Clandestine overflights

The Republic of China had, since its inception on the islands of Taiwan, been actively supported by the United States, for no other reason than that it was opposed to the communist People's Republic of China (PRC). This support was very evident in the active cooperation between the air forces of both nations; the USA supplied the aircraft and the USAF provided the training. In 1956 the two nations reached an agreement concerning overflights of the Chinese mainland. The Republic Of China Air Force (ROCAF) had a clear interest in conducting overflights of the Chinese mainland. Its security depended on knowing its belligerent neighbour's disposition and strength. Only with such knowledge could it adequately defend itself. The US Government also had a vested interest in encouraging and supporting such overflights.

Low Level Reconnaissance

Reconnaissance flights were the responsibility of the 4th Photo Reconnaissance Air Group based at Tao Yuan Air Base. The flying squadrons assigned to the Group in 1956 were the 4th Composite Squadron, which operated North American RF-86F Sabres and the 12th Tactical

Reconnaissance Squadron, which operated Republic of the Chinese mainland. Altogether 25 RF-84s and 7 RF-86s were supplied: the RF-84FS in 1955 and the RF-86FS in 1956. The targets for the reconnaissance aircraft were primarily coastal and maritime installations, with new airfields being constructed for jet fighters and bombers and Chinese naval bases and activities. All imagery was shared with the USAF and the CIA. The USAF's 67th and 497th Reconnaissance Technical Squadrons (RTS) provided the photo processing and interpretation expertise.

The missions flown by the photo jet pilots of the ROCAF were low level and fast; what had become known in World War Two as 'dicing missions'. In his book Asia from Above Colonel Roy Stanley (USAF Retd) says of these missions:

“RF-84s or RF-86s, and, later RF-101s would scream across the Taiwan Straits below radar cover as fast as they could peddle, circle inland at tree-top altitude,turn on their cameras and pop up between 1,000 to 1,500 feet to cover some airfield or other high threat target.

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