February 1959 - February 5, 1959 (Thursday)

February 5, 1959 (Thursday)

  • The U.S. State Department released tapes that showed that Soviet jets had shot down an unarmed American C-130 transport plane on September 2, 1958. Transmissions between the two fighter planes, identified as "201" and "218", had been intercepted in Turkey. The Soviets denounced the tapes as a "clumsy fake". On the same day, Soviet Premier Nikita S. Khrushchev invited U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower to visit Moscow, adding that he could bring anyone, and go anywhere, he chose. In his speech, Khrushchev referred to the Secretary of State and said,"Mr. Dulles, if you so desire, then for the sake of ending the Cold War, we are even prepared to admit your victory in this war that is unwanted by the peoples. Regard yourselves, gentlemen, as victors in this war, but end it quickly."
  • The title E-1 for Air Force personnel was revised from Basic Airman to Airman Basic.

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Famous quotes containing the word february:

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    E.P.P., U.S. women’s magazine contributor. The Una, p. 28 ( February 1855)