Major States 939
Narrative: Soviet fighters shot down an American transport plane that flew into
Soviet Armenia on June 6, 1958. The crew survived and was detained by Soviet
authorities. The United States denied charges that the violation was intentional, and
the crew was released on July 7. Then, on November 7, Soviet fighter jets attacked US
reconnaissance planes in two separate incidents, one over the Baltic Sea and the other
over the Sea of Japan. The American planes did not return fire.
MID#173
Started in July 1958. See the narrative in the 710 China/713 Taiwan dyad dispute list.
MID#608
Dispute Number: 608
Date(s): November 7, 1958 to June 23, 1959
Participants: 365 Russia/2 United States of America, 200 United Kingdom, 220
France
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (Negotiated)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: The Soviet Union shot down two American planes and also began detain-
ing US army convoys on the autobahn to West Berlin. The Soviets threatened to return
West Berlin to East German control. Both sides threatened military action against the
other, and NATO fighters were deployed into West Germany from France. There were
talks in Geneva attended by heads of state, but no general agreement on the disposition
of Berlin could be had.
Coding changes: Settlement changed from None.
MID#253
Dispute Number: 253
Date(s): April 9, 1960 to July 1, 1960
Participants: 2 United States of America, 385 Norway, 640 Turkey, 740 Japan, 770
Pakistan/365 Russia
Outcome (and Settlement): Released (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 1–25 deaths
Narrative: In an effort to monitor Soviet nuclear capabilities the United States flew
U-2 reconnaissance missions high over the USSR from 1956, believing its planes
were undetected. On May 1, 1960, the Soviets downed a US U-2 piloted by Gary
Powers. Then on July 1, the Soviets downed a US Air Force RB-47 over the Barentz
Sea, killing four crew members and capturing the other two. In August the Soviets
convicted Powers of espionage and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. The Soviets
sought an end to US overflights.
The Soviets pursued action in the UN Security Council and General Assembly, but
every resolution was voted down. However, US overflights did end. Powers’s flight
was the last authorized by the president and records indicate that the US government