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Charles 'Sam' Faddis

CIA officer, author, and friend. Explore the books of Charles 'Sam' Faddis, remembered with respect and affection.

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Doomsday Planes Observed Over U.S. Following CIA Director's Trip to Russia

Aug 27, 2026
Doomsday Planes Observed Over U.S. Following CIA Director's Trip to Russia

Shortly after CIA Director John Ratcliffe's secret visit to Russia, a fleet of Navy 'doomsday planes' was observed flying over the West Coast and central United States. This unusual activity began just hours after an Air Force Boeing C-17A Globemaster III landed at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow. Flight trackers identified five Boeing E-6 Mercury aircraft, known for their ability to withstand nuclear attacks, in the skies. One plane, identified by the hex number AEA92D, was tracked over the Colorado-Wyoming area, flying at approximately 374 mph and nearly 24,000 feet. Another aircraft, AE7D28, was seen crossing Kansas and Oklahoma at 30,000 feet, while a third, AEABAB, was detected at 35,000 feet over Missouri and Arkansas. A fourth plane, AF4019, was noted flying at about 9,500 feet near the Texas-Oklahoma border. The fifth aircraft, AF1BB0, was reportedly unconfirmed but believed to be another E-6 Mercury. The Kremlin initially denied knowledge of the Globemaster III's landing but later acknowledged that Ratcliffe had discussions with Russian intelligence officials, although he did not meet with President Vladimir Putin. American officials have yet to comment on the doomsday planes or announce any military exercises related to this event. No official explanation has been provided regarding the Globemaster III's passengers, cargo, or mission in Russia. This incident follows previous sightings of doomsday planes, including a mysterious disappearance of one over the Atlantic Ocean last year and another spotted over California earlier this year. The Boeing E-6B Mercury, often referred to as the 'Pentagon of the Sky,' serves as a nuclear command platform and is designed to endure strong electromagnetic pulses due to its analog technology.

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Surveillance:
Charles 'Sam' Faddis

CIA officer, author, and friend. Explore the books of Charles 'Sam' Faddis, remembered with respect and affection.

Evaluate
Intelligence Memoirs & Biographies

Published accounts of lives in intelligence. Read the recollections, consider the perspective, and keep the footnotes close.

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