DEAR GENERAL TWINING:

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP33-02415A000200230026-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 23, 2003
• Sequence Number: 26
• Content Type: LETTER

Approved For Release 2003/04/23: CIA-RDP33-02415A000200230026-5
Nathan F. Twit
Chief of Z,ta.ff
United itates Air Force
.Aeashington 43, D. C.
Deer General
I have discussed at some Length with General Gabeti the
Air Force U-4 program as presented in your letter of i ebruery 1957.
Your approval of the deployment of Detachment C to Atsugi, Japan.
is greatly appreciated. As soon as Admiral Burke grants us access to
that base we shall arrange to have necessary hangar stiodificatioas cerrieG
out expeditiously and subsequently to have the Detachment deployed.
will make additional space availeble to the Mr Force just s 25X1
rapidly as possible so that the Air Force U-4 training can proceed there
free from the Limitations currentLy imposed by the presence of Detachmeat C.
When Detachment C complete. its move only a 25X1
small group of CIA representatives will remain there and the onLy continuing
activities of this Agency will be the completion of the research and city clop-
men.t erogram related to this project. I may remind you that the deveLop-
ment work which remains to be completed is highly classified which pre-
eludes its move to another location and is Of very direct interest to the Air
Force. I am confident that our remaining requirements wilt not seriously
interfere with the Air Force program.
The senior CIA representative remaining after the 25X1
deployment of 1)4staclarrient C will be a seposrt commander who
responsible for the administration of base support and who will
relations with the company that furnishes base eriaintenance and messing
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I of
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25X1 encorisimg the support of activities
1Iwo senior sscurity officers will act as advisers to be USA
25X1 11* urity. will handle the rem
finalpieces at equipment. CIA comtnunicatio
wilt be needed in sending end receivine Agency message
men and administretive clerks will assist in the baas
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ILLEGIB
au. goncy personnel
this pr oc attar e has been discussed and agreed to
ng groups. roccept for this small Agency group the
eta operational and security coats-el during its (won
I completely accept your view that the USAF musts
expeditiously as possible, against the contingency of w
reconnaissance capability based on the U-Z. While I w
fully in your plait for Wringing this capability into being
your attention at this time to a problem which may arise
the steps outlined in your letter are taken as and when prec
I.do se not for the purpose of proposing that you now in
Air Force program but because I believe we Should be pr
to review this problem at a tater date if it should arise.
The problem is that a maintaining the plausibility
explanations that have been given out or have been allowed
explain the nature and activities of our Detachments and
their presence at various locatiess overseas. I am sure
profound hop* that we will be granted permission to have
resume overflights both in Europe and in the Tar East begi
or in the early summer. Though such overflights might be
and closely controlled in timing by higher authority most c
deal of vital intelligence could be obtained, even with a low
such operations were about to begin or were underway when
Openly established themsetvee at Laughlin Air Force Base a
Wing, previously known as a z,trategic Recoanaissance ogle
recently redesignated a weather ftetonnaissance Wing, I fear
uences could be serious. The danger is that the association
with a known photo reconnaissance wing, and with the recent r
of that wing, would give rise to much speculation both in the goner
and in the aviation press concerning the true mission of our units,
of what would then be revealed as a cover story. and their possible connec
tion with I am sure you records* that such a development could
prejudice the chances for a continuation of overflight activity with the
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realize. of course,nts may * irrelevant
or may lead us to conclude that th. risk is not sufficiently serious Co
justify any modification of your program. I de believe. however, that it
will be desirable for as to review the situation together about I May 1957
or, in any case, several weeks before the reciewignation of the 40rath and
4049th ,Attadrons or their move to Laughlin Air Force Base with U4 air-
craft. U we should find at that time that the redesignation or move would
jeopardize the security of our joint Project. I hope you would than consider
making necessary modifications in your programa so as not to jeopardize a
Cri g action so vital to the interests of both our Agetticieo. I also request
that in the meanwhile every effort be made to maintain a degree of compar
mentation between the Air Force units and the 40 liOth Wing
sio that the former will not come to be aseociated with the latter either
publicly- or widely within the Air Force until the actual move takes place.
zubject only to the above com onto, 1 concur in the USA*" proposed
t,rogram presented in your letter. I wish to assure you again we wilt do
everything in our power to facilitate and expedite the program.
incerely,
Allen *. Dai
Dir ec tor
CONCURRENCE:
DDCI
Project Director
JAG:hh (5 Feb 57)
Rewritten: itiviB:gjg (6 Feb 57)
Distribution:
Copy 1 & Z -Gen. Twining
3-DDCI
Proj Dir
5-Proj Dir Subj
6-Proj Dir Chrono (w/incoming) 51434
7-I./Col. Leo P. Geary Copy -7' a S
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