STATUS OF OVERHEAD PHOTOGRAPHIC RECONNAISSANCE

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Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP79B01709A002600010006-8
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
T
Document Page Count: 
19
Document Creation Date: 
December 15, 2016
Document Release Date: 
February 24, 2004
Sequence Number: 
6
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
June 17, 1964
Content Type: 
MF
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PDF icon CIA-RDP79B01709A002600010006-8.pdf542.06 KB
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Approveq For Release' 25X1 25X1A 17 June 1964 SUBJECT: Status of Overhead Photographic Reconnaissance 1. Attached for discussion with COMOR on Thursday, 18 June, is a draft moYthly status report which was originally suggested as an aid to the Director of Central Intelligence by the Deputy to the Director for National Intelligence Programs Evalika`kn. The present version has been revised from a draft presented to the DCI on 18 May and subsequently approved by him as to format and content. At the same time he approved the concept of pre- paring this once a month for the advice of the members of the Board. Our plan is to prepare this for COMOR approval approxi- mately the third Thursday of each month so that it may be for- warded to USIB for its information on the last Wednesday. The timing is planned so that members of USIB and the USIB consul- tants may have this in their hands prior to the 303 Committee meeting which concerns itself with approval of photographic reconnaissance schedules. 2. The package attached lacks two or three writeups but these are comparatively short and they will be available to you on Thursday. It also lacks maps which in the loose-leaf form in which this report was given to the Director, faced-the section on targeting. Ja es Q. Reber Chairman Attachment: Subject paper Copies 2, 3 4 55 6, 7, 8,10 11, 12 13,14,15,16 17, 18 19, 20 TOP SECRET 004/04/13 : CIA-RDP79BO1709AO02600010006-8 0 State TCO DIA(Col. DIIA(Maj OACSIC CO ONI TCO AFNIN T CO NSA T CO NRO TCO I Ea 25X1A 25X1A Copy _. of 53 Approved For Release 200 gQP B0~1709A002600010006-8 NRO review(s) P CKE 25X1 2A GROUP 1 .c laded lrom ouromnr c completed. A__ __ __ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ an TOP" SE - bP79001 709AO02600010006-8 Status of Overhead Photographic Reconnaissance For the information of the Chairman, USIB, pages 6 through 24 are status reports on manned and satellite reconnaissance activities, broken down according to area or country as follows: Pages 6.to 7 Pages 8 to 9 Pages l0.to11 Pages 12:to16 Pages 17:to 18 Pages 19 to"27. Cuba Middle East Sino-Indian Border China North Korea Southeast Asia Pages 22:to 24 USSR and European Satellites Not, included World Geodetic Datum 2. Each section contains the following: a. A brief summary of the Board's action in establishing requirements for overhead photographic reconnaissance, either manned or satellite. b. 303 Committee approvals and comments. c. COMOR actions taken in pursuance of outstanding instructions or as the result of recent activity. d. A summary of targets in the area, showing priority and distribution. A map is included where appropriate. 25X6 25X1A 25MXA Approved For Reluase 2664t 13: - - TOP SECRET App ase 20 MP -ecRET_ _ A002600010006-8 1 -1 COMOR-D-72 e. A report on activity stating date of most recent coverage, extent to which requirements are being met, and comments on factors militating against meeting requirements. 3. In the case of manned reconnaissance COMOR establisles priority targets for operational planning and designates secondary targets which are to be covered insofar as it is feasible without detriment to the priority targets. 4. Satellite Reconnaissance targeting priorities are set up as follows- Extraordinary - Camera turned on each time over target during mission regardless of weather or altitude ;of;;pass. Minimum sun angle to be specified when targets are selected. Priority 1 - Camera turned on over target at least once per mission even if weather or altitude are unfavorable. Priority 2 - Point targets in Sino-Soviet Bloc and holidays* prior to J'anuary.1963".in. the ''USER. Priority 3- Point targets in North Korea and prior to Jan 1963 in China, North Korea and European Satellites. Approved For R 4/13: CIA-RDP79B017 25X1 25X1 D 2~,S% Approved or (ease 2004/04/13 : CIA-RDP7990 709AO02600010006-8 In addition, for the KH-4 and in the following order of priority, additional areas are programmed but to be used on a film available,, basis after Priority 3 above. a. Middle East c. Sino-Indian Border d. Congo e. Indonesia f. Cuba ,'Holidays are gaps in useable photographic coverage. Areas of the USSR are designated holidays when the available photography fails to meet one of the following criteria: (a) less than 50 per cent cloud-cover, June 1962 to the present, or (b) less than 50 per cent cloud-cover, January 1963 to the present. The criteria for China are that the areas must be essentially cloud free and adequately illuminated, and only photography acquired since 1 July 1963 is considered. 