Metz, France

It has been determined that Detachment A, consisting of four U-2 aircraft, was moved from RAF Lakenheath, in the UK, to Wiesbaden, West Germany, in June 1956.

The following detail is a summary of U-2 activities, as tracked on the Type 80 search radar that was used by 61 AC&W Squadron in Metz during the period of June 1956 to October 1956. This detail has been extracted from official 61 AC&W Historical Reports which were made available by the National Archives of Canada

Live scramble of Strongbox Zulu Alfa from 3 (F) Wing, Zweibrucken, Germany, against unknown track 533, position ND1545, heading SE at 60,000 feet measured altitude. Finally intercepted in Rhein/Main area during let down. Zulu Alfa Lead described the aircraft as having mid-wing (straight and tapered to sharp point with no sweep back) jet intakes faired into body, high tail assembly with no gun turret apparent in the tail and tricycle undercarriage with both rear wheels letting down out of one door in centre of fuselage. After some considerable effort, the aircraft number 53166 was finally obtained by the pilot. This aircraft is apparently on the highly classified list and the COpsO ruled that, in future, all reports on live scrambles would be reported in classified form (by signal).

Experimental classified aircraft (same as the one reported on 16 Jun) picked up by this unit at an altitude of 64,000 feet crossing the ADIZ inbound. 12 AF ACC directed that no intercept action was to be taken.

This unit tracked a high flying aircraft (over 65,000) from the Rhein Main area until it disappeared well east of the Iron Curtain. Suspect this to be the NACA experimental aircraft referred to previously (reference 16 Jun 56 entry).

Readiness aircraft from 3 (F) Wing, Zweibrucken, Germany were scrambled against an unknown track detected in the ADIZ and headed west. The track faded prior to intercept in the Rhein Main traffic pattern and was suspected to be the NACA U-2.

The NACA U-2 was suspected to be responsible for an unknown track which was seen to penetrate the Austrian border at over 60,000 feet and at a ground speed of 600K. The track continued outbound and was CL over Austria.

RCAF Zulu sections were given a live scramble against an inbound track at the request of 12AF ACC. Both sections made successful interceptions before 12AF ACC identified the track as a highly classified mission. It would appear that the NACA U-2, locally nicknamed, "The Beast" was airborne again.

American and German Radar Stations in Southern Germany

This map depicts the American and German radar stations which existed in Southern Germany in the mid 1950s. We also show the location of the RCAF 61 AC&W Squadron (Yellowjack) which was located at Metz France.