PROPOSED RECALL OF AGENCY U-2C AIRCRAFT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75B00159R000400010019-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 6, 2006
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: July 26, 1963
• Content Type: MF

MEMORANDUM FOR: General Carter
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DCI accepts your offer to handle.
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29 July 63
(DATE)
FORM GN 54 I O I WHICH REPLACES
MAY FORM 10-101
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Approved For Release 2006/11/08: CIA-RDP75B00159R000400010019-7
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are considered, the mediocre quality of the Cuban GCI, the relatively inferior 25x1
Cuban pilots, the excellent JCS Recall Program for the U-2 and the political
overtones involved we feel that the SAC J-57 powered U-2 is a relatively
adequate aircraft for Cuban coverage and enjoys essentially the same margin
of safe conduct that the J-75 powered U-2 has had over Cuba.
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
VIA: Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
SUBJECT: Proposed Recall of Agency U-2C Aircraft
1, This memorandum suggests action on the part of the DCI; this action
is contained in paragraph six,
2. The requirement to support SAC with J-75 powered U-Zs was based
on the possibility that the Cubans may have attempted intercept of the U-2 with
the MIG-21.
Am J In addition, when all other factors
3. We feel that. since we have now had an opportunity to better evaluate 25X1
reconnaissance program and alternately phase the Agency aircraft back to 25x1
Edwards Air Force Base,
the MIG-21 threat in Cuba
SAC can now start phasing the J-57 powered U-2 back into the Cuban
4. Colonel Steakley, of JRC, was approached on this subject and agreed
that SAC could indeed commence employing the SAC U-2 again over Cuba and
saw no reason why the J-75 powered U-2s could notbe phased back to the
Agency. He also stated that -SAC themselves would prefer to employ their own
aircraft on these missions since the SAC U-2 and systems are more compatable
with SAC's operations plans.
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5. At the present time the Agency has a total of seven U-2 aircraft
of which no more than four are available for operations. Three aircraft are
presently assigned to Barksdale Air Force Base. One of these is due for
overhaul in the next few days and is to be supplanted with the remaining U--2
aircraft at Edwards. Thus the Agency will not have operationally ready
craft until the week of 5 August. (This excludes
Depending on the extent of SAC operations over Cuba we then may have to
send this aircraft to Barksdale within a few days of its being commissioned.
The point here is that we cannot at this time provide an operationally ready
aircraft in the U. S. to deploy overseas in an emergency without recalling an
aircraft from SAC. Even then we are virtually unable to train the new pilot
at Edwards, train the new SAC tanker refueling crews or maintain proficiency
for our own pilots.
6. RECOMMENDATION:
That you approach Mr. McNamara on the subject and solicit his
concurrence in phasing the SAC aircraft back into the Cuban reconnaissance
program and alternately return the Agency's aircraft-
:-
EDWARD B. GILLS
Acting Deputy Director
(Research)