MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL GROUP MEETING, 23 JANUARY 1964

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP67B00558R000100060050-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 3, 2007
• Sequence Number: 50
• Publication Date: January 24, 1964
• Content Type: MFR

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24 January 1964 ~ja~~'~B ~~
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD State Department review completed
SUBJECT: Minutes of the Special Group Meeting, 23 January 1964
PRESENT: Mr. Johnson, Mr. Vance, and General Carter.
Also present were Mr. Bromley Smith, Mr. 3ames Cunningham,
and Mr. Eugene Kiefer.
South Vietnam - Photographic Coverage.
Mr. James Cunningham indicated that on 17 January 1964, USIB had
considered the validity of the original proposal (never formally
presented to the Special Group) and had found a certain divergence
of views between the field and Washington. General Garter interposed
that ithe matter had been raised with the JCS and they favored the idea.
As a result of this divergence, Messrs. William A. Tidwell of CIA
-and John T. Hughes of DIA, have departed for the theatre to determine
whether local theatre facilities are sufficient so that the photographic
resulL-s can be of practical use in the area. They were also to determine
the attitude in the field (a) as to whether the missions were to be run
on a covert or semi-avert basis, and (b) whether or not the Vietnamese
goveriunent should be made cognizant of this effort and its eventual
results
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OSD review completed.
Mr. Vance stated that two factors should be determined inunediately:
whether a mosaic ar base line photography was desired and what equipment
should be committed. He said he was in favor of base line photography
as being the most useful for this theatre, and he recommended the use of
the U-~2 (without thereby establishing a precedent for its-use in similar
base line photography projects}. The other members present concurred in --
the views that base line photography was preferable and in the use of the
U-2 far this mission. NSC Review Completed
Mr. Cunningham indicated that de ending on weather factors, with
the two U-2 aircraft available the requirement could be
accomplished by three successfu igz missions. '
'~' Mr. Johnson then stated that the S ecial Group member, should, be
made aw~x~._o~ th~__Tidwell/Hughes report promptly and if the decision was
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to ma e t e f ights overt, the Special Group would merely--make-note of
th_e fact, but if the recommendation was for a covert operation, the
matter should be referred to the Special Group without delaying accomplish,
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Approved For Release 2007/10/19: CIA-RDP67B00558R000100060050-9