The State Department today denied a Syrian claim that a United States Phantom jet, piloted by an American, was shot down over the Golan Heights during a Syrian-Israeli air battle last Thursday. The Syrians claimed it was a carrier-based jet from the U.S. Sixth Fleet “loaned” to Israel. State Department spokesman Carl Bartch said “The story is not accurate. It is one of many stories we have all seen. All of these stories are totally false. No U.S. plane from the Sixth Fleet or any place has ever been shot down over Syria. We do not fly missions there.” The Syrian announcement said it identified the plane as American because the markings were English, not Hebrew and because it had an arresting hook and folding wings indicating that it was based on an aircraft carrier. Israel admitted the loss of one jet in last Thursday’s air battle with Syria and said it downed three Syrian MIGs. Reports that the Israeli plane was a Phantom were not confirmed in Tel Aviv.
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