picture 171087

Submitted by aua on
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U-2A
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The USAF-operated U-2s initially wore the original bare metal overall livery until 1962, when gloss light grey was applied on some to help protect them from corrosion, while others received the same AN607 non-specular sea blue as most of the CIA-operated fleet. The latter was the case with the U-2A flown by Major Rudolf Anderson over Cuba on 27 October 1962. Contrary to the CIA-operated examples, this aircraft received the full national insignia, a big service title, and the ‘last five’ of its FY-serial number (56-6676) on the fin. The jet should have also received the later, deeper but shorter version of the Sugar Scoop: a plate attached to the lower portion of the exhaust, designed to better protect it from infra-red homing missiles – like the R-3S carried by the MiG-21s. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)

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