Background Paper on Soviet Overflights of Free World Nations Before the 1960 Paris Summit (1960)

Date: May 1960

Original or Replica: Original

Era: The Cold War, The Presidency

Collection: Eisenhower Presidential Library

Citations: Christian Herter Papers, Box 20, U-2 (2); NAID #12010099

This May 1960 background paper was prepared for the Meeting of Chiefs of State and Heads of Government in Paris and examines reports of Soviet aircraft overflights of Free World nations. The document states that, despite press speculation, there was no evidence that Soviet aircraft had deliberately penetrated the North American continent without prior authorization. However, intelligence and published reports indicated that Soviet aircraft had entered or approached the airspace of several other countries.

The paper summarizes incidents involving Iran, Japan, Pakistan, and Turkey. Iran protested that Soviet aircraft repeatedly violated its airspace between November 1958 and February 1959, although the Soviet Union rejected the accusations. Japanese defense officials reported recurring high-altitude Soviet flights near northern Japan and the Tokyo area, apparently for reconnaissance, while noting that the aircraft generally remained just outside Japanese territorial airspace. Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan similarly claimed that Soviet and Chinese aircraft had conducted overflights to identify or “pinpoint” U.S. bases in Pakistan. Turkish officials acknowledged that Soviet aircraft frequently entered Turkish airspace and suggested Turkey was unlikely to strongly protest such violations.

The document concludes by noting that preliminary American and Canadian military reports found no comparable pattern of Soviet penetration over Europe or the Far East beyond occasional flights near northern Hokkaido, which were generally attributed to navigational errors. Overall, the paper provided American leaders with intelligence on Soviet aerial activity as they prepared for the May 1960 Paris Summit.