U-2 Article 378

Mr. Lu asked if Article 378, the one shot down by the Chinese on September 9, 1962, was a U-2A or a U-2C.  But you might ask: What does this NASA photo have to do with Project Razor (Idealist/Tackle)?  Well, the aircraft in the photo is Article 378.  After Powers was shot down over Soviet Union, the US government hastily painted Article 378 in NASA markings with a fictional tail number 55741 and arranged a photo op for the press on May 6, 1960.  At that time, 378 was a U-2A.  Though it was built under a USAF contract and thus had a USAF serial number, CIA was obviously its user.

In February 1962, 378 completed IRAN at Lockheed and became a U-2C.  It arrived at “Detachment H” on March 31, 1962.  The following is part of its maintenance history, compiled shortly after its loss.

Mr. Lu also asked about 378’s markings on its final flight.  I personally doubt anyone in Taiwan can provide documented evidence about its markings since the whole operation was still very secretive at the time of its shootdown.  But I wish I were wrong this time.