PROPOSAL FOR COLLECTION OF ADDITIONAL H-CAMERA PHOTOGRAPHY IN INDOCHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B01709A001400030036-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 14, 2012
• Sequence Number: 36
• Publication Date: December 18, 1999
• Content Type: MF

cr, ,1O.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/14: CIA-RDP79B01709AO01400030036-5
11 April 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR: Special Assistant for Vietnam Affairs
SUBJECT Proposal for Collection of Additional
H-Camera Photography in Indochina
1. This memorandum summarizes our 9 April discussion
on the need for additional test and assessment of the U-2 H-camera
photographic capability in the Indochina theater. Paragraph 4 below
recommends that action be initiated to obtain approval for the additional
tests .
2. Two U-2 H-camera missions were flown for test purposes
on the coastal periphery of North Vietnam on 30 and 31 March.. - The .
purpose of the flights was. to evaluate the feasibility of obtaining
usable photography a significant distance inland along the NVN
coast through the use of a special long focal length.camera
designated as an "H" configuration...
3. The two test missions demonstrated the feasibility of round-
robin operation of the U-2 aircraft from Taiwan. However, the photog-
raphy obtained was seriously, degraded by weather conditions, primarily
haze, to a degree which precluded a fair evaluation of its value and
potential--if haze were absent--against national imagery objectives
in the area. On the other hand, it is fair to say that when con-
siderable haze is present--as is frequently the case in this region--
the imagery obtainable even with the powerful "H". camera may turn
out to be of only marginal value. It also has been determined that
the quality of the film from the two test flights was degraded as a
result of sub-standard processing. Action has been taken to insure
against recurrence of this problem.
SET
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/14: CIA-RDP79B01709AO01400030036-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/14: CIA-RDP79B0l709A001400030036-5
4. The weather conditions for. HT-camera photographic:
op;-.rations off North Vietnam should begin to improve: i.n. the
coming ?'e.e scs. It is proposed, there.fore, that action he inlt.raierl
at this time to request approval for another test of the system in the
near future. The test would involve the same objectives and ground
1-Liles as the previously approved flights, but would be geared
specifically to good weather conditions. An assessment of the results
of this test should provide a basis for judgment as to whether the
H-camera capability should be employed on a regularly programmed
basis to satisfy some portion of our photo-coverage requirements in
southeast Asia, The Director, OSA, concurs in this proposal.
5. Recommendation: It is recommended that approval for
such a further test be requested.
Roland S. Inlow
Distribution
Addressee
Mr. Walsh
/O ER
D/OSA
Exec Dir/NPIC
U-2 file
Chrono
,SF.( P rT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/08/14: CIA-RDP79B0l709A001400030036-5