1958 C-130 shootdown incident

The 1958 C-130 shootdown incident was the shooting down of an American Lockheed C-130A-II-LM reconnaissance aircraft which had intruded into Soviet airspace.

On September 2, 1958, a Lockheed C-130A-II-LM, (s/n 56-0528), from the 7406th Support Squadron departed Incirlik Airbase in Turkey on a reconnaissance mission along the Turkish-Armenian border. It was to fly a course that would parallel the Soviet frontier, but not approach the border closer than 100 miles. The crew reported passing over Trabzon in Turkey at 25,500 feet and then acknowledged a weather report from Trabzon, the last communication received from the flight. It was later intercepted and shot down by four Soviet MiG 17 34 mi North-West of Yerevan. The six flight crew were confirmed dead when their remains were re-patriated, but the 11 intelligence-gathering personnel have never been acknowledged by Soviet / Russian authorities.

Probable cause
The crew may have become confused with navigational beacons in the USSR with similar frequencies to the Trabzon and Van beacons they were briefed to use.