Stories That Aren’t Supposed to Know

Number 5: The Himalayan Espionage

In the chilling heights of the Himalayas in 1965, a team of mountaineers embarked on a perilous mission, unbeknownst to the world. The summit of Nanda Devi, India's tallest mountain, became the stage for a clandestine operation involving the CIA and Indian intelligence services. Faced with adverse weather, the team, equipped with a nuclear-powered sensor, was forced to retreat, leaving behind a device powered by plutonium, concealed on the mountain slopes. The motive behind this covert expedition was to gather intelligence on China's nuclear activities.

The subsequent year, when the team returned, the device was nowhere to be found. Speculations arose—did an avalanche sweep it away, or did India retrieve it before the Americans could? The lost plutonium remained a well-guarded secret until 1978, when a journalist exposed the incident. Lingering concerns about environmental impact persist, with fears of plutonium traces affecting the Ganges River, a sacred waterway. The tale of Nanda Devi stands as a hidden chapter in the annals of Cold War espionage.

Number 4: The Unseen Horrors of Hill 875

Amidst the televised horrors of the Vietnam War, some battles escaped public scrutiny, like the tragic events of Hill 875 on November 19th, 1967. A brigade, pinned down by enemy fire, sought air support, only to face a devastating turn of events. In the chaos, friendly planes, aiming for North Vietnamese targets, inadvertently struck the soldiers' command post beneath a lone tree. The consequences were harrowing—20 lives lost, and three soldiers never recovered.

For years, the blame was misplaced on a South Vietnamese soldier, until the truth emerged. A U.S. soldier, only three months into his Vietnam deployment, had tragically missed his target. The official report, initially elusive, came to light later, revealing the hidden horrors of friendly fire, etched in the shadows of the Battle of Dak Tu.

Number 3: The USS Liberty Incident

June 8th, 1967—a day clouded in secrecy, misinformation, and a tragic attack on the USS Liberty during the Six-Day War. While the U.S. remained ostensibly neutral, the USS Liberty, an intelligence ship, became the unintended target. Israeli jets, having twice identified the ship as friendly, suddenly attacked, launching torpedoes and napalm. The assault lasted half an hour, claiming 34 American lives and leaving 171 injured.

Officially deemed a case of misidentification, doubts linger. The Liberty, allegedly mistaken for an Egyptian ship, faced a short-lived investigation. The incident, veiled in political complexities, showcases a hidden chapter in U.S.-Israeli relations, shrouded in the fog of war and diplomatic intrigue.

Number 2: The Culper Spy Ring

In the shadows of the American War for Independence, an unsung hero emerged—the Culper Spy Ring. Established in 1778, under the leadership of General George Washington, this covert network operated in the heart of British-controlled New York. Risking their lives, spies like Benjamin Tallmadge and Abraham Woodhall gathered crucial intelligence for the Continental Army.

Initially amateurish, the Culper Spy Ring evolved into the most effective espionage network of the war. Code names and covert operations unfolded, unraveling British plans and saving the Franco-American alliance. The mysterious Agent 355, a legendary female spy, adds a touch of intrigue to this hidden chapter, emphasizing the pivotal role espionage played in shaping history.

Number 1: The Kyshtym Nuclear Disaster

Eleven years before Chernobyl, the world witnessed the Kyshtym nuclear disaster—a chilling event deliberately shrouded in secrecy by both the Soviet Union and U.S. intelligence. In 1957, Mayak, a key Soviet nuclear facility, experienced a catastrophic failure, catapulting nuclear waste across the East Urals. Thousands suffered from radiation sickness, and villages downstream faced the consequences.

The secrecy extended beyond borders, with the CIA keeping the disaster under wraps, fearing public fear of nuclear power. Only with the end of the Cold War did the truth emerge—a tale of negligence, environmental devastation, and a hidden nuclear catastrophe that predated Chernobyl's notoriety.