STATUS OF COMUSMACV USE OF U-2 PHOTOGRAPHY IN SAIGON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B05708A000500070008-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 18, 2014
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: January 17, 1964
• Content Type: MEMO

NPIC ROUTING SLIP
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/03/18: CIA-RDP78B05708A000500070008-4
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NM= VIA DINEAN CONTROLS
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SUBJRCT
17 January 1964
FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
Status of COMUSMACV Use of 0.-2 Photography in Saigon,
(a) Headquarters OUT cable Spectre 1704, 13 January 1964
(b) Saigon 3775, 14 January 1964
(e) Saigon 3824, 16 January 1984
1. This memorandum bs for your information concerning the
recent support which has been given COMESMACV for using the U-2 photography
recently acquired from the area and an assessment of MACV's
capability to make maxtmUm use of it.
2. With the receipt of film from the first two HANDSAW missions,
flown with the 112A camera on 29 and 30 December, the following actions,
coordinated by COMOR, were initiated:
a. Immediate Photo Interpretation Reports (IPIRs) from XPIC
were cabled to MACV and COS, Saigon. From these advanced reports, *ACV
was able to review target requirements and make specific requests to
MPIC for enlargements. Thirty.-nine such enlargements, each with a PI
report attached, have been sent to Saigon.
, b. In the meantime, arrangements were made to duplicate the
entire take of the film from these two missions, and eleven crates,
consisting of one duplicate positive and one duplicate negative, were
shipped directly from Westover and arrived Saigon by special courier
on 8 January 1964. Some additional equipment, purchased locally by
Air Force, was airlifted along with the film.
c. Personnel support for the MACY effort has been sugnented
by the transfer of eight technicians, four of whom are photo interpreters,
from the Air Force 67th Recce Tech Squadron in Japan.
OVE-21667-.64
Copy W.14., of copies
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HANDLE VIA BUMS CONTROLS
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d. Duplicate film of the entire take from the third
elision flown on 8 January 1964 was also dispatched by special courier
to Saigon. COMOSMACV has not yet requested enlargements for specific
targets from this mission.
3. It appears to be the opinion of DIA and other military
officials here that about all the support possible has been gives
COMOSMACV for maximum use of the latest photography. Informatics from
Saigon via our own channels, however, presents quits a different
*tory.
4. In response to ten specific questions cabled (by Ref. A)
to the Salve station an 13 January (after the augmeatation mentioned
in paragraph 2 c above), the INC representative permanently assigned
to the station hes outlined in Ref. B an assessment of the MACV photo
intelligence capabilities. This cable was followed by ovservatioom, as
reported in Ref. C. of an WIC representative who is travelling in the
area. In summary, the two cables point out that (a) the tobal MACV
photo intelligence effort is split among several units in Salome, which
in itself precasts some condusion, (b) capabilities for coping with the
photography are limited, both in personnel and equipment, (c) personnel
available are inexperienced and the technicians on TDT from Japan, who
beadle the initial MACV requirements, are also instructing the assigned
Personnel in the mac of material and equipment, (d) MACV lacks the necessary
espablIttlee for furnishing adequate PI support for monnterinsurgemcy
activities, (e) the Saigon station, with only one photo interpreter
assigned, at present is the only sellable and rapid mares of SW
photography for MACV and Is now furnishing the aeomumary photography In
support of Operatioes Plans 34A and 34B, and (f) MACV facilities,
equipment and perscemal are inadequate to beadle effectively the material
free the three HANDSAW missions which have been rushed to Seisms, and it
is estimated that it will be another six months or a year before the units
involved will be capable of functioning with any degree of efficiency.
A. Reeemmendatices to Headquarters in Ref. C cable from Saigon
are premeatly under study by NPIC and other Agency components.
6. This memorandum has outlined some of the existing problems which
obviously must be solved before COMUSMACV can make full use of the
photography which is already available. Reccemeedations pertaining
to these problems are presented In a separate memorandum for Neer
consideration.
R. JACK smom
Acting Deputy Director (Iatiallie000)
HANDLE VIA SYRIAN CONTROLS
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