OPERATIONAL USE OF LIGHTNING BUG

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79B01709A002100070003-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 17, 2012
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: December 24, 1963
• Content Type: MF

294
2` Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/17: CIA-RDP79B01709A002100070003-0
24 December1963
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chairman, United States Intelligence Board
.SUBJECT:
ELINT collection against the SA-2 missile system. I was advised by
the NRO representative on COMOR, that the D/NRO had 25X1
decided not to brief the COMOR on the improved LIGHTNING BUG until
after he had briefed the Director of Central Intelligence some time in early
January.
Operational Use of LIGHTNING BUG
Memo from D/NRO to Chairman, USIB on
above subject, dated 13 December 1963;
1. This memorandum contains a recommendation in paragraph 4.
2. Executive Secretary of USIB, provided a copy of the 25X1
reference to me. At the meeting of COMOR on 17 December and in pursuance
of the second paragraph of the reference, I discussed with COMOR the need
to prepare a recommendation for the Board to reaffirm the requirement for
head reconnaissance. This would permit COMOR to corn lete its staff work,
which in this instance would be reaffirmation of as the target or a 25X1
recommendation for coverage of an alternate.or even that there may be no
substantive need at all at this time. It appears that in view of the D/NRO
decision, this will not be possible.
3. I would normally expect that COMOR would be briefed prior to
any briefing of USIB on a matter directly related to a requirement for over-
that you request Dr. McMillan to have COMOR briefed on the improved
I mendation for the Board by the time the Director is briefed, I recommend
4. Recommendation: If you wish COMOR to be ready with a recom-
LIGHTNING BUG capability as soon as pso Bible
James Q. Reber
Chairman
Committeb o Overhead Reconnaissance
DCI
DDCI
DDI
CIA COMOR Member
5 DDS&T
6 AD/OSA
7, 8,9 SA(COMOR)/DDS&T
25X1 _-E xe Sec/USIB
I Excluded tram a tanzatEe:
Copy 1
2
3
4
Copy rI of 10
douu : a ina and
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/17: CIA-RDP79B01709A002100070003-0
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/17: CIA-RDP79B01709A002100070003-0
TOP
25X1
'CT:
28AUG1963
tU FOjL*. Dir?ct.w *4l# al Rec**m&iss*aece t
LHT BUG
25X1
then la Cuba and bale proposed O IC Ryon
(14Th} dreaaa* -ed YA-th LMT *ofecilon *Td "at and labeled LIGHTN
RUG, os 13 Dc*=Om 1%2 the wed States lat.Iligeaco board directed that
T,u BUG matala to a ewe of relo readiness for future
as*. Since that tla the Air Para has a fled We 4ron., enhancing its
a tdt a cs y Oat a rdl it alga aeporsd l altitn a above 0# 000 feet.
yotem have been rea l dd la greater detail.
time CQM 's Xla re e* s for EL'I` against the &A -Z
No --,.. trupy V1 __-
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/17: CIA-RDP79B01709A002100070003-0
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/17: CIA-RDP79BO1709AO02100070003-0
TO SECRET
ear
,e oporati a-UX ready. reitaa tg, we plan to Warm
he capabutty Order tbtt COM can review the #Y)wt*m
t its mtau(m of the operational con-
(Signed) Jack C. Ledford
,JACK C. T ZD7 I)
C440001 USAF
*ckw,, P
A7XOPR
CoL Lloyd Ryas
Distribution:
CopyI --D/NRO
Copy 2 - - AFXOPR / CoL Ryan
Copy 3 -- OEL/DD/S&T
Copy 4 -- SA/DD/S&T
Copy 5 -- D/FA/OSA
Copy 6 -- D/TECH/OSA
Copy 7 - - AD / OSA
Copy 8 -- PS/OSA
Copy 9 ~I+D/OSA
l
+1 F C Jl y//~/ S f
ID/OSA pgs (26Aug63)
TOP SECRET
25X1
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/02/17: CIA-RDP79BO1709AO02100070003-0