DATA ON BLUE SPRING PHOTOGRAPHY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B05708A000500050006-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 18, 2014
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: September 30, 1964
• Content Type: MEMO

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/03/18: CIA-RDP78B05708A000500050006-8
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PAG/M-857-64
30 September 1964
MEMORANDUM FOR: :Chief, Collection Guidance Staff,.DDI/CIA
SUBJECT: Data on BLUE SPRING Photography
1. In response to. your request for certain information re-
lated to the BLUE SPRING photographic reconnaissance program, the
following is submitted:
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a. The quality of the BLUE SPRING photography has
varied from mission to mission. The first. mission received
by NPIC was almost completely impaired by weather, however,
the portions that were discernible are considered equal
to poor quality U-2 photography. The second mission was
considerably bQ;4ter from a weather standpoint, however,
some exposure dna/or processing problems were experienced.
One roll was extremely dark, the other roll extremely light.
Poor imagery was also apparent on that mission. The third
mission was approximately 99 per cent cloud covered. Ap-
proximately 5 exposures were over water and a similar number
over land were observed with the water exposure appearing
relatively sharp. Land exposures were hampered by haze.
Once again this quality is similar to. poor quality 11-2
coverage. The last mission generally was somewhat better
than the previous three, however, atmospheric conditions
did hamper interpretation.
b. It has taken two to three days for the BLUE SPRING
missions to reach NPIC. Mission 5015 was flown 20 August,
received 21 August; Mission 5006, flown 3 September, received
5 September; Mission 5021, flown 21 September, received 23
September; Mission 5020, flown 25 September, received 27 and
28 September. Some discrepancies in field reporting have
been noted by NPIC and corrections haire been made via cable.
Particularly deficient have been AOB and NOB reporting.
c. All missions received thus far have been processed '
by the Third Air Division, Anderson Air Force Base, Guam,
utilizing Eastman Kodak Versimat processing equipment.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/03/18 : CIA-RDP78B05708A000500050006-8
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/03/18: CIA-RDP78B05708A000500050006-8
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SUBJECT: Data, on BLUE SPRING Photography
d. A total of 651 feet of film was received on mission
5015; 645 feet received on mission 5006; 661 feet received
on mission 5021; and 672 feet received on mission 5020. As
of this date, a total of seven missions have been flown and
four successful recoveries.
e. Two of the'three unsuccessful missions were launched
from Bien Hga, South Vietnam, for recovery at Dan Nang, South
Vietnam. The four successful missions and one unsucessful
mission were launched from Kadena, Ikinawa, and rec9vered
at Taiwan. Thee missions have been scheduled to cover
North Vietnam and Southeast China,
? f. The original negative is not used generally in the
. interpretation process. Availability of the original negative
enhances the production of briefing boards and duplicate
materials but is not critical to immediate interpretation
/' process.
Distribution:
1 CGS/CIA/DDI
1 - PAG/NPIC
vl - IPO/PAG/NPIC
1 - GMD/PAG/NPIC
1 -.DIAXX-2 .
1 - CIA/PID (NPIC)
Assistant for Photographic Analysis, NPIC
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/03/18: CIA-RDP78B05708A000500050006-8