DEAR MR. BISSELL:

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP33-02415A000100390105-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 1, 2002
• Sequence Number: 105
• Publication Date: July 11, 1963
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP33-02415AO00100390105-1
STAT
Richard M. Bissell
Dear Mr. Bissell:
I am a free lance writer, and I am writing to you to see if
you will be willing to give me some information. It is my
understanding that it was you who conceived the U-2 flights.
I would ?.ike to write an article on these flights, !low that
through-'the un.forunate incident of Powers, they haze been
brought to light.
With ma article I would like to have a biographical sketch
of you. Too, I would like to now the nature of the flights,
now many -.;ere made in a given time, thelplan of the.T, the
purpose )f them, and the hazards that they could ensue.
Any information that you can give to me will be greatly
appreciated, and ere I send the article for publication,
I'll be delighted to send you a copy of it for you to read
so you may do any corrections that you wish. STAT
I hope thatyouu will be willing to help me out with this
project of mine, and it will be a pleasure to hear from you
soon.
Sincerely
Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP33-02415A000100390105-1
 Approved For Release 2002/10/21 : CIA-RDP33-02415A000011Z390105-1
4W 1~0; NOW
i=N S T I T U T E F O R DEFENSE ANALYSE S
.mac:
8 9 P 23 o (Area Code 202) Richard M. Bissell,rr., President
,
1666 Connecticut Avenue, rr.vv, L~nshin ton n.c., Tele hone )-935 1 113A
I am afraid that I cannot be as responsive as perhaps either
of us should like in answerin j your letter of July 11. Although it is true
that I was associated ("conceived" is too strong a word) with the U-2
flights to which you allude, I was at that time a public servant, and, like
all people who have occupied similar positions, I am constrained even to
this day in releasing information about the Pourers incident and the operation
of which it was a part. This, constraint is only strengthened by the fact
that I am today associated with an organization which, while not a component
of the U. S. Government, is financed entirely by the Government. The
information that was eventuaLl;r Coclascified as a result of the Powers matter
and its aftermath has, as you : w, appeared extensively in the periodical
press and in at least one boo':: of which I am aware.
In short, I am nc W in a position to be of much assistance to you
in your desire to write an article or, these matters. In some ways I might
wish it were otherwise, since a good bit of what has appeared in print has
been distorted to a greater orf- lesser degree, largely because of the con-
tinuing unavailability of basic facts. In my view, however, this is one of
the penalties that must be paid in order to protect information "hich the
Govern semi still considers it to be in the greater public interest not to
reveal.
It may be that sometime in the future these rules will be relaxed
as the whole subject becomes of gin. ore purely historical interest, but I would
estimate that this will not h.^ -jpe-7 for many years, if ever.
I regret my inability to be more helpful.
Very sincerely yours,
Richard M. Bissell, jr.
App ec nor # 0i4i fi / $~; CIiq,-l P33-02415A000100390105-1