SA-2 Soviet guideline missile launcher

Being derived from the S-25 anti-aircraft missile system, the S-75 was fielded in 1957 and became a nightmare for US Air Force. Its V-750 missiles drew the first blood on May 1st, 1960 when American U-2 spyplane was shot down over Sverdlovsk. Code named SA-2 Guideline by NATO the new system didn"t have to wait too long to continue its combat account – soon another U-2 belonging to CIA was shot down over Cuba. Thousands miles away – in Vietnam – the S-75 crew lead by Major Ilyin destroyed the F-4C Phantom on July 24th, 1962. It became the first of 1163 American warplanes that fell victims to the S-75 missiles during the Vietnam War.