Black Bats: CIA Spy Flights over China from Taiwan 1951-1969

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency developed an uneasy partnership with the nationalist Chinese government on Taiwan for covert air operations over the mainland, but Communist China's air defenses reacted with determination and ingenuity, resulting in ten aircraft lost and over 100 aircrew killed. During the Vietnam War, America subcontracted many of its covert air operations to the same group of airmen from Taiwan.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 01 December 2022
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd

After Mao's communists took control of mainland China in 1949, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) established an uneasy partnership with the nationalist Chinese government on Taiwan for covert air operations over the mainland. These operations involved dropping agents and propaganda, as well as collecting signals, imagery, and nuclear intelligence. However, Communist China's air defenses reacted with determination and ingenuity to the unwelcome intruders. Ten of the aircraft, including B-17s, B-26s, and P-2s, were lost, and over 100 aircrew were killed in this epic yet scarcely-known struggle. This book, written in English for the first time, tells the story of this conflict through vivid, first-hand accounts from Chinese nationalists, Chinese communists, and Americans.

Moreover, the book delves into how during the Vietnam War, America subcontracted many of its covert air operations to the same group of airmen from Taiwan. These airmen, known as the "Flying Tigers," played a crucial role in supporting the South Vietnamese government against the North Vietnamese forces. The partnership between the CIA and the Taiwanese government was a complex and multifaceted relationship, marked by mutual distrust and occasional conflicts. However, it was essential for both sides in their respective struggles against communism.

The book provides a valuable insight into the history of covert air operations and the complex relationships between nations in the Cold War era. It sheds light on the sacrifices made by the aircrew and the risks they took to advance their respective causes. It also highlights the role of Taiwan in the global struggle against communism and the contributions of the "Flying Tigers" to the Vietnam War. Overall, "The Forgotten Air War: The CIA's Covert Operations Over China and Vietnam" is a must-read for anyone interested in history, intelligence, and the Cold War.

Weight: 690g
Dimension: 237 x 161 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780764335136