Taipei Air Station - 1966 - - - " What you have in the end are memories"......... Photo Courtesy of Richard Reesh.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Taiwan's 35th Squadron - The Blackcat U2 Squadron - UPDATED -

We have all read about and seen references to the U2, Gary Powers and not a whole lot more. 

These days, the U2 is seldom mentioned and, as time passes our memories fade.

I was aware of U2 aircraft in Taiwan and I have touched on them in previous posts to this blog.

Yesterday, by way of a post and link on the CCK Facebook page, I watched an interesting video about an incident which took place in New Mexico in August 1959 when a U2 landed without power at the Cortez New Mexico municipal airport after the aircraft's engine had shut down. 

You can watch this remarkable story, personally told by the pilot, now retired General H. Mike Hua, ROCAF   HERE

The video begins in Mandarin but quickly switches to English. The video will touch your heart. 

Relax, be patient and watch it all the way through.  General Mike Hua is truly a remarkable and blessed man.

The whole U2 Project was declassified by the CIA in September 1998.



A video story of the U2 aircraft in Taiwan's 35th Squadron
(The Blackcat Squadron) as well as information on  the CIA's
Detachment "H" at Taoyuan Air Base is explained in another very interesting video narrated by General Mike Hua, ROCAF (Retired)  which you can watch HERE.

There is a wealth of information in this video.


Below:  Peking - 1966 - U2 distorted photograph.
(The CIA will not let us see how clear those photos really were)
  Photographed by a Taiwan U2 aircraft on mission over northern China.

If you've visited Beijing, you will recognize the attraction on every one's list,
 shown in this old photograph, the Forbidden City and directly across the street, 
Tieneman Square (white rectangle.)














Any of our friends who were associated with this program in Taiwan care to chime in on this story?  

I know that Taipei AS ran some communications out at Taoyuan Air Base back-in-the-day, which probably were tied to this operation in some way.

More information on the Blackcat Squadron can be found at the Taiwan Air Power Blog HERE.

****UPDATE****

A friend passed this link to me:  http://area51specialprojects.com/index.html










14 comments:

Anonymous said...

General Hua later studied at Purdue and became involved with the IDF project at AIDC.

TaiwanAirPower said...

That photo of Peiking was not taken in 1966 but in 1962.

Anonymous said...

Is there a Japanese base on Taiwan today?

Unknown said...

I knew General Hua in Purdue as a graduate student. He was a patriot, gentleman, a scholar, and a real mentor to a young pup like me. I looked up and to him and have unbounded respect and admiration for him and his peers in Taiwan.

vic tang PhD (MIT)

Anonymous said...

Dubbed as the "Gary Powers of Taiwan" by the international media throughout the world.

Anonymous said...

He is the Chinese military pilot & reconnaissance expert the leader of the ragtag air force unit The Black Cat Squadron mostly of ROC military pilots try to invade the Chinese mainland & infiltrate the missile bases & fortifications controlled by People's Liberation Army of China during the Cold War era of the 1960's to 1970's comparison to Captain Gary Powers American pilot & tactical reconnaissance expert.

Anonymous said...

Captain Yeh Zhangde Chinese air force pilot & espionage tactical reconnaissance expert from Taiwan Republic of China.

Anonymous said...

Republic of China Air Force 35th Battalion Black Cat Squadron led by Captain Yeh Zhangde Chinese air force pilot & tactical reconnaissance expert dubbed as the "Gary Powers of Taiwan" by the international media throughout the world.

Anonymous said...

Kuomintang Air Force formerly known as Republic of China Air Force of today since 50 years ago after the death of General Jiang Jieshi/Chiang Kai Shek paramount leader & former president of Taiwan (1950-75).

Anonymous said...

Former Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force pilot defected since the late 1970's/early 1980's to Taipei Taiwan Republic of China to see the missed family members as A family reunion since the Chinese Civil War of 1946-50 & years of isolation & toward reconciliation to Chinese people after the death of Dr. Mao Zedong Chinese communist leader & first president of People's Republic of China (1949-76).

Anonymous said...

Possible filming the life of Chinese pilot and tactical reconnaissance expert Captain Yeh Zhangde Republic of China Air Force during the Cold War era of the 1960's & 1970's to be filming underway in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Singapore Thailand & Taipei Taiwan Republic of China in September 2025 coming soon.

Anonymous said...

Black Cat Squadron planned action adventure espionage military/war melodrama film to be set in the 1960's era Taipei Taiwan Republic of China filming underway in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Singapore City Singapore Thailand & other places coming soon in September 2025.

Anonymous said...

He is the relative of former Chinese American television presenter and journalist Emerald Yeh of KRON TV Channel 4 San Francisco California United States & retired from media journalism & became the authoress & motivational speaker.

Anonymous said...

Predator a remote controlled wireless pilotless drones to replace the U-2 spy plane as reconnaissance & surveillance by the military & civilian used by the CIA/Central Intelligence Agency & British Intelligence/MI-6 & Interpol/International Police Agency.