July 4, 1956🇩🇪Sighting
Radar EvidenceMilitary Base
Soviet Union: First U-2 spy flight by Stockman
On July 4, 1956, pilot Hervey Stockman conducted the inaugural U-2 reconnaissance mission over Soviet territory, departing from Wiesbaden. Soviet radar detected the aircraft, prompting unsuccessful MiG interception attempts.
Background
Mission Overview Pilot Hervey Stockman flew the first U-2 spy plane mission over the Soviet Union on July 4, 1956, as part of Mission 2013, launching from Wiesbaden, Germany. The route crossed East Germany and Poland, entering Soviet airspace near Grodno, Belarus, then proceeded to bomber bases in Minsk, Belarus, Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), and areas in the Baltic states. This high-altitude flight gathered critical intelligence amid Cold War tensions over Soviet bomber capabilities.
Detection and Interceptions Soviet radar successfully tracked the U-2, leading to multiple scrambles of MiG-17 and MiG-19 fighters. Despite over 20 interception efforts, the fighters could not reach the U-2's extreme altitude, forcing them to retreat due to engine flame-outs. Stockman observed some attempts using a drift sight periscope.
Significance The mission revealed limited Soviet heavy bomber production, easing U.S. fears of a bomber gap. It marked the start of eight U-2 overflights by Stockman, proving the aircraft's invulnerability to Soviet defenses at the time. Photos showed no major long-range bombers.
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