Both USA and Britain did this.
The United States used the Lockheed U2 and Convair PB4Y Privateer to gather intelligence about the Soviet Union and China before the advent of spy satellite technology.
The United States was using the U-2 spy plane to gather intelligence about the Soviet Union. The incident occurred on May 1, 1960, when the plane was shot down over Soviet airspace, leading to heightened tensions and the cancellation of the planned East-West summit meeting between Nikita Khrushchev and U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
America used the U-2 at that time.
The USA used, and in fact still uses the U2 to gather military intel.
To monitor the progress of the Soviets in the areas where there were ICBMs and long range bombers and to gather military intelligence ~ see related link below .
South Korea
The US had a spy plane called the U-2 that was shot down over the Soviet Union.
The U-2 spy plane was primarily used during the Cold War to gather intelligence on Soviet military capabilities and activities. It took high-altitude photographs of missile sites, troop movements, and other strategic locations. Additionally, the plane provided crucial information about nuclear weapons development, helping the U.S. assess potential threats from the Soviet Union. Its advanced cameras and sensors allowed for detailed reconnaissance beyond the reach of other aircraft.
When the U-2 spy plane was shot down on May 1, 1960, it was carrying high-altitude photographic equipment designed to capture detailed images of Soviet military installations. The plane was on a reconnaissance mission over Soviet territory, gathering intelligence on missile sites and other strategic military assets. The incident escalated Cold War tensions, especially after the U.S. initially denied the plane's purpose before acknowledging it was a spy mission. The pilot, Francis Gary Powers, was captured and later exchanged for a Soviet spy.
The countRy is Russia(Soviet Union). In 1983 a Russian military jet shot down a Korean Airlines commercial airliner.
The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is primarily a reconnaissance aircraft and does not carry traditional weapons like bombs or missiles. It is equipped with sophisticated cameras and sensors for intelligence-gathering purposes. The aircraft's speed and altitude capabilities allow it to evade threats rather than engage in combat. Its primary function was to gather intelligence rather than engage in direct conflict.
Gary Powers was shot down in 1960's while flying a U-2 "spy plane" over Russia. Yes. Every country has an international border that includes 12 miles off the coast line. Their airspace above the country is also their terriory. Flying over a country is the same as invading it.