Conant Blasts Czech Attack On U.S. Plane

High Commissioner Conant yesterday sharply denounced the attack of two Communist MIGs on an American F87 thunder-jet.

The two MIGs flow out from Czechoslovakia and shot down the American plane, which was on routine patrol over the U.S zone of Germany.

Conant issued the following statement:

"I have received form the U.S. Air Force in Europe a report of the attack today by MIG-15s on an American military aircraft over the U.S. zone of Germany.

"This is a grave incident. It involves a gross violation of the U.S. zone border by satellite or Soviet aircraft. It involves the wanton shooting down of an American plane well inside the U.S. zone of Germany.

"The U.S. government has been informed of this outrage and I expect that appropriate action will be taken. Meanwhile, I am confident that the U.S. Air Force in Germany will know how to deal with any future incursions of this type."

The American pilot, Lt. Warren B. Brown, emerged with only scratches as he parachuted into a Bavarian woods, 15 miles from the Czech frontier. His plane, an early type jet, crashed and burned.

Another American fighter plane, piloted by Lt. Donald C. Smith, escaped the guns of the Communists and flew back to his air base near Munich without firing a shot.

The United States government ordered its Ambassador to Prague, George Wadsworth, to draw up in his own words "the strongest possible protest" to Czechoslovakia's Communist government.

This is the first time Red Aircraft have invaded U.S. controlled territory in Germany and shot at an American plane.

Asked whether he thought the attack was an overt incident, Secretary of State Dulles replied, "We are trying to get further information about the details to determine what the circumstances were."