well north of Nanning, whichiles from Kep, by the time of the claimed shoot- l[lM5YfS

SECR

6. Id view of the above, it Is clear thatplaoe which the Chinese could have shot5 October over their territory was the(Thunderchief). Since the course of thefollowing its departure fromarea, cannot be established, it is notdetermine whereThunderchief)down. This will be true even if thedisplay its wreckage, because the planecome down in North Vietnam and beenChinese territory to buttress thers

It Is also true tbat in the past tho Chinesehave neverhootdown of intruding aircraft without actually having done so.

Original document.

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