1968: Fifty Years Ago: US pilotless plane downed

The Chinese Air Force this afternoon [Jan 20] shot down an American pilotless plane over Yunan Province, which borders Laos, Viet-Nam and Burma, Radio Peking reported tonight. The high flying plane was on a military reconnaissance mission, the Radio said. This was the first American plane to be shot down over Chinese air space this year. The Military Commission of the Chinese Communist Party tonight commended the Air Force unit which downed the pilotless plane. An Order of the Day issued by the Commission said the Air Force in Yunan Province had upheld the great red banner of Chairman Mao’s thought and followed the Chinese leader’s teachings. It warned that the Americans would continue to send planes to intrude into Chinese air space and carry out war provocations. The People’s Air Force must be vigilant and win more victories in defending the air space of the fatherland, the order added. — Agency [Meanwhile, as reported by agencies in Washington,] President Johnson yesterday [Jan 19] named Mr Clark M. Clifford, Defence and Diplomatic Adviser to the White House for more than two decades, as his new Secretary of Defence. The President told a Press conference that he would submit Mr Clifford’s name to the Senate for approval. The President told a Press conference that he would submit Mr Clifford’s name to the Senate for approval. Mr Clifford will succeed Defence Secretary Robert McNamara, who is leaving the Pentagon to become President of the World Bank. Mr Johnson said Mr McNamara would leave in February, and not later than March 1.