PROJECT AQUATONE/OILSTONE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP62B00844R000200220014-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 11, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 15, 1999
• Sequence Number: 14
• Publication Date: July 12, 1955
• Content Type: MEMO

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Apprb~d For R~1~sE~??F~DP62BOq~4R000200220014-4
12 July 1955
MEMORANDUM FOR: The Honorable Harold E. Talbott
Secretary of the Air Force
Washington, D, C,
SUBJECT : Project AQUATONE/OILSTONE
1, I have recently reviewed with you the present status of the
project which carries the CIA code name. AS~UATONE and the Air Force
code name OILSTONE, It has now reached a point at which certain
preparations for the active operational phase must be undertaken. The
purpose of this memorandum. is to set forth my views as to the way in
which the project should be handled for the next few months.
2, i understand that several different views have been advanced
as to the way in which the operations contemplated in this project should
be organized and controlled, It is my hope that the project will continue
to be a joint enterprise drawing upon the resources of both the CIA and
the Air Farce and with both parent organizations sharing in its control
and direction, Within this very general formula, a number of alternative
arrangements would be possible and the problem of organization should
continue to receive close attention from the CIA and .4ir Force officers
who are collaborating on the planning of the project. I question, however,
whether their planning has yet reached the stage where far-reaching and
final decisions are either possible or necessary. With this in mind, I
suggest that certain steps be taken now which wilt permit the necessary
preparation for operations to go forward but wilt still leave open the more
difficult organizational decisions until operational planning is further
advanced and the leeks to be performed -under this project are better
defined. The immediate steps I propose are outlined in the following para-
graphs, Their proposal is more fully discussed in the Annex attached
hereto.
3, The development and procurement of the project's weapans
system is welt advanced and is progressing in a satisfactory manner.
Although one or two difficult decisions remain to be made in this area, I
believe. that these can be handled through the existing channel between the
Staff of the Senior Project Officer and the Offices of the Deputy Chief of
Staff, Development,. and the Deputy Chief of Staff, Materiel. Na new arrange-
ments for this purpose appear to be required at thfs time.
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4, The active preparations, other than development and procure-
ment, which must now be undertaken {and many of which are already in
progress) fall under the following four headings:
a.
b.
c,
Operational planning,
Logistic planning and support.
The recruitment (from the CIA,
Air Force and
d.
elsewhere). and training of personnel.
The assignment and physical modifications of cargo
aircraft required for the support of operations.
5, My suggestions for immediate action to facilitate- the above
activities may be summarized as follows. The four types of action are
discussed more fully and the need for each is explained in the Annex,
a. That the joint planning staff already in existence be
strengthened by the assignment of a senior ,Air Force Officer to serve as
Deputy to the Senior Project Officer and to share the responsibility for alt
planning a.nd preparatory activities, and that the staff should be directed
to prepare full operational, logistical, and administrative plans for final
review by this Agency and the Air Force at a later date;
b. That project officers be designated or maintained in the
Offices of the Deputy Chiefs of Staff most concerned with this project ~{the
Chief of the Special Activities Branch, Subsidiary Plana Division, who is
the normal point of contact with the CIA, might perform this function for
the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations), and that these officers together
constitute an informal Air Staff Task Force in support of the project;
c, That staffing go forward on the basis of a mutually agreed
Table of Organization; and
d. That the responsibility for the provision and operation of
support aircraft be assigned to the appropriate element of the Air Force
and that, after coordinated review of the requirements for such aircraft,
any necessary physical modifications be undertaken.
6. Other kinds of preparatory action will be going forward con-
currently with the four which appear to require facilitating action at this
time and have therefore been singled out for discussion here. Overseas
bases will be surveyed and a preliminary selection will be made, Cover
stories will be worked out, Preliminary approaches wilt be made where
necessary to foreign governments, In the meanwhile, the whole weapons
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system wilt be undergoing testa in the tight of which the schedule and
possibly the operational concept may have to be modified. By 1 November,
which I-have suggested as the target date for the completion of planning
and other preparatory activities, we should have before us maturely
conceived and well thought through proposals covering both the contemplated
mode of ogeration and the whole matter of organization. We will then have
a far more solid basis than now for final determinations.
ALLEN W, DULLES
Director
Attachment -
Annex A
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