CONVERSATION WITH GENERAL CABELL ON 15 MAY 1959 CONCERNING LOCATION OF ZI BASE FOR EAOB AIR ASSETS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81B00880R000100450005-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 20, 1999
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: May 20, 1959
• Content Type: MFR

a
25X1A
SECRET
20 May 1959
Approv, F r : CIA-RDP81 B 80R000100450Ma-3=-`--
DD/P S!_.7
MEMORANDUM FOR: The Record
SUBJECT : Conversation with General Cabell on 15 May 1959
Concerning Location of ZI Base for EAOB Air Assets
REFERENCE : Memorandum for Deputy Director (Plans) from Deputy
Director of Plans, DCS/P&P, Headquarters Air Force,
dated 12 May 1959; subject: "Relocation of CIA
Air Assets from Wiesbaden, Germany to the United
States."
25X1A
1. In the temporary absence of Colonel Burke, I was called to
General Cabell's office for a meeting on the afternoon of 15 May 1959?
Colonel Leo P. Geary, USAF, was also present. In the course of a
discussion on numerous topics, I had occasion to inquire of General
Cabell if he was aware of the fact that an answer, in the form of
the referenced document, had been received from the Air Force on the
subject of a suitable ZI base for EAOB assets. General Cabell said
that he was not aware that our request for selection of a base, made
on 20 April 1959, had been answered.
2. I told him then that it was General Martin's view that our
requirement might most easily be met at
25X1 A since the was about to enter on a phaseout
of certain test activities that would provide a CIA detachment with
the necessary room to operate. General Cabell then asked on what
basis the Air Force picked over other Air Force bases where
room might exist. I said that General Martin's argument in favor of
25X1A - seemed to me to pivot on the experience of the base there with
the particular electronics maintenance and supply problems implicit
25X10 in the Such experience, I said, was not readily available
at any other Air Force base. I added that conversations with Air
Materiel Command on locating at one of their bases had resulted in a
recommendation that AMC not become involved, and that General Martin's
paper had cited this recommendation as the reason why Brooks Air
Force base had not been actively considered.
3. General Cabell then said that it sounded to him as though
this line of reasoning was not to the point, and that instead of
pivoting the eventual location of the U. S. detachment on factors
,SECRET T^-:
25X1A
Approved For Release 2000/04/18 : CIA-RDP81B00880R0 0005-9
 25X1 C
like electronics maintenance of the the air transport capabi-
lity of.the detachment should in his view govern where it was set
down. He added that he envisioned the bulk of our requirements for
an air capability to respond to international disturbances would
center around our ability to pick up and deliver men and materiel,
and that it made the best kind of sense to him to have the transport
aircraft near the depot where the things to be carried would be locatei:.
In this context, General Cabell said that he felt Kelly Air Force
Base (and Depot) would be an ideal location. He then said when 25X1A
told that our next move looked like a survey trip to iiiii that he
would insist that any such survey be accompanied by a like survey
of Kelly, unless the Air Force could give him "about a hundred good
Air Force reasons why Kelly should be eliminated from consideration."
I told him that I would see that his views were reflected to those
who would be planning the survey, both in our Headquarters and in
Air Force Headquarters. I told General Cabeli that I felt cover
25X1 A would be less of a problem - than anywhere in Texas, but he
did not agree.
Approved For Rase 2000/04/18: 1 3 0 , 1
Distribution:
e- DD/P
2 - A/Ch/DPD
3 - Ch/Ops/DPD
4 - Ch/Mat/DPD
5 - Ch/Fin/DPD
6 - Ch/Sec/DPD
7 - Ch/Pers/DPD
8 - Ch/Cover/DPD
9 & 10 - Admin/DPD
11 - RI/DPD
DPD-DD/P: JAC/sb
25X1A
Approved For Release 2000/04/18 : CIA-RDP81 B00880R000100450005-9
SECRET,