Some years ago I read
an article
claiming that the U-2 was not shot down from an altitude
of 70,000 feet - by a Russian SAM. This of course was at odds
with the story
that Soviets used SAM
technology we didn't know they possessed. This article claimed
that,
most probably, his engines shut down, and he was brought down only
after descending to denser air at a lower altitude. I read it and moved
on.
A few days ago the Hitler Channels
ran a documentary about the Cold War. One that, out of the blue,
included that very Gary Powers-U2 scenario. The Soviets had Powers
tracked from the moment he entered their air space, but had no way of
shooting him down from 70,000 feet. Powers suffered a
flame-out. He descended to 60,000 feet, then 50,000, until
finally getting a restart at 30,000 feet. Bam. He was nailed by a
Russian SAM.
So much for the stories that turncoats, like Lee Harvey Oswald, or John
Walker, had given the Soviets information that allowed the
shoot-down. What's nagging me is how this new "history" is being
released. Willy-nilly. No explanation for why they, the
government, allowed the public
to believe that the Russkies had more advanced technology than they
actually did (wink-wink).
Nope, just drop that turd on the bridle path, and canter off. Very
untidy, that.
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