Just shoot the damned things down and glean what we can from them. Spare all the hysteria and indignation. Hell, everybody spies on everybody else. It's all there for anybody who makes the effort to look for it. Remember Gary Powers and the U-2?
This is an excerpt from the Collings Foundation. They are restoring the last of these B-17 veterans of CIA missions over China:
The CIA found another use for the B-17s in China. In 1951, a company called Western Enterprises Inc. of Taiwan was created to advance U.S. interests. Using crews sourced from Civil Air Transport (CAT) of Taiwan, five B-17s entered service and began training for missions over mainland China. Between 1954 and 1959, CIA Operations flew these few B-17s extensively over the Chinese mainland. Because they were not supposed to be there, CIA operatives “sanitized” the planes, preventing them from being identified as US military aircraft. Serial numbers and data plates were removed, and their USAF military records were ended with an LI code or (loss to organization outside the USAF). These B-17’s were painted flat black and identified by three digit serial numbers. They had racks installed in which a serial number could be switched by sliding in a new number plate. Our new B-17 is the sole survivor of these five special mission aircraft that fought in the Cold War. It is a veteran of an unknown number of dangerous missions over mainland China hiding from Mig 17s; a survivor of secret Cold War aerial combat! The five CAT B-17Gs were numbered “739”, “357”, “815” and “835” and “639”(Evergreen’s B-17). During these dangerous missions three were shot down by the PLAAF or PLA (People’s Liberation Army Air Force).
• “739” lost over Fujian May 26, 1954 by AAA, crew of four killed. • “357”shot down over Jiangxi on June 23, 1956 by a PLA Mig 17, eleven killed. • “815” shot down over Guandong May 29, 1959 by a Mig 17PF, fourteen killed.
The fourth surviving B-17 CAT “835” was given to Air America in August 1960. The fifth B-17 known as “639” was later identified as 44-85531 and ended up at Clark Field, Luzon in the Philippines. It is believed this veteran of secret Chinese over-flights was retired between 1958 and 1960.
Stupidity has its way, while its cousin, evil, runs rampant.
Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Give a man a welfare check, a forty ounce malt liquor, a crack pipe, an Obama phone, free health insurance. and some Air Jordan's and he votes Democrat for a lifetime.
You cant make this stuff up lol. The best part is, theres f uc k heads like burns lapping it all up. Got to get them orks so china stops sending spy balloons lmao
OK guys...here's yet another perspective from Peter Ziehan. On YouTube, "It's a bird, it's a plane. it's a Chinese Balloon". Now before you blow up and dismiss this radically different viewpoint... keep in mind, SOMEBODY in DOD with command authority thinks Ziehan is worth listening to, because he is a paid lecturer at various strategy and war college functions, and he definitely has contacts in DOD. It's less than 9 minutes long, and the bottom line is this another huge failure of Chinese command structure. Take 9 minutes from your busy life and gain a different perspective on the great balloon story.
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
"The job of a clown is to get your attention and keep it." - a retired professional clown
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. -Ernest Hemingway The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.-- Edward John Phelps
OK guys...here's yet another perspective from Peter Ziehan. On YouTube, "It's a bird, it's a plane. it's a Chinese Balloon". Now before you blow up and dismiss this radically different viewpoint... keep in mind, SOMEBODY in DOD with command authority thinks Ziehan is worth listening to, because he is a paid lecturer at various strategy and war college functions, and he definitely has contacts in DOD. It's less than 9 minutes long, and the bottom line is this another huge failure of Chinese command structure. Take 9 minutes from your busy life and gain a different perspective on the great balloon story.
I used to be DOD and was paid to write briefings for the President and Sec Def as warranted.
Doesn't mean if I claim the balloon is actually a Mexican Pinata that got away from Happy Joes - I'm right and infallible.
Ziehan gets those invites from guys like Milley - something else to think about.
OK, I'm not worshiping at the Ziehan altar, it was just a suggestion to view another viewpoint...but obviously other viewpoints shall not be considered. I kind of wonder if any of you actually bothered to listen to it. Do any of you ever tune into PBS or NBC just to see what the enemy is saying? No, probably not, Breitbart 100%.
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
You cant make this stuff up lol. The best part is, theres f uc k heads like burns lapping it all up. Got to get them orks so china stops sending spy balloons lmao
Bingo. As Burnsie says, don't follow the MONEY.
Ecc 10:2 The heart of the wise inclines to the right, but that of a fool to the left.
A Nation which leaves God behind is soon left behind.
"The Lord never asked anyone to be a tax collector, lowyer, or Redskins fan".
Yes, the messenger PZ may cause doubt...but if you only come away with one conclusion, it's well supported by China watchers across the spectrum who agree that the cult of personality surrounding Xi (Xi IS China) does not allow anyone but the most fervent yes-men to be in contact with Xi. The words ,'bad idea' or 'no' are not allowed anywhere near the Premier. Ziehan and most well regarded China Watchers are telling us that Xi exists in an information bubble which only permits positive information to go in the bubble. Bad news is filtered out. Thusly Ziehan surmises that goofy unrealistic plans, projects and strategies, like balloon survellance, that make no practical strategic sense whatsoever to the rest of the world, make perfect sense in the information vacuum in the Zhongnanhai.
Well this is a fine pickle we're in, should'a listened to Joe McCarthy and George Orwell I guess.
For your critical viewing pleasure.... not sure what to make of this guy either
All of this is crazy to me.
Inclination is to think he is FOS for even taking the “Chinese spy balloon” idea seriously but why in the world discount an insane information bubble around Xi when we have an insane clown show going on in our own Capitol?
For those who might be interested, here is the entire Collings Foundation link. Note the reported casualties from #815, 14 killed. A normal B-17 crew was 10, including bombardier and gunners. These flights were unarmed.
