Wolfgang W.E. Samuel - Silent Warriors, Incredible Courage: The Declassified Stories of Cold War Reconnaissance Flights and the Men Who Flew Them

SILENT
WARRIORS,
INCREDIBLE
COURAGE

SILENT
WARRIORS,
INCREDIBLE
COURAGE

The Declassified Stories of Cold War Reconnaissance Flights and the Men Who Flew Them

WOLFGANG W. E. SAMUEL

Colonel, United States Air Force (Ret.)

Foreword by R. Cargill Hall

University Press of Mississippi / Jackson

The University Press of Mississippi is the scholarly publishing agency of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning: Alcorn State University, Delta State University, Jackson State University, Mississippi State University, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State University, University of Mississippi, and University of Southern Mississippi.

www.upress.state.ms.us

The University Press of Mississippi is a member of the Association of University Presses.

Copyright 2019 by University Press of Mississippi

All rights reserved

Manufactured in the United States

First printing 2019

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Samuel, Wolfgang W. E., author. | Hall, R. Cargill, author of foreword.

Title: Silent warriors, incredible courage : the declassified stories of Cold War reconnaissance flights and the men who flew them / Wolfgang W. E. Samuel ; foreword by R. Cargill Hall.

Description: Jackson : University Press of Mississippi, [2019] | Includes bibliographical references and index. |

Identifiers: LCCN 2018041329 (print) | LCCN 2018045460 (ebook) | ISBN 9781496822802 (epub single) | ISBN 9781496822819 (epub institutional) | ISBN 9781496822826 (pdf single) | ISBN 9781496822833 (pdf institutional) | ISBN 9781496822796 (cloth : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: United States. Air ForceAirmen--Interviews. | Aerial reconnaissance, American. | Aerial observation (Military science)History20th century. | Cold WarHistory. | LCGFT: Personal narratives.

Classification: LCC UG626 (ebook) | LCC UG626 .S27 2019 (print) | DDC 358.4/54097309045dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2018041329

British Library Cataloging-in-Publication Data available

Dedicated to the brave men who flew alone into harms way to ensure the survival of our country in the nuclear age.

In memory of all those who could talk to no one about the dangerous missions they flew and who perished serving our country, resting in their watery graves.

I wrote this book so we do not forget what a few did for the manyat the risk of their lives.

CONTENTS

TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

FOREWORD

In the work of intelligence, heroes are undecorated and unsung, often even among their own fraternity. Their inspiration is rooted in patriotism; their reward can be little except the conviction that they are performing a unique and indispensable service for their country and the knowledge that America needs and appreciates their efforts.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower, November 3, 1959, at the cornerstone laying ceremony for CIA headquarters, Langley, Virginia

Serving as Supreme Commander of Allied Expeditionary Forces in Europe during World War II, Dwight David Eisenhower oversaw the invasion of France in 1944 and subsequently led Allied forces to victory over the Axis powers on the Western Front. A General of the Army, he is now recognized as one of the most notable American military leaders in our history. Elected president of the United States in 1952, on taking office in January 1953 he directed his attention to ending the Korean War and secured an armistice in July between United Nations forces and those of Communist China and North Korea, which ended hostilities if not the war itself.