LETTER TO WILLIAM E. LAWSON, III FROM JAMES ALLEN CUNNINGHAM JR.

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B00170R000100040012-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 29, 2011
• Sequence Number: 12
• Publication Date: April 7, 1982
• Content Type: LETTER

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/29: CIA-RDP90B00170R000100040012-7
Colonel William E. Lawson,III, USAF
Chief, Special Projects Office
Directorate of Development f, Production
DCS/P.D$A
Room SD, 156
The Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20330
My apologies for taking so long to respond to your letter of 5th March,
1982. As you may have heard, the letter miscarried in the pouch between
the Pentagon and Langley and did not reach me until 17th March.
In the interim, you have heard from Kelly Johnson, under cover of 17th
March, wherein he set forth the general plan for moving U-2 serial #347
from Palmdale to Washington by truck. Thus, the question of flying the
aircraft to Andrews AFB appears to have been settled in a manner I trust
you will find acceptable. As Kelly's letter said, expenses for prepar-
ation and delivery are to be underwritten by Lockheed and P#1W, without
cost to the Air Force.
Your letter asked for the designation of a Smithsonian point of contact
in pursuing preparations for the transfer. My initial contact at the
Museum was Mr. Walter J. Boyne, Assistant Director, but 1 have been more
frequently in contact with Mr. Donald S. Lopez, Chairman, Department of
Aeronautics and his associate, Mr. Robert C. Mikesh, Curator of Aircraft,
so I would estimate that Mr. Lopez might be your best contact on a con-
tinuing basis. As far as written agreements with the Air Force Museum
Director, Mr. Lopez noted to me that in the Smithsonian's basic legis-
lation, they were granted statutory authority "to receive and preserve
excess military equipment"(20USC60, 77d and 80c), and that from his
standpoint, no formal written agreement with the Air Force Museum was
required. This point can be discussed at your convenience. I am enclosing
a copy of the business cards of Messrs. Boyne, Lopez and Mikesh, contain-
ing their local telephone numbers.
I an also enclosing a copy of a letter I received last week from Mr. Lopez,
following a conversation I had with him and Mr.Mikesh at the Museum on
29th March. This goes to the heart of a matter raised by Kelly Johnson
in his letter to you of 17th March, namely the removal from #347 of the
aircraft components mentioned in paragraph 6. The Museum much prefers that
these items remain with the aircraft for the reason they have mentioned:
the capture of the systems technology insofar as that does not imply
classified components. The Museum is also attempting to locate a run out
J-7S engine (not the P-13B modification) that might be installed in the
aircraft, so retention of the jet engine tail pipe would be preferred.
Kelly has recently said that he does not believe this particular U-2 has
the slipper tank configuration, so his statement in paragraph 7 of his
 letter would be modified to that extent. Mr. Lopez's letter also refers
to a low-key turnover ceremony at the Paul E. Garber Facility in nearby
Silver Hill, Maryland, following arrival of the aircraft and its on-
site reassembly there. Currently, a 100 X 200 foot Butler-like structure
there, known as Building 21, is being cleared out for additional aircraft
display space, and it is there that the U-2 would initially be displayed
until such time as it might be accommodated in the main National Air Ej
Space Museum Building on the Mall, several years hence as its turn comes
up to be displayed there. A suitable legend regarding the aircraft would
be displayed on a stand in front of it, along with the J-57 engine which
powered the early models. The wording of this legend would largely be
confined to serial number, date of manufacture and basic performance
characteristics, and we would work with your people and Kelly on suitable
language and statistics.
I had hoped to meet with Lt. Col. Ray Novotny of your staff this week,
but I understand he is on TDY the balance of the week. Next week I shall
be in Australia on personal business and will return to Washington on
24th April, after which I will look forward to meeting with you and your
staff in furtherance of the objective. Since the Museum prefers to receive
the aircraft in late summer, I believe we will have ample time to iron out
any possible impediments. I think you will agree that the direction in
which we are proceeding meets any possible objections that might have been
implicit in delivery options that we had proposed initially.
With best regards,
cc: Mr. Clarence L. Johnson
Senior Advisor
Lockheed Corporation
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NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM ) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Dear Mr. Cunningham:
Bob Mikesh and I enjoyed meeting with you to discuss the forth-
coming presentation of the U-2 to the National Air and Space Museum
(NASM).
While we are quite pleased with the arrangements that have been
made so far we prefer that the aircraft be delivered in as close to
an actual flight configuration as possible. That is, with all the
avionics and other equipment included, excepting of course, pyro-
technics and classified items. Although exhibits are our most visible
function we consider the preservation of aviation technology more im-
portant. This is impossible without the equipment that allows the
aircraft to perform its mission.
It will be several years before we could exhibit the U-2 in the
NASM building as our exhibits require a great deal of lead time. The
aircraft will, however, be exhibited at our Garber Facility in the
interim. We are in the process of clearing out the building at the
Garber Facility in which we would exhibit the U-2. Since that task
will not be completed until late summer we would prefer not to re-
ceive the U-2 until early fall.
The turnover ceremony would be at the Garber Facility. Our
Director or Assistant Director would officially receive the aircraft
from the designated CIA official. We will be glad to provide a photo-
grapher.
We greatly appreciate your assistance in this project. Please
call if you have any questions.
 WALTER J. BOYNE
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM WASHINGTON. D. C. 20560
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION '61 X357-1745
DONALD S. LOPEZ
CHAIRMAN -
DEPARTMENT OF AERONAUTICS
ROBERT C. MIKESH
CURATOR OF AIRCRAFT
AERONAUTICS
NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM WASHINGTON. D. C. 20060
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 202.3tr- -
357- X's,/6.
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