CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY AND OVERHEAD RECONNAISSANCE THE U 2 AND OXCART PROGRAMS 1954 1974
AI Summary
This document provides a comprehensive history of the CIA's overhead reconnaissance programs, specifically focusing on the U-2 and OXCART projects from 1954 to 1974. It details the technological advancements, bureaucratic challenges, and political context surrounding these high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft, which were pivotal during the Cold War for gathering intelligence on the Soviet Union.
Key Findings
- The U-2 and OXCART programs were developed to meet the urgent need for high-altitude reconnaissance during the Cold War. - The CIA faced significant bureaucratic and political challenges in establishing and operating these programs. - The U-2 was initially met with skepticism but became a crucial intelligence-gathering tool after its first successful flights over the Soviet Union. - The document highlights the collaboration between the CIA and the Air Force, as well as the involvement of prominent scientists in the development of these aircraft. - The U-2's operational history includes significant events such as the downing of Francis Gary Powers' U-2 in 1960, which led to a reevaluation of overflight strategies.
OCR Text
- ··· fri{) _i \ ~===~===~~:::::::::~ ! ..,: •~ •.... .. ·::/ ' ' .,. !:·-~~-.~..;' ::::..:· t> ·r:~.;.,--:_;~::-:...~ f ; ":· .:..:.... :: • ·+·,'(/\,-_;',,:,. . ••• ·.i: •• · : ·: -~ .;'~: :\·· ~. • :•-: ... . •:· ! / · ·, ~ ' . /.,. ,. THE CENTRAL : ..... . INTELLIGENCE AGENCY AND -:.,:-. OVERHEAD (7 ; R ECONNAISSANCE The U-2 and OXC.\RT Programs, 1954 -1974 Gregory 'vV. Pedlow and Donald E. vVelzenbach t);J; :~•;/-;:~: _:; .\~:·· ..:__.. :>~~::.< :;;~..:.,· .• : .· . . [ },<~-~.~:_.:~ :· .~- ::· .~_:•;··.::?;.\ ..-~:.-: · :}·.··.\ :· -:.: ,•.·-:· · ''{:·: ·-·.. . ..• > .. ..~ Secret l<JOFOFU'il The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance: The U-2 and OXCART Programs, 1954-197 4 Secret ~ec, et MOFORf~ The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance: The U-2 and OXCART Programs, 1954-1974 Gregory W . Pedlow and Donald E. Welzenbach History Staff Central Intelligence Agency Washington, D .C. 1992 Sec,et ♦ Chapter 1 Searching for a System The Need for High-Altitude Reconnaissance............................................ 1 Early Postwar Aerial Reconnaissance ................................................... 2 New Approaches to Photoreconnaissance........................................... 4 The Air Force Search for a New Reconnaissance Aircraft............... 8 Lockheed CL-282 Supporters and the CIA. ........................................ 13 Scientists and Overhead Reconnaissance ............................................... 17 The BEACON HILL Report .................................................................... 17 Concern About the Danger of a Soviet Surprise Attack ................ 19 The Air Force Intelligence Systems Panel......................................... 21 British Overflight of Kapustin Yar ....................................................... 23 The Intelligence Systems Pane! and the CL-282 .............................. 24 The Technological Capabilities Panel ................................................. 26 Project Three Support for the Lockheed CL-282 .............................. 27 A Meeting With the President ............................................................. 32 CIA and Air Force Agreement on the CL-282 .................................. 33 ♦ Chapter 2 Developing the U-2 The Establishment of the U-2 Project..................................................... 39 Funding Arrangements for Project AQUATONE .................................... 43 Major Design Features of the U-2........................................................... 45 The Development of the Camera System .............................................. 48 Preparations for Testing the U-2 ............................................................. 56 Security for the U-2 Project...................................................................... 59 The CIA -Air Force Partnership.............................................................. 60 Technical Challenges to High-Altitude Flight ......................................... 61 Delivery of the First U-2 ........................................................................... 66 Initial Testing of the U-2 ........................................................................... 68 U-2s, UFOs, and Operation BLUE BOOK................................................ 72 Sec, el NOFORN Hiring U-2 Pilots ........ _ ................................................................................. 73 Pilot Training ............................................................................................... 75 Final Tests of the U-2................................................................................ 76 Three Fatal Crashes in 1956 ..................................................................... 79 Coordination of Collection Requirements ............................................... 80 Preparations To Handle the Product of U-2 Missions ......................... 82 The Impact of the Air Force Project GENETRIX Balloons................... 84 AQUATONE Briefings for Selected Members of Congress ................. 88 The U-2 Cover Story .................................................................................. 89 ♦ Chapter 3 U-2 Operations in the Soviet Bloc and Middle East, 1956-1958 The Deployment of Detachment A to Lakenheath ............................... 94 The Move to Wiesbaden ........................................................................... 95 President Eisenhower's Attitude Toward Overflights............................ 96 First Overflights of Eastern Europe ....................................................... 100 First U-2 Flights Over the Soviet Union............................................... 104 Soviet Protest Note .................................................................................. 109 The End of the Bomber Gap.................…
Metadata
- Agency
- —
- Classification
- SECRET
- Department
- CIA