'H' CAMERA PHOTOGRAPHY OF NORTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80B01495R001300070030-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 10
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 3, 2008
• Sequence Number: 30
• Publication Date: April 13, 1973
• Content Type: MF

~Gl~1
Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80B01495R001300070030-1
ONiR(1l SYSTEM.
NATIONAL RECONNAISSANCE OFFICE
WASHINGTON, D.C.
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR
13 April 1973
MEMORANDUM FOR: Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs
Depiity Secretary of Defense
Under Secretary of State for
Political Affairs
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
Director of Central Intelligence.
SUBJECT: "H" Camera Photography of North Vietnam
1. The attached document is a proposal to use an IDEALIST
U-ZR th obtain standoff photography- of coastal North Vietnam.
Z. Higher authority approved a re(1uest of the Washington
.Special Action Group, Working Group C, to test the capability of the
hotography of North Vietnam.
11H" camera to obtain high resolution p 25X1
Subsequently, this mission was accomplished by a U-2
However, the haze and cloud conditions encountered during this in the transitional weather period, combined a1The feasib 1 y offlm
processin , produced less than optimum
operating was demonstrated as well as the capability
of the "11'' camera to oain coverage of significant portions of the
North Vietnamese coastal areas.
NSC review completed - unredacted segments may be
declassified r _,T
Impossible to Determine
NRO review(s)
completed.
ar9d:
TCP SECS
Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80BO1495R001300070030-1
25X1
2oA]
 Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80BOl 495RO01 300070030-1 BYE AN
CONTROL SYSTEM
3. It is felt that two additional flights should be flown with
better weather conditions to provide a realistic and valid test of the
capability of the "Ii" camera to obtain standoff photography of North
Vietnam.
4. It is requested that the 40 Committee approve two flights
to verify the capability of the "H" camera for this application.
25X1
NRO
John c ucas-
Attachment - 1
Proposal Book
HANDI F. VIA
L B k~YN NWd
TOP SECRET
Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80BO1495R001300070030-1
 Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80BO1495R001300070030-1 BYEMAN
Distribution:
1 - Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs
2 - Deputy Secretary of Defense
3 - Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs
4 - Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff
5 - Director of Central Intelligence
6 - Executive Secretary, 40 Committee
7 - Director, National Reconnaissance Office
8 - Joint Reconnaissance Center
9 - Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
10 - Director, CIA Reconnaissance Programs
11 - Deputy Director for Intelligence
12 - Asst. to DDCI
13 - Special Group Officer, DDO
14 - Special Group Officer, DDS&T
15 - C/DDI/SRS
16 - Chairman, COMIREX
17 - SAVA (Mr. Carver)
18 - FE/China/DDO
19 - D/O/OSA
20 - SAS/O/OSA.
21 - INTEL/O/OSA
22 - IDEA/O/OSA
23 - D/ M/ OSA
24 - RB/ OSA
BYE `1MAN TOP SECRET
EXCLUDED i ROM AUTOMATIC RFGRAUING
25X1
25X1
CONTROL SYSTEM
Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80BO1495R001300070030-1
 Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80BO1495R001300070030-1
"1H" CAMERA
PHOTOGRAPHY OF
NORTH VIETNAM
NSC review completed - unredacted segments may be
declassified
Handle, Via
BYEMAN TOP SECRET
Control System Only
GROUP I EXCLUDED FROM
AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
AND DECLASSIFICATION
Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80BO1495R001300070030-1
 ran c`c/^DCT
Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80BO1495R001300070030-1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. JUSTIFICATION
II. OPERATIONAL CONCEPT
III. AIR DEFEN:IE ANALYSIS
IV. CLIMATOLOGY
V. MAP
" TOP SECRET
IiYEMAN
Control System 0n1 y
G IM PI EXCIUDID FROM
AUTOMAII C DOWNGRADING
AND D1CIAS51F1CAUION
Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80BO1495R001300070030-1
 TP'1n CCr"fCT
Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80B01495R001300070030-1
The Washington Spc cial Action Group, Working Group C, has
directed the development of photographic requirements for Indochina
subsequent to the cease fire agreement.
Part of this is a priority requirement for high resolution
photography of the North Vietnamese coastal areas. Since overflight
of North Vietnam is prohibited, an IDEALIST U-ZR with the ttH" camera
represents a flexible, responsive capability to obtain this coverage.
This mission, to evaluate the capability of the "H" camera
system to obtain this photography, has been requested by the ',,'SAG,
Working Group C.
Page 1
Hondle Via GROUPI rxCLUULN FROM
Ti~.ilDP SECRET AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
[3YEf.1AIJ l4 AND o[cLnSiFlcnrioN
Control System Only
Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80B01495R001300070030-1
 TC)P SFC"PFT
Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80BO1495R001300070030-1
II. OPERATIONAL CONCEPT
The aircraft will fly a low altitude departure route similar
to normal low flight training missions
the aircraft will remain at low altitude and depart the area
Other techniques are used to reduce visual or radio
detection of the aircraft
The photographic flight lines will be plannc -! to provide coverage
of North Vietnamese coastal areas
25X15X1
Page 2
Handle Via
BYFMAN
Control System Only
TOP SECRET
GROUPI EXCIUDED FROM
AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
AND DLcLASSIFICATION
Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80BO1495R001300070030-1
 Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80BO1495R001300070030-1
III. AIR DEFENSE ANALYSIS
U-2 aircraft operating over the Gulf of Tonkin can expect
continuous and accurate radar tracking by North Vietnam and Chinese
forces.
The mission aircraft will remain in international airspace
and all flights will be plan) e:d to avoid the lethal range of known SA-2
missile sites. Inadvertent overflight of an unidentified SAM unit
could pose a threat to the aircraft. However, on board defensive
systems and tactics are considered adequate to insure survivability.
North Vietnamese MIG-21 aircraft are not considered to be a
significant threat to U-Z's flying at mission altitude.
Page
Handle Via f
BYFMAN TOP SECRET L
Control System Only
GROUP I EXCLUDED FROM
AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
AND D[CI ARSIFICATION
Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80BO1495R001300070030-1
 Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80BO1495R001300070030-1
IV. CLIMATOLOGY
A. GENERAL:
The transition period to a southwest monsoon begins in April
and becomes southwest by the end of May. Low level winds in early
April tend to be unorganized but prevail from the southwest by months
end. A more westerly surface trajectory or a weakening of the east
wind component tend to decrease coastal cloudiness in late March
and April.
B. CLOUDINESS:
Mean cloudiness is near 80 percent in April. As a general
rule, cloudiness is greatest near the coast during this month being
heaviest north of 19? N. Aircraft flying at high altitudes would be
expected to encounter clear to scattered conditions at individual
targets on 2 to 5 days north of 19? N, and on 6 to 10 days south of 19? N.
page 4
Handle Via
BYEMAN
Control System Only
TOP SECRET
GROUP I C%C IUDED FROM
AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
AND DECLASSIFICATION
Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80BO1495R001300070030-1
25X1
 25X1 Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80BO1495R001300070030-1
Next 1 Page(s) In Document Denied
Approved For Release 2008/01/03: CIA-RDP80BO1495R001300070030-1