5. As a routine matter, as soon as any mission is completed, whether manned or satellite, COMOR reviews ?b targeting as it may have been affected by the mission in question and includes for consideration any pertinent collateral information. In summary, this process calls for- a. Deletion of targets not requiring coverage either because the requirement has been fully satisfied or its existence has been negated. b. Reduction in priority of targets that do not need immediate recoverage but cannot be dropped. 25X1A I __j 22ZX4 Approved For - nom-Ft TOP SECRET An00i,c `fJr,;1non c. Addition of new targets. d. Increase, when necessary, in priority of existing targets. In addition to study of the information derived from a specific mission and all collateral intelligence, careful consideration is given to the collection capabilities of collateral sources vis-a- vis overhead photographic reconnaissance. Furthermore, and particularly with regard to satellite reconnaissance, any new facts revealed about the collection capability of a system results in a world-wide review of all overhead photographic reconnaissance targets to ensure that optimum use of a specific capability is made in covering various types of targets. 6. As a regular matter COMOR will, after receiving the preliminary report of -each mission, assess the results in the context of how adequately requirements are being met and will report to USIB. This report will include specific recommendations on future scheduling. Approved For Rel _ii I DnfnOn1Inn n nn1 nnnr_ 8 TOP SECRET 25X1 25X1A 2V Apprloved For Reldase 0071/13 ~EIA=RDP79B01709AO02600010006-8 Board Action 1. On 2 April 1964a the Board approved: a. Coverage of the Guantanamo area once every two weeks. b. Coverage of about 90 per cent of the territory of Cuba with interpretable photography once every four weeks, the area not covered to be assessed and, if necessary, given priority the following four weeks. c. Coverage of all highest priority targets with interpretable photography at least once every four weeks with coverage of about 50 per cent of the objectives in each category once every two weeks. d. Special coverage of areas or objectives as determined by COMOR or higher authority. e. In responding to these reconnaissance requirements, at least two flights per week will be conducted to ensure the collection of information through stimulation of air defense reaction. f. COMOR to report monthly to the Board on the adequacy of coverage. 2. Subsequently on 13 April 1964b the Board approved use of 112A to cover areas most pertinent to reports on unidentified missile activity. 3. On 13 May 1964 the Board discussed further the question of the number of flights needed to accomplish the necessary coverage and directed COMOR to report to the Board every two weeks beginning TUSIB-D-41 147122 (COMDR-D-24 27) bUSIB-D-41.14/127 (COMOR-D-24/130) 6 Approved For Relea - 709AO02600010006-8 TOP SECRET 25X1 25X1A 21g m 2$X1 A ' 25X1A 25X1 25X1 D 709A002600010006-8 COMOR-D-72 CUBA Cont'_ 20 Maya This report will advise the Board as to how SAC is fulfilling existing USIB requirements for high-altitude coverage of Cuba and what further guidance, if any, USIB should provide. 4. On 18 May 1964 vote slip approval of the COMOR proposal to use Mode II in GOLDEN TREE operationsb was made final. COMOR Action 6. Maint:aizis;; daily account of targets covered and changes targets daily to meet new situations. Also reports at specified periods to the Board on status of coverage and recommends missions to meet special problems and low-level photography if the situation demands. Targeting 7. There are targets in Cuba, F-lof which are carried as highest priority, broken down as follows: 25X1 25X1 D 25X1 D 25X1 25X1A Report on Activity 8. During the first two weeks of June five GOLDEN TREE missions were flown and the USIB requirements were satisfactorily fulfilled. For the month precedin 14 June the cumulative coverage amounted to 88 per cent and all of the highest priority targets were