[1 of 8]
#TDIDCH: Wednesday, January 29, 1964 - 57 years ago this morning, the 18th Airborne HQ was alerted for possible action.
Confusion, human error, and tragedy combined to lead to an international incident that heightened tensions between the world's two great powers.
#TDIDCH: Wednesday, January 29, 1964 - 57 years ago this morning, the 18th Airborne HQ was alerted for possible action.
Confusion, human error, and tragedy combined to lead to an international incident that heightened tensions between the world's two great powers.
[2 of 8]
The day prior, Tuesday, January 28, 1964, US Air Force pilots flying an unarmed T-38 Sabreliner aircraft on a training mission over West Germany from Wiesbaden became disoriented by a large storm. Compounded the problem, the jet's radios malfunctioned.
The day prior, Tuesday, January 28, 1964, US Air Force pilots flying an unarmed T-38 Sabreliner aircraft on a training mission over West Germany from Wiesbaden became disoriented by a large storm. Compounded the problem, the jet's radios malfunctioned.
[3 of 8]
Unable to communicate with ground control, the crew veered almost 100 miles off course and ended up over East Germany, airspace controlled by the Soviet Union.
Unable to communicate with ground control, the crew veered almost 100 miles off course and ended up over East Germany, airspace controlled by the Soviet Union.
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At the time in the Cold War, tensions between the US and USSR were highest in East Germany, which was occupied by the Soviets.
Two Soviet jet fighters shot the American jet out of the sky.
At the time in the Cold War, tensions between the US and USSR were highest in East Germany, which was occupied by the Soviets.
Two Soviet jet fighters shot the American jet out of the sky.
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Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Herald Hannaford, Captain Donald Grant Millard, and Captain John Lorraine, the three crew members on board, were killed.
[image: A memorial near the site where the jet came down in Vogelsberg, East Germany].
Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Herald Hannaford, Captain Donald Grant Millard, and Captain John Lorraine, the three crew members on board, were killed.
[image: A memorial near the site where the jet came down in Vogelsberg, East Germany].
[6 of 8]
Throughout the night of January 28th, American search teams attempting to recover the jet were chased away by armed Soviet forces.
The USSR, which never formally acknowledged shooting down the jet, charged that the US flight over East Germany was a gross provocation.
Throughout the night of January 28th, American search teams attempting to recover the jet were chased away by armed Soviet forces.
The USSR, which never formally acknowledged shooting down the jet, charged that the US flight over East Germany was a gross provocation.
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The next day, Wednesday, January 28, 1964, the XVIII Airborne Corps headquarters receives a call from the Pentagon with a directive: place Strategic Response Forces on alert.
The next day, Wednesday, January 28, 1964, the XVIII Airborne Corps headquarters receives a call from the Pentagon with a directive: place Strategic Response Forces on alert.
[FINAL]
In the end, tensions on the matter quickly dissipated.
Both powers had bigger things to worry about: the US was engaged in the war in Vietnam and the Soviet Union was dealing with a widening split with communist China.
In the end, tensions on the matter quickly dissipated.
Both powers had bigger things to worry about: the US was engaged in the war in Vietnam and the Soviet Union was dealing with a widening split with communist China.
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