TACANA TCT PROGRAM

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Animal Partners
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06527517
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: September 6, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 12, 2019
• Publication Date: February 10, 1976

'roved for Release: 2019/07/30 C06527517
.4.1%
ORD-030-75,
1 0 FEB 1976
MEMORANDUM FOR: ,Mr. Barry D. Kelly N10/SA
SUBJECT: TACANA TCT Program
REFERENCE: Memorandum from Mr. Barry Kelly, NIO/SA, to Chairman,
TACANA TCT, dated 12/11/75; Subject : Guidance from
the PCP/TCT*Evaluation Group (TS-205672-75)
1. The purpose of this memorandum is to call your attention to the
fact that the TACANA TCT project is entering a new phase Which involves
certain risks you should be cognizant of officially.
2. To review, the purpose of the project is to test the capability ,
of pigeons to perform photographic intelligence collection missions
eAtitnst denied fOreign targets. The birds will carry a small camera
'which is automatically actuated while they pass over the target area.
The training program will take place in the United States against targets
which will �simulate the performance in a foreign country. The training
and test sites which have been selected are in California, Oklahoma, and
the Washington, D. C., area: The latter location has been selected for
a final test mission prior to the conduct of a foreign- intelligence mis-
sion. In this final test the birds will be trained 443 fly from a release
,point approximately three miles from the
to the Simulated t4rget at and then 'fly to their "home"
approximately 50 miles away in Washington, D. C. The "home" location
will be one ,of the Agency buildings in the area. During the course of
testing and training, it is possible that some, birds-411,belost along
with their cameras. .Should a camera be reCovei7e4 hy &mg.-Unauthorized
citizen and the film developed, there is the nett:it-lel for, unfavorable
publicity to ensue. This publicity could comoivably.take-the line that
the Government it releasing birds to photograph ,unwilling -private citizens
as another form, of illegal domestic spying. In an effort to preclude or
forestall* such 'erroneous conclusions, we are instructing the contractor,
to label the camera and "camera harnesses. The labels
will be marked HemiNG, RESEARCH and will carry telephone
number. If questions. arise regarding the purpose ot,thp .eattler-
0e4pots0 will be that he uses the cameras'to.,dbcument the
flight routes of the bird' in connection with research he is doing In
Cl by
E2 IMPDET
roved for Release: 2019/07/30 C06527517
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Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 C06527517
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SUBJECT: TACANA TCT Program
preparation for the publication of a book. In fact; he does indeed
intend to publish a book that Will deal with the knowledge gained from
his lifetime experiences in the training of birds. '
3. If you feel that it would be advisable to take other precautions
or to obtain Other official authorization to continue with this work,
Please advise us at the earliest possible date. .
Distribution:
Orig. - Addressee
1 - D/ORD
1 - OTS)
1 - LSR/ORD File
1 - LSR/ORD Chrono
1 - ORD Chrono
Donald L. Haas
Director of Research and Development
1 - ADD/S&T
LSR/ORD/DD/S&T: kav:2702
Rewritten 2/6/76/DD/ORD:nrp
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 C06527517