PROGRAM PROGRESS REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP33-02415A000800030001-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 7, 2002
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: October 13, 1972
• Content Type: MF

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13 OCT 1972
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, CIA Reconnaissance Programs
SUBJECT: Program Progre-ss Report
30 September 1972.
Forwarded herewith are three copies of the IDEALIST
Program Progress Report for the period 1 July 1972 -
ND. LL . B V N JR.
Brigadier General, UAF
Director of Special Activities
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Impossible to determine
(unless ira~,ossiUlz, ir.scst date or event)
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SAS/O/OSA
Distribution.
1 - D/CRP
2 - D/CRP
3 - D/CRP
4 - DDS&T Reg
5 - D/ SA
6- SAS/O/OSA
7 - D/O/OSA
8 - IDEA/O/OSA
9 - INTEL/O/OSA
10 - D/M/OSA
11 - AMS/.OSA
12 - RB/OSA
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Section 1
(1 July 1972 - 30 September 1972)
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Fourteen IDEALIST TACKLE operational missions were alerted
during this period. 25X1
All missions were
planned to be own no closer an nautical miles to the China
mainland coast. Following is a summary of missions completed:
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2. Mission C212C was flown in the Taiwan Straits on
8 July 1972, utilizing the "H" configuration. Twenty-five COMIREX
targets were covered, of which one was not programmed. I
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5. Mission C262C was flown off the central China coast
on 11 August 1972, utilizing the "TH" configuration. Seventy of
72 programmed targets were covered. An additional nine bonus
COMIREX and four bonus non-COMIREX targets were photographed.
7. Mission C302C was flown along the central China coast
on 3 September 1972 with the "H" configuration. Deteriorating
weather prevented coverage of all but 10 targets.
9. Mission C322C was flown in the Taiwan Straits on
12 September 1972, utilizing the "H" configuration. Deteriorating
weather prevented coverage of 80 percent of programmed targets,
however, one new SAM site was located and several port facilities
were covered.
10. Mission C332C was flown along the northern China coast
in the Port Arthur area on 19 September 1972, utilizing the
"H" configuration. Due to deteriorating weather, only 30 percent
of the programmed coverage was obtained. 77
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A. II RED DOT - Nine sorties were flown in support of continuing
film tests using various film types and camera configurations in the
U-2R.
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C. u Lens - Eleven sorties were flown to test the new color
corrected "H" lens.
E. - T-2 training accomplished for one U-2
pilot at Pensacola, Florida NAS.
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A. Detachment r'G" (Edwards AFB - North Base)
Aircraft 2 U-2R
PILOT AND AIRCRAFT STATUS (AS OF 30 SEPTEMBER 1972)
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Section 2
IDEALIST
DEVELOPMENT SUMMARY AND PROGRESS
(1 July 1972 - 30 September 1972)
A. J-75P13B Engine - Installation of improved third stage turbine
blades has been accomplished on 22 engines. This modification
improves engine life and permits the extension of Hot Section Inspec-
tions (HSI) from 600 to 700 hours and of Time Between Overhaul (TBO)
from 1200 to 1400 hours.
B. U-2R Flight Test and Operational Training Summary
1. IDEALIST Program accomplishments in U-ZR aircraft
since introduction include 9521. 1 hours on 2906 sorties as of
30 September 1972.
2.
Flight test and operational data are depicted below:
r
1 JUL-30 SEP
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A. "H" Configuration - "H" Serial Number 003 incorporating the
new lens was first used operationally at Detachment "H" on 8 July 1972.
The second lens, installed in Serial Number 002, is currently under-
going flight testing and qualification.
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B. "B" Configuration - Delivery of the first modified B-3 camera
with a new lens will be delayed until late in the second quarter. This
schedule slippage is necessary to permit rework of the lens aspherical
surface to correct misalignment of the asphere axis.
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V. I I AERO MEDICAL AND LIFE SUPPORT ACTIVITIES
Medical Activities
1. Pilot Selection Program - Five pilot
candidates were interviewed and received IDEALIST Program
briefings prior to receiving astronaut type physicals at the
School of Aerospace Medicine, Brooks AFB, Texas. All five
elected to continue with the selection process, and only one was
found to be not physically qualified for the project. The four
candidates were brought to Washington, D. C. area where they
were interviewed by flight surgeons and spent two days with
psychologists from PSS/OMS. Two were unanimously chosen for
training by the selection group with the recommendation that the
other candidates not be held in reserve. They will begin training
in March 1973.
2. Medic I I - A second medical technician was
assigned uin August 1972, enabling them to have 24 hour
coverage. Both have excellent backgrounds as laboratory
technicians and have proposed doing the required lab work in
routine physicals currently being performed by a civilian physician
I I This would save the Government
approximately $50. 00 per examination.
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Section 2
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5. L-1 Briefing for New USAF Surgeon General -
briefed the new Air Force Surgeon enera
en. Patterson) on the flight medicine aspects of the IDEALIST
Program or, 6 September 1972. This briefing was at the specific
request of Lt. Gen. Patterson.
Life Support Activities
1. Face Heat Modification - A new portable battery pack with
recharger unit has been fabricated to be used to provide full-
pressure suit visor face heat when transporting pilots from the
personal equipment section to the aircraft.
2. Laminated Visors - An autoclave has been purchased for
use in producing a laminated visor for the full-pressure suit assembly.
This device was necessary to accomplish the dry bonding technique
at a rather high temperature and pressure.
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3. Vent Garment - A new vent garment has been fabricated
and sent to Detachment "G" for use with the low-flight harness.
This unit will assist in cooling the pilot during low-flight and will
mate successfully with the aircraft pressure suit vent connections.
4. Glove Bladder - The David Clark Pressure Suit Company
has been experimenting the past few months with reinforcing the
glove bladders with a sheer nylon mesh. To date some of the
seams of these gloves have been failing after repeated inflations.
A new dipping procedure is now under evaluation and recently
finished products look promising. Further investigation and
experimentation will be accomplished on the Sustaining Engineering
Contract during the next quarter.
5. Prototype Helmet - The new 51010 helmet modification
was presented to the U-ZR pilots during the last week of September.
All agree it is a decided improvement over the present helmet
and two flyable configurations are now being fabricated.
6. Survival Weapon - The Director for OSA has given final
approval for the purchase of 25 new single shot 22-caliber survival
weapons to be packed into the survival seat kit. This is a much
improved survival weapon which, additionally, can be packed into
a very small space.
Training
1. u Life Support Conference - The semiannual Life Support
Conference was held in Washington, D. C. on 2 August 1972.
Lt. Col. Don Johnson of the AF Surgeon General's Office chaired
the meeting attended by Col. B. L. Bailey of the NRO and
of OSA. This conference is held primarily for the
cross fertilization of information from special projects utilizing
pressure suits.
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