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

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B00170R000100040017-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 29, 2011
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: March 5, 1982
• Content Type: LETTER

DEPARTMENT OF THE AIR FORCE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
WASHINGTON. DC.
Dear Mr. Cunningham
I am very pleased that transfer of a U-2C to the Smithsonian is ongoing,
especially since I have been in contact with museum personnel for two years
relative to this project. Apparently you are moving rapidly, so I want to
reiterate our understanding of some ground rules, recap some actions initiated
as a result of your meeting with Ray Novotny, list some unresolved items, and
state our view of the direction the project is being moved.
1. Ground Rules:
a. Transfer/donation must be accomplished at no cost to the Air Force.
b. We must retain the J-75 engine for the active fleet.
c. Proper loan/donation agreements must be executed between AF Museum
and Smithsonian Directors.
d. Transfer must be effected such that there is no risk of the event
deteriorating into an embarrassment to the Air Force, CIA or Lockheed.
a. Contact has been made with the AF Museum Director, who has agreed to
process appropriate loan/transfer agreements.
b. We are waiting for designation of the Smithsonian point of contact in
order to pursue preparations.
3. Unresolved:
a. Commitments for cost underwriting by Lockheed, P&W, etc.
b. Timing of transfer.
c. Method of transportation.
d. Specifics of turnover ceremony.
e. Manner in which Smithsonian will display aircraft.
 I am highly concerned that this project be carried out in a way that precludes
any hint of waste by either the government or Lockheed. We are currently
involved with serious upheavals of the TR-1 (U-2R) program as a result of
cost increases which are unacceptable to a large segment of the Air Force.
The TR-1 is a powerful weapons system in either the surveillance role or PLSS
role. Neither the Air Force, Lockheed nor the Agency should do anything to
jeopardize procurement of these valuable aircraft. Certainly none of us who
have nurtured the U-2 program should allow ourselves to get in the ironic
position of hurting production of follow-on U-2's (TR-1). Unless we carry
out the museum project with the lowest possible expenditure of funds we may
well open the charge that the contractor is overpricing new TR-1 aircraft to
help pay for gold-plated public relations schemes. Preliminary figures seem
to indicate trucking will be the least expensive/most convenient means of
transportation.
We'll keep plugging along on this. Meanwhile we're ready to meet with you
any time you wish.
WILLIAM E. LAWSON, III, Col, USAF
Chief, Special Projects Office
Directorate of Development &
Production, DCS/RD&A
oc elation
Burbank, California 91520