After US pops 1st balloon, China admits the 2nd one floating over Latin America is also theirs and gave the same excuse that it was just lost

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A Chineses surveillance balloon flies above in Charlotte, North Carolina, on February 4, 2023.
A Chineses surveillance balloon flies above in Charlotte, North Carolina, on February 4, 2023.

Peter Zay/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

The stealth F-22, the top US air superiority fighter, just got its first known air-to-air kill taking out a Chinese balloon.

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An F-22 Raptor fighter took down the balloon with one AIM-9X Sidewinder missile.
An F-22 Raptor fighter took down the surveillance balloon with one AIM-9X Sidewinder missile.

US Department of Defense

The F-22 that took down China's surveillance balloon used the call sign 'FRANK01' in an apparent homage to a heroic pilot from WWI

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American World War I fighter ace, Frank Luke Jr (1897 - 1918), with his SPAD S.XIII biplane, France, 18th September 1918.
American World War I fighter ace, Frank Luke Jr (1897 - 1918), with his SPAD S.XIII biplane, France, 18th September 1918.

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After a week adrift, a surveillance balloon from China has been deflated. Here's what we know about the suspect device and its mission.

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A map of the United States, with arrows pointing to where the Chinese surveillance balloon was spotted.

Getty Images

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