LETTER TO (SANITIZED)FROM WILLIAM E. LAWSON

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B00170R000200230005-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 23, 2008
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: June 7, 1982
• Content Type: LETTER

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7 Jun 1982
Lockheed Corporation
Burbank,. CA 91520
Dear
I sincerely appreciate the efforts of you and your company relative to
underwriting and'facilitatingdonation of U-2 serial #347 and J-57.SU
P610424 to the. Smithsonian Museum.-. This letter is authorization to
proceed with-those actions. Lockheed and-Pratt & Whitney generously
agreed to fund, preparation-and trucking.: of this historic U-2 to the
Smithsonian Garber `. facility:
Your letter of 17 March 82 adequately addresses those save list items'
the Air Force must:retain as:.spares to support current operations. I
am pleased to say.-that Det.8 has agreed to the release ' of a -tail .pipe
to accompany the. aircraft delivery. -The Air. Force feels 'the . normal
commercial liability 1nsurance($250K per truck) will adequately cover
the'-borrowed handling ;equipment .insurance requirements -wI th -the aircraft
and engine being.surplus -to Air Force needs. I believe any insurance
concern has been previously resolved.. -
Our conversations with the Smithsonian indicate a late August delivery
would-be their.first?choice; but getting the aircraft is more important
than any of-their delivery date probl ems . ' Please consider the Smithsonian
request and let me know as to the possibility of a shipping delay to late
August. If timing is critical to your funding of preparation and delivery
it should be the overriding factor. The Smithsonian. plans to place the
aircraft in a facility. at Garber which has a 30x30 foot door. The area
inside is not projected to be cleared to allow its assembly until late
August. If delivery occurs prior to facility availability they will (1)
assemble outside at delivery time and later disassemble/move in for
reassembly, or (2) simply unload and assemble at a later date inside the
b ii i di ncq . Assembly/disassembly will be far more difficult and hazardous
for Smithsonian personnel because the loaned AGE will be returned to
California on the aircraft.delivery trucks.
If the late August timing is not workable we will pursue other AGE
possibilities, such as the uuseun constructing their own devices from
or loan of NASA equipment, , later.
Si ncerely
WILLIAM E. LAWSON, III, Col, USAF
Chief, Special Projects Office
Directorate of Development V
Production.' DCS/RD&A
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Central intelligence Agency
1v'ashington, D.C. 20505
In order to finalize plans for transfer of a U-2C to the S 1i t~isoni an let ,e
briefly recap items we feel are resolved, our proposed solution to more
recent concerns of interested parties and those few actions still open.
1. Items resolved:
a. Lockheed and Pratt & Whitney will split the costs involved in preparation
and transportation of the -U-2C and J-57 Engine to the museum. (Up to $50,000
con,-?i tnent) ($45-50K estimate).
b. The delivery will be accomplished by truck and will be made to the
^i thsonian's Garber Facility.
c. The aircraft will be assembled and displayed at Garber until room is
made available 'in NASM main building.
d. Air Force will bear risk of liability insurance of shipped material
above standard commercial carrier liability lim:rit of S250K per truck. This
limit is considered sufficient to protect the borrowed support equipment
still in active use. The aircraft and engine do not warrant additional
coverage as they have been declared surplus.
e. The save-list items identified in t:r. Johnson's letter will be removed
and retained for depot stock prior to shipment. (See item:? 2.a.below).
f. The J-75 P-13B engine is unavailable and will rer:rai n so for the
foreseeable future.
Proposed solutions to other concerns:
?,1jse1.;: Fic^.J n})r"S$~'~ C .'.SC:si ~.~ rt`"^i``C a ~O:-td'tG aircr;.'. tli
:sc`rve aviation technology, s we l as r or aexh 5 { put os( s. A, i 1 Vi sabl e
of the aircraft w1l i D t_. ;fir o"II ed Ihc-- srave-1?St CGi:-(3c r{en is i V
c' nrcvidlc,- ::r_ sti I i recjl re:- Z~.s I CAS to r o rat ^~:?1 c'rcrcrt.
s u-?:.cce_ tabl e to release these as s _*s concurrent :ri ~i rcraft deli very -
but, recognizing that at some future date these items will _~ecocne surplus,
tiie proposed maintaining a shortage list at our depot and will provide these
i, us they become surplus.
Recently you requested a Baird' Ate-Iic sextant of the type used, or. the
ear ty U-2' S be obtained and provided. The sextant rii 11 be provided i f one can be
located; search is underway to locate a surplus asset for simultaneous donation.
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c. A surplus tail pipe will be provided with the aircraft as requested by
the museum. The U-2 depot will identify an asset and release it to Lockheed
for delivery as part of the donated aircraft.
d. The acquisition of a run out J-75 (lion P13-B) by the museum is a new
act ion we feel should be handled separately by the Sr ni thsoni an thru nor al
channels. Fle do caution that, in our estimation, the U-2C airframe and non
J-75 P13-b engine will not be physically compatible and will be counter to
the museum' s reputation for authenticity.
Open actions:
a. During your recent visit you expressed a need for an early July
delivery and approval for Lockheed to initiate their refurbishment and
shipping preparation. Pending establishment of a fir., delivery date, and
resolution of support problems that final date might cause, I have sent
attached letter to Lockheed, Mr. Johnson, authorizing them to initiate
refurbishment preparation for shipn.*ent.
b. In conversation with f the Smithsonian we discussed our
proposed action to resolve concerns expressed and believe he understands our
position on the save list items and J-75 engines. Discussion of timing and
physical constraints of the Garber site, plus requirement to return support
equipment to NASA on. aircraft delivery truck's return trip, may pose a signif-
icant problem in assembly of the aircraft. If delivery occurs prior to
clearing of adequate interior space in the Garber facility; the unattractive
possibility of Air and Space personnel attempting aircraft disassembly/
reassembly without proper handling equipment results. Our letter to Lockheed
suggests: a two month delay in shipping would preclude the problem entirely,
as a fall back position, you are exploring availability of handling equipment
from NASA at Wallops, or the museum may attempt to replicate necessary
devices from Lockheed drawings.
c. Concerning documentation requirements for the transfer, it appears
several possibilities exist. We will select the course meeting requirements
of AFR 210-4 but accomplishing the paper work with least pain to al 1. Any
route selected seems a formnal i ty only and no problems are expected.
Hope these actions will resolve immediate concerns of all and this
project can be moved to completion smoothly. Appreciate your support and
continued dedication.
nce-rely
L ^' :O I ` , Col, US!',F
Cn i of , Special Projects Office
Directorate of Development &
Production,
'_ Attachment
;t.:,'PJ Ltr to Lockheed
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