Monument to the First Downing of a U-2 Aircraft

Monument to the First Downing of a U-2 Aircraft

The Monument to the First Downing of a U-2 Aircraft is a cultural relic protection unit of Jiangxi Province.

The "Monument to the First Downing of a U-2 Aircraft" is located in Gangqian Village, Liantang Town, Nanchang County (within the barracks of the PLA 94981 Unit at Gaofangling). The monument faces northeast and consists of three parts: a circular base platform, a pedestal, and the main body. It stands 9.9 meters tall and covers an area of nearly 100 square meters.

On the morning of September 9, 1962, a U.S.-made U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft entered mainland China from Pingtan Island, veered back after flying over Poyang Lake, and headed straight toward Tangshan Airport, attempting to photograph military base information from high altitude.

Upon receiving the enemy intelligence report, a radar regiment of the Air Force immediately organized relevant radar stations to enter first-class combat readiness. The Gaofangling Radar Station detected the target at 7:45 AM and guided the surface-to-air forces. At 8:32 AM, the U-2 aircraft entered the firing range of the second battalion of the surface-to-air forces lying in ambush at Gaofangling. At the commander’s order, three Soviet-made SAM missiles were launched toward the U-2. In an instant, the U-2 was hit twice and plunged into the paddy fields of Luojiaji, about 15 kilometers southeast of Nanchang City.

This was the first U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft shot down by China, and also the world's first U-2 aircraft brought down by [missiles]. After the battle, the Air Force commended the participating units, a celebration meeting was held in Beijing, and leaders of the Party and state including Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai met with representatives of the participating units.

To commemorate this historic event, the Fuzhou Command of the People's Liberation Army Air Force funded the construction of the monument.

The "Monument to the First Downing of a U-2 Aircraft" was unveiled on September 9, 2007, on the original battlefield site.

On May 7, 2010, the Nanchang County People's Government listed it as part of the fifth batch of Nanchang County Cultural Relic Protection Units.

On December 29, 2011, the Nanchang Municipal People's Government listed it as part of the fourth batch of Nanchang City Cultural Relic Protection Units.

Source: Nanchang County Museum

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangxi Province Cultural Relic Protection Units