U-2CS TO NACA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP74B00681R000100190007-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 17, 2006
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: January 22, 1971
• Content Type: MFR

Approved For Release 2006/03/15: C1 -RDP74BI
U-_/a,//YF-k
0681R000100190007-5
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NRO review(s) completed.
NASA review(s) completed.
SUBJECT: U-2Cs to NACA
1. Major Hoffman of the NRO Staff called me at the
request of Dr. Naka to ascertain the validity of a proposed
response by NASA should a question be raised by the press
regarding Gary Powers' employment by NACA. The response
proposed would say, "As you know Gary Powers claimed as
part of his cover that he worked for NACA. This was later
denied by the White House." I called to Major Hoffman's
attention the fact that Gary Powers did not claim he worked
for NACA but rather this stemed from a press statement by
Walt Bonney (NACA's public relations officer) immediately
following the loss of Powers' aircraft but before we knew
the outcome of the downing. I related the events surrounding
the shoot down and the role of the White House, NACA and
State Department's press officers.
2. I suggested to Major Hoffman that NASA review the
minutes of the Hearing before the Senate's Foreign Relations
Committee on 1 June 1960 when Hugh Dryden of NACA called to
Congress' attention that NACA did indeed do legitimate air
weather research and, in fact, three unclassified reports
were published based on U-2 gathered information.
3. Major Hoffman said he would be in touch with NASA
and suggest that they gather the background relative to the
Hearings and what NACA said following the shoot down. Further,
the proposed release and answers would be coordinated between
the NRO, NASA, OSA and the 40 Committee.
hAT
EkE COPY
Dist:
1 - A/DD/S&T 3 - DD/OEL
2 - D/OSA 4 - OEL Re
MCMAHON
Director of ELINT
DD/S&T
OEL:DD:JNMcMahon (22 January 1971)
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