What did the declassified documents reveal?

Cold Open. This episode presents a declassified Central Intelligence Agency cable dated January thirteenth, nineteen sixty‑seven, reporting on a brief air engagement involving Taiwanese forces and the People’s Republic of China. The document is notable because it records a rare instance of direct aerial combat over the Chinese mainland during a period of heightened Cold War tension. The source is archived at theblackvault.com. Provenance. The cable was released to the public through The Black Vault on March twenty‑first, twenty‑twenty‑three. Declassification was authorized by the Central Intelligence Agency under the authority of Executive Order one three five two six, in response to a Freedom of Information Act request. The full text is available at the URL https://archive.org/download/us-china-intel-CI01787/CI01787djvu.txt. The Document. Top Secret. Action. Immediate. From: U.S. Embassy, Taipei. To: Secretary of State, Washington D.C. Subject: Air battle over mainland coastline, “Wild Rice” photo‑reconnaissance mission. The message reads: “Special handling required because of the need to limit knowledge of the GRC photo‑recon mission. The Department will be aware from a military message that a brief air battle occurred above the mainland coastline as a result of a Taiwanese effort to follow and shoot down a People’s Republic of China Air Force aircraft. The “Wild Rice” photo‑reconnaissance aircraft, an RF‑104G, was operating when four People’s Republic of China air‑craft, designated as CAP rescue patrol, engaged. One of the CAP aircraft was shot down by a Taiwanese MIG‑19. The People’s Republic of China lost one plane, although it is not clear that the loss resulted from Taiwanese fire. The People’s Republic of China Air Force controller authorized the CAP rescue patrol to open fire in order to protect the “Wild Rice” photo plane. The commander of the 327th Air Division, Major General Pitt, cautioned the Air Force against any retaliatory action, and further “Wild Rice” missions have been postponed. Advance copy to S‑0 at five two thirty‑seven A.M. on January eighteenth, nineteen sixty‑seven. Passed to the White House on January thirteenth, nineteen sixty‑seven at five two thirty‑seven A.M.” Context. The Central Intelligence Agency

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.

Central Intelligence Agency Cable Dated January Thirteenth, Nineteen

◆ BLUF — The short version

Cold Open. This episode presents a declassified Central Intelligence Agency cable dated January thirteenth, nineteen sixty‑seven, reporting on a brief air engagement involving Taiwanese forces and the People’s Republic of China. The document is notable because it records a rare instance of direct aerial combat over the Chinese mainland during a period of heightened Cold War tension.

Date: AUG 17 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

↯ Dispatch — press play1:00

0:001:00

↯ Share

X in r/

Episode notes

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was Central Intelligence Agency Cable Dated January Thirteenth, Nineteen about?: Cold Open. This episode presents a declassified Central Intelligence Agency cable dated January thirteenth, nineteen sixty‑seven, reporting on a brief air engagement involving Taiwanese forces and the People’s Republic of China. The document is notable because it records a rare instance of direct aerial combat over the Chinese mainland during a period of heightened Cold War tension.
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.

intelligence-vault

Related cases

✉ Dispatches

A short dispatch when a new file is released — narrated, answer-first, and linked straight to the primary source. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.

↯ Subscribe to the feed

RSS feed Browse all cases

Central Intelligence Agency Cable Dated January Thirteenth, Nineteen

Questions about this case

Related cases

CIA Intelligence Memorandum Concerning The Chinese Communist Response To G R C

From The Declassified Archives, This Is A Central Intelligence Agency

CIA Requirements For Photo Reconnaissance Of China Mainland

Today, We Examine A Central Intelligence Agency Record From September

CIA C I A Record Concerning Probable Communist Reactions To Certain S E A T O

Questions about this case

Related cases

CIA Intelligence Memorandum Concerning The Chinese Communist Response To G R C

From The Declassified Archives, This Is A Central Intelligence Agency

CIA Requirements For Photo Reconnaissance Of China Mainland

Today, We Examine A Central Intelligence Agency Record From September

CIA C I A Record Concerning Probable Communist Reactions To Certain S E A T O

Get the next declassified case in your inbox