What did the declassified documents reveal?

This is a declassified United States Air Force record concerning an air attack that occurred during a routine photographic reconnaissance mission off the western coast of Korea, transmitted on January twenty‑second, nineteen fifty‑four. The telegram, sent from Tokyo, records an engagement with enemy aircraft and the destruction of one hostile fighter. The document is hosted by The Black Vault. The record was made publicly available through The Black Vault’s online archive under the United States intelligence collection on China, file identifier CI01058. The upload date is listed as the date of the archive entry, and the declassification authority is the United States Air Force, which removed the original top‑secret classification for public release. INCOMING TELEGRAM – Department of State – TOP SECRET – Action copy – Received January twenty‑second, nineteen fifty‑four, from Tokyo at nine ten a.m. – To: Secretary of State – No.: C‑X sixty‑six‑eight‑six‑eight, January twenty‑second (Army Message). – Subject: Air attack during reconnaissance mission. The telegram reads: “FROM: Department of the Army – INFORMATION – FOR J‑C‑S – ARMY EIGHT – EXCLUSIVE FOR GENERAL HULL. – REPORT: R‑B‑45 on routine photographic reconnaissance mission west of Korea with escort of sixteen F‑86 aircraft attacked by M‑I‑G’s while in area approximately five miles off‑shore Chinnampo. One M‑I‑G destroyed. No damage to friendlies. Detailed report being forwarded to C‑S‑U‑S‑A‑F by Far East Air Force. No release or public statement contemplated here. Embassy informed.” [Illegible segment – characters and symbols unreadable] “ASSISTANT SECRETARY – Department of State – TOP SECRET – Reproduction from this permanent file – This copy must be returned to D‑C – PROHIBITED RECORD COPY.” The remainder of the telegram contains additional administrative markings and classification notices, which are not legible in the scanned source. The Black Vault’s editorial note accompanying the file states: “This telegram provides a concise account of a MiG interception of a United States Air Force reconnaissance flight during the Korean conflict. It confirms the loss of an enemy aircraft and indicates that the incident was not intended for public release, reflecting the operational sensitivity of air operations in the region at that time.” This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. storyflo.com https://archive.org/download/us-china-intel-CI01058/CI01058djvu.txt

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

Army: United States Air Force Record Concerning An Air Attack That Occurred

◆ BLUF — The short version

This is a declassified United States Air Force record concerning an air attack that occurred during a routine photographic reconnaissance mission off the western coast of Korea, transmitted on January twenty‑second, nineteen fifty‑four. The telegram, sent from Tokyo, records an engagement with enemy aircraft and the destruction of one hostile fighter.

Date: OCT 2 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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What was Army: United States Air Force Record Concerning An Air Attack That Occurred about?: This is a declassified United States Air Force record concerning an air attack that occurred during a routine photographic reconnaissance mission off the western coast of Korea, transmitted on January twenty‑second, nineteen fifty‑four. The telegram, sent from Tokyo, records an engagement with enemy aircraft and the destruction of one hostile fighter.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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