covered at least once. 9. A preliminary review of the information obtained from the two 112A missions flown early in May and a reassessment of the intelligence needs resulted in a COMOR recommendation to recommend against further use of the 112A for the present. aUSIB-D-41 14/143 COMOR-D-24/141 bUSIB-D-41.14/130 (COMDR-D-24/l31; 7 25X1A 25X1A Approved For Rolease 4/13 : CIA-RDP79B01709A002600010006-8 25X1A Appr ved For Relea e 201I 13: IA-I P79B01709A002600010006-8 25X1A ` . I 25X1 D 1. In March 1964a COMOR pointed out that, based upon the nature of the problems in the Middle East and upon the country- by-country review of the intelligence targets, it did not believe that there is a need for a long-range program calling for periodic coverage of the Middle East objectives by U-2 quality photography 303 Comm'itt-ee Action 3. None required. COMOR Action 25X1 D Targeting 5. COMOR lists 76 U-2 targets in this area of which eight c. Watches for critical situations requiring manned overflight reconnaissance. 25X1 D 25X1A 25X1A are missile sites, 30 are airfields. b. Reviews targets after each mission. USID-M-47 . z)sc 1 -6 -T/ Approved For Relea 25X1 25X1 D 25X1 D 29 are military installations, and )1VR -1 -l-TIDE _77-V911 Z 7Ur 25X1A 229X4 25X1 D Approved For Release 2004/04/13 : CIA-RDP79BO1709AO02600010006-8 Approved For Release 2004/04/13 : CIA-RDP79BO1709AO02600010006-8 W1 ATA- RDP79B01709A002600010006-8 SINO-INDIAN BORDER 1. On 6 January 1964a the Board approved the COMOR statement of the long-range requirements for the Sino-Indian border fdr'::'guidance of Operations as well as for COMOR in the preparation of its targeting for specific operations in that area. Specifically, the Board approved quarterly coverage of the Sino-Indian border with the missions to be flown to coincide with the most favorable periods for launch of offensive operations. 2. On 26 February 1964b the Board considered a re-evaluation of needed U-2 coverage of the Far East which specified that certain areas should be covered as soon as possible. The Sino- Indian border was in that list. The Board directed that COMOR should review Sino-Indian border targets, showing recommended priority of coverage. This was done and published on 12 March 1964.c' Targeting 5. The Sino-Indian border area includes 41 targets over a 1, 500-mile area from the NEFA to the southwest corner of Sinkiang Province. These include eight airfields and 28 other military installations. Two of the airfields are targeted for KH-4 photography. aUSIB-D-41 14/93 (COMDR-D-25/66), 6 January 1964 bUSIB-D-41.14/108 (COMOR-D-25/77), 26 February 1964 cUSIB-D-41. 14/115 (COMOR-D-25/83), 12 March 1964 Approved For Relea a 004104113 CIA-RDP79 01 09A0026000 - SECRET 25X1 25X1 D 25X1 25X1 D 25X1A 25X1A 25X1 25X1 Apprri 2004 A 3 $92-lp79BO1~ 9A002600010006-8 0 Report on Activity ] COMOR-D-72 Approved For Relea a 004/04/13 CIA-RDP79B01 10006_8 25X1A AN 25X1 D Approved For Release 2004/04/13 : CIA-RDP79BO1709AO02600010006-8 Next 4 Page(s) In Document Exempt Approved For Release 2004/04/13 : CIA-RDP79BO1709AO02600010006-8 20041'Q4/1 ?E9- bP79B01709AO02600010006-8 1. On 6 January 1964'& the Board approved coverage with U-2 photography to keep abreast of the introduction of high- performanceoai.roratt and of Air Force and Naval Order; of Battle, COMOR Action b. Updates target file on the basis of immediate readout of I nd satellite reconnaissance missions, collateral reports, and when special situations arise I Targeting other military installations, targets includes 13 airfields and six Report on Activity 5, There has been no U-2 mission over North Korea since October 1963. There were a total of five U-2 missions over North Korea during 1963. USIB-D-41.14/93 (COMOR-D-25/66), 6 January 1964 Approved For Rele s 2004/04/lb : CIA-RDP79BO1709AO02600010006-8 25X1 25X1 D 25X1A 25A 25X1 D Approved For Release 2004/04/13 : CIA-RDP79BO1709AO02600010006-8 Approved For Release 2004/04/13 : CIA-RDP79BO1709AO02600010006-8 Appro 4 P S - 9A002600010006-8 0 1113 COMDR-D-7 1. The long-range programa of December 1963, dealt only with Laos, not South Vietnam and Cambodia. Coverage every two months to monitor road and rail nets, construction projects, supply depots, and major airfields was approved by the Board.b 2. On 24 February 1964c the Board approved.: a. Comprehensive coverage of South Vietnam in connection with the strategic hamlet program. b. The preparation of a study (including ark, engineering analysis of the capability of the pertinent. roads) from available photography of the road nets of concern, any important gaps to be identified for coverage in the near future. C. As;near as possible daily coverage of roads and logistic routes from North Vietnam to South. Vietnam through Laos and Cambodia, the results to be the ',subject of continuing analysis by MACV and the Washington intelligence community to determine whether the data acquired are of sufficient value to warrant continuation or modification of the program. d. Pre- and post-strike reconnaissance of 34A targets. 