What did the declassified documents reveal?

U.S. Navy memorandum on People's Republic of China allegations and possible airspace intrusions, dated June sixteenth, nineteen seventy‑two, is a declassified record that addresses claims of U.S. aircraft activity over Chinese territory and alleged strikes on a Chinese merchant vessel. The document is hosted by The Black Vault, a public‑domain archive of government records. The memorandum was released to the public through The Black Vault’s online collection, identified under the accession number CI01997. The material was declassified under the authority of Executive Order twelve ninety‑eight, as amended, by the Department of State. No FOIA case number is listed; the release date on the archive entry is June thirty, twenty twenty‑two. The memorandum reads as follows: June sixteenth, nineteen seventy‑two Memorandum for: Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs Subject: People's Republic of China allegations and possible airspace intrusions This memorandum is in response to the allegations that U.S. aircraft intruded into People's Republic of China airspace during the period nine to ten June nineteen seventy‑two and that splinters hit the People's Republic of China merchant ship Hong Chi one‑fifty (Hung Qu one‑fifty) in the vicinity of Hon La Island as a result of U.S. combat action. U.S. operational commanders were directed to conduct a complete investigation of operations which could have generated the People's Republic of China complaint. Our findings are as follows: A. Nine June nineteen seventy‑two, alleged penetration of People's Republic of China airspace over the Ning Ming and Tunghsing areas 1. There were no U.S. Navy aircraft in the area of the alleged intrusion. 2. A total of M Air Force aircraft—strike, escort, and reconnaissance—were operating southwest of the alleged People's Republic of China border violations. 3. The strike and escort aircraft maintained their position visually and with i other support aircraft, including those involved in a MIG engagement, were also under control of the USS Long Beach. The two RF‑4C aircraft, escorted by F‑4 aircraft, but never approached closer than three nautical miles to the border, 4. We have no reason to believe U.S. aircraft violated the People's Republic of China border. However, Long Beach did have two plots on an unidentified aircraft, ten minutes apart, in the Tunghsing area. DECLASSIFIED in Part PA/HO, Department of State, Executive Order twelve ninety‑eight, as amended. Date: thirty June, nineteen seventy‑two. 5. There were no known U.S. aircraft—including drones—in the area at the time of these plots. Additionally, none of the aircraft identified above are operated at a speed of one hundred ninety‑two knots, which is the speed indicated by the time and distance factors resulting from the unidentified Long Beach radar fixes. B. Nine June nineteen seventy‑two, allegation that U.S. bomb splinters struck the People's Republic of China ship Hong Chi one‑fifty (Hong Qu…

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.

Declassified Navy File

◆ BLUF — The short version

S. S. aircraft activity over Chinese territory and alleged strikes on a Chinese merchant vessel. The document is hosted by The Black Vault, a public‑domain archive of government records. The memorandum was released to the public through The Black Vault’s online collection, identified under the accession number CI01997.

Date: AUG 6 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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Episode notes

U.S. Navy memorandum on People's Republic of China allegations and possible airspace intrusions, dated June sixteenth, nineteen seventy‑two, is a declassified record that addresses claims of U.S. aircraft activity over Chinese territory and alleged strikes on a Chinese merchant vessel. The document…

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was Declassified Navy File about?: S. S. aircraft activity over Chinese territory and alleged strikes on a Chinese merchant vessel. The document is hosted by The Black Vault, a public‑domain archive of government records. The memorandum was released to the public through The Black Vault’s online collection, identified under the accession number CI01997.
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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