Lin Xu’s Obsession
It started with a search for images of his hometown in China. Hundreds of miles of film later, he can't stop looking.
- By Rebecca Maksel
- Air & Space magazine, May 2012
Lin Xu has copied dozens of U-2 images over the past four years, driving eight hours from his home near Boston, to the National Archives’ research facility in College Park, Maryland.
Caroline Sheen
(Page 2 of 2)
Over the years, Xu’s focus has changed. What began as a search for images of his hometown has turned into a hope for a photography exhibition—in China.
“I always want to see what China looked like when I was younger,” says Xu, who immigrated to the United States in 1990 and became a citizen in 2000. “The country’s ancient structures were greatly destroyed during the Cultural Revolution. There’s a lot of new construction. We can’t go back too far, but with the declassified films we can go back to the years when I was growing up. For example, I’ve always been fascinated by the city wall of Beijing. It was built about 500 years ago, and while much of it was torn down, sections remained. But during the Cultural Revolution, around 1967, they tore down most of what remained. The wall and a moat can be clearly seen on the U-2 photo. I’d like the Chinese to see what the country looked like before the Cultural Revolution.
“On the Chinese side,” he continues, “they put a tremendous amount of effort into bringing down those spyplanes. But they never saw the photos that were taken. Naturally, they’re interested in seeing what the U-2s were photographing, how their MiGs were chasing it, and where their missiles were firing.”
Asked to estimate how much time he’s spent on the project, Xu hesitates. “A hobby is a hobby,” he finally says. “Between driving eight hours to [Maryland], and looking at the film…I have no idea. In the past three years it has been a large amount of time.”
His most recent project involves people, not celluloid: Xu would like to introduce the Taiwanese U-2 pilots to the mainland Chinese operators of surface-to-air missiles who tried to shoot them down. “As far as I know, it hasn’t been done before. I’ll try my best,” he says.
You wouldn’t expect anything less from the man who has carefully scrutinized hundreds of miles of film, one frame at a time.
Rebecca Maksel is an Air & Space associate editor.
Comments (3)
I have accompanied Lin on some of his trips to the National Archives. Fascinating and painstaking work. A vote of thanks to the helpful staff there, especially Gerry Luchansky,
Oh, by the way, the author misunderstood the U-2 camera system. All of the China overflights used a single camera, mostly the Hycon B. This was a framing system with a rotating lens that had seven 'stop and shoot' positions. But, yes, each frame was divided into two, because the film was contra-wound to maintain the aircraft's cg balance.
Chris Pocock
author, 50 YEARS OF THE U-2
Posted by Chris Pocock on April 1,2012 | 05:17 PM
Chris - Thanks for taking me into the wonders of U-2 imaging. It was fun and a dream comes true. I was deeply touched when I first saw the nU-2 egatives taken by Chen Huai from the very first Taiwanese operational overflight mission to Mainland China. 9 month later his U-2 was shutdown and he died from shrapnel wounds, so were 4 other ROCAF U-2 pilots.
Beside NARA and Jerry, it was Joe Donoghue and all of his invaluable support to make my research possible.
Lin Xu
Posted by Lin Xu on April 9,2012 | 03:26 PM
I am interested in U-2 missions carried out by Chinese pilots in Taiwan. After years of search, I have met 5 pilots, of which 2 were shot down by missiles in China. I would like to contact Mr Lin.
I live in Belmont, MA
Posted by Shih Huei wang on April 25,2012 | 04:21 PM