Despite receiving warnings from radar stations about the unidentified aircraft approaching, the crew of the RB-29 decided to continue their mission, prioritizing intelligence collection over immediate safety concerns.

In response, the US military dispatched F-84 Thunderjet fighter jets and rescue aircraft from Misawa Air Base in northern Japan to search for the missing RB-29.

[1] Based on the available evidence and the context of Cold War espionage activities, it is widely believed that the RB-29 was intercepted and shot down by Soviet fighter jets.

The Soviet Union, which had established a robust air defense network in the region to protect its Far Eastern territories and military installations, was highly vigilant against any perceived intrusions or reconnaissance activities by the United States and its allies.

[6] This event also became a part of the broader narrative of Cold War confrontations that occasionally flared into direct conflict, even if the battles were often fought in the shadows through intelligence and counterintelligence efforts.