The World - News from April 1, 1986

Libyans hit three pilotless American reconnaissance planes with SAM-5 missiles during last week’s confrontation in the Gulf of Sidra, Soviet sources in Tripoli said. The sources said Soviet radar technicians in the area saw trails of the Soviet-built missiles striking three aircraft that the Libyans believed at the time to be American fighter jets. The United States has denied planes were shot down. Pentagon sources, however, said no drones were used and that U.S. ships in the Mediterranean did not carry the pilotless aircraft.