Major Yang Ching-tsung mysteriously disappeared on the way home after clashing with Chinese MiG-19s on Jan. 13, 1967

• By Han Cheung / Staff reporter

Jan. 9 to Jan. 15

The ROC Air Force’s third brigade received emergency orders to send four fighter jets toward China in the early afternoon of Jan. 13, 1967. A reconnaissance plane snapping photos of submarines at the Xiamen Naval Base had come under attack, and was being chased by 12 MiG-19 fighters from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

The two sides had almost clashed earlier that day during a different spy mission, but no fire was exchanged. This time was different. The four Lockheed F-104G Starfighters soon spotted two enemy planes, and squadron leader Lieutenant Colonial Hsiao Ya-min (蕭亞民) received permission to fire — but his Sidewinder missile failed to initiate. Captain Hu Shih-lin (胡仕霖) immediately stepped in and shot the target down. The other MiG tried to get away, but found itself directly in front of Captain Shih Pei-po’s (石貝波) plane. Shih chased after it and shot it down before discovering he had entered Chinese territory, and hurriedly regrouped.