3. On 15 April,d to meet the crisis in Southeast Asia, the Board approved COMOR proposals as given belowe but added that a review should be made in the near future. bUSIB-D-4114791 (COMDR-I)-25T65), 30 December 1963 ~~USIB-D-41. 14/93(COMOR-D-25/66), 6 January 1964 cUSIB-D-41. 14/107 (COMOR-D-25/75), 24 February 1964 dUSIB-D-41. 14/ 128 (COMOR-D-25/88), 15 April 1964 eUSIB-D-41. 14/125 (COMOR-D-25/86), 10 April 1964 Approved For Release 2004/04/13: CIA-RDP79BO1 TOP SECRET I 25X1A 25X1 2,TS %t 2 Appro a or a ea a 200 01/13$~TA=1~T3P79B0l709A002600010006-8 SOUTHEAST ASIA (Contd) a. The photographic hamlet program coverage is now 75 per cent completed and should be finished. b. That coverage of 34A targets appears to be well along in terms of establishing base line coverage and there would remain only MACV asking for pre- or post-strike coverage as appropriate. c. Critical roads in southun Laos (12, 12A, 12B, 8, 9, 23) should be covered daily as near as possible until an assessment. d. That IDEALIST should fly no further missions at this time over North Vietnam and Laos unless CIA receives an appropriate request. 5. On 20 Mayb the Board approved the conclusions contained in COMOR's comments on an analysis made of truck traffic patterns in North Vietnam and the Communist-held portions of Laos. C Taking into account weather and other operational factors which were discussed at the Board, the recommendations would call for near daily U-2 photography of routes 7, 12, 12A, 12/AB, 12B, 9, and 23. 6. 20 LUCKEY DRAGON missions were approved for the period 1 - 30 June with the statement that these are tentative numbers depending on weather and satisfaction of stated. requirements. As noted in para 5 above, this could conceivably be, closer to 30 than 20. aUSIB4i.D-4'..14/136 (COMDR-D-25/91), 1 May 1964 USIB-D-41.14/148 (COMOR-D-25/99), 20 May 1964 CUSIB-D=41.14/147 (COMOR.-D-25/98), 19 May 1964 25X1 25X1 25X1A 2aAX4 Approved For Rele a 2004/04/13 : CIA-RDP 9P01709A002600010006-8 Appro e COMOR Action/ 7. a. Maintains a list of targets for moni- toring purposes. b. Transmits to SAC through DIA targets for specific coverage as they are notified to COMOR. Targeting 8. The targets in Cambodia, Laos, and North and South Vietnam are selected largely by MACV and CINCPAC for acquisition of tactical intelligence. The breakdown of targets in Southeast Asia are as follows: Airfields 137 Military Installations 256 Road Surveillance 90 Border Surveillance 37 Other 50 Total 570 Report on Activity 9. Between 18 May and 14 June approximately 122 and 17 LIJC DRAQGq missions were flown to collect tactical intelligence on this area. Aircraft supporting this operation were shot down on 6 and 7 June. 25X1 25X1A 25X1A 253 004 i 3 $hM-ZSROI709A002600010006-8 Approved For 113 - CIA-RDP719BO1709AO02600010006-8 TOP SECRET ApprAved For se 20 nWJP RET 8002600010006-8 Board Action 1. On 8 Maya the Board directed the firin of two Js per month with a backup of six spares at all times. At this time the Board also emphasized the need for priority coverage of China. A plan to achieve the China coverage was worked out between COMOR and NRO.b The need for the accelerated schedule was again emphasized at the Board on 21 Mayc when the importance of satellite recon- naissance to the timely production of National Intelligence Estimates was emphasized. COMOR Action Targeting 4. The KH-4 satellites designed for large area coverage are programmed for targets, are targeted for the USSR and European sate ites. In addition to installations and search area targets, the KH-4 is programmed to insure periodic coverage of all areas in the USSR and satellite countries. IT S?D-41 15/34 (COMOR-D-48/68),4 May 1964 --------------------------------- bUSIB-D-41. 14/ 144 (COMOR-D-48 /71), 14 May 1964 cUSIB-D-41. 15/36 (COMOR-D-48/72), 21 May 1964 25X1 25X1 25X1 NRO 25X1 D 25X1 D 25X1A 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2004/04/13 : CIA-RDP79BO - TOP SECRET 25X1 D Approved For Release 2004/04/13 : CIA-RDP79BO1709AO02600010006-8 Next 2 Page(s) In Document Exempt Approved For Release 2004/04/13 : CIA-RDP79BO1709AO02600010006-8