CRITIQUE OF MISSION (Sanitized) 171

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP66B00664R000300080095-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 26, 2003
• Sequence Number: 95
• Publication Date: September 6, 1963
• Content Type: MEMO

OPTIONAL FORM NO. 10
5010-104 p~ Z1II-RDP66BOO664ROOO3OOO8OO95-6
UNITED %2003/1
2tX1A
b. The pilot deviated from point 00 ecause of
low fuel. His fuel was 86 gallons below uns , and 150
gallons below the handbook curve. This has since been
determined to have been caused by leaving the gear down
for most, if not all, of the mission. A message has been
sent requestin a re-cap of SOP's and check lists used by
the pilot. as also been asked to forward any pro-
cedures they use to prevent inadvertent or incorrect
positioning of the gear, flaps and speed brakes. They
have also been asked what cross-check items they use to
determine whether or not any components, such as the gear
or speed brakes,'are in the wrong position. This item is
closed as far as this critique is concerned, however, it
remains an open item for continuing emphasis on all future..
missions..
c. The mission penetrated at 64 500 feet, whereas the
plan penetration altitude was 66,006 feet. The tape re-
cording of-the briefing showed that the pilot was briefed
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Memorandum.
171
IDEA 1489
Copy : of
DATE: ember 1963
D/FA/OSA
SS/OSA
IDEA/OD/OSA
S/OSA
D/TECH/0
D/OSA
S/OSA
CS/OSA
SA
2. covered the operations portion of this
mission c i .
FROM : C/IDEA/OD
SUBJECT: Critique of Mission
a. With the exception of the one deviation noted later,
the route was flown as briefed without significant deviation.
The track made good, closely approximated the briefed track.
Members present
X1A
'25X1A
Members absent: MD/OSA
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to enter at "approximately 67,000 feet". At 64,500 feet
the pilot should have.sensed something was wrong, prevent-
ing him from pnterina at his briefed altitude. A message
25X1A has been sent outlining the minimum penetration
altitude requirements, and the tolerances which may be
allowed because of temperature variations. The mission
plan message will specify the minimum desired penetration
altitude for any given mission. Plus or minus 500 feet
has been given as the tolerance. Item closed.
25X1A d. The ad too few points to accurately
d" +-'k
.nl Al- the a,k, ere re e reporte Zn e
hich were brie a points on c i On hat
25X1A
25X1A
that #s, po n
This is possible, but unlikely. T nfusion here
arises mainly in interpretation of 25X1A
the Reports Control Manual. A message w 25X1A
reminding them of the need for sufficient points to
accurately plot the mission route as flown, and also to
specify that points must be plotted where a change of
camera operation, weather conditions or a track deviation
occurs.
plan. It has been confirmed by a message
these points were projected from intermediate p o ,
and were given as best points to plot since they were
at the end of straight line segments. The location of
l37 Several
two points in the were incorrect.
changes occurred according to
i is outlined in the mission plan message.
Item closed.
e,; The flight line paragraph was
in error. Incorrect letters were used. This was correct-
ed prior to the flight. It will be an item of continuing
emphasis in the flight planning process in the. future.
f. Midway in the planning process, it was determined
that the C-130 requested through Honolulu would not be
available due to a hold on all C-130's in the Pacific
area. After a series of message exchanges between Head-
quarters and Honolulu, the Detachment 2 C-118 was used.
It took considerable coordination here at Headquarters.
In the future it is proposed that, in anticipation of
the nonavailability of C-130 aircraft, we ask Ionolulu
for "suitable airlift", rather than specify C-130. This
will give them an option. If they are in doubt as to
the definition of suitable aircraft, it is, proposed that
a C-118 or similar four engine aircraft be specified.
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6.4
3. Weather was covered by
a. There was a close correlation between the briefed
weather and the actual weather encountered. The pilot
report was slightly more pessimistic than the actual
weather from the tracker.
b. Several weather changes coincided with briefed
points. This item will be corrected by Operations.
c. At this time the estimate of the percent of
success on the mission was discussed. Up until now,
we have been using the percent of the total route which
was in relatively clear weather. In the future we will
use as a guide line, the percentage of targets and target
areas covered and photographed in category or better
weather. We must allow for a judgement factor whenever
large targets,such as the North Vietnam border area,
are concerned. 'This item is open for coordination be-
tween weather and Intel.
he Intelligence aspects of this mission were covered by
,e, iscussed how the Intelligence Division
determines 1e suspect SAM site positions. This discussion
was not necessarily germane to the critique, so it will be
passed here.
f. See paragraph 3.c. above, for Intelligence coordi-
nation with weather for the estimate of mission success.
25X1A
25X1 D
SECRET
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5. Since Materiel Division was represented, the air-
craft and engine discrepancies from are innumer-
ated without comment.
a. The interim trim was inoperative for fifteen minutes
during the first forty minutes of flight.
b. The equipment bay pressure fluctuated approximately
1000 feet at two minute intervals during the entire flight.
c? The cabin pressure was 36,000 feet, at an aircraft
altitude of 40,000 feet with the power in the idle position
in descent.
25X1A
6. The Communications aspects were discussed byl 25X1A
25X1D
a. All systems are reported to have operated satisfactorily.
.d, has been advised of the gear down
condition on s ght, and he is seeking possible
7.
reported on the camera operation.
aa. There were no reported camera problems for this
2 5X1A
mission.
b. The programmer in the B configuration is suspected
to be the next link in the system. There is an engineering
change proposal in progress now to cure this.
C. reco 130 film
and the two spee shutter it will.
have to be used with high estion re-
mains now, how high must the sun angle be, and what are
as a system, is recommended
the operating limits treated this
elsewhere.
that this item be tseparate
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It'll
the conclusion of the individual presentations,
25X1A I Ireviewed briefly how the reports of the critiques
wou no Atributed. Each person who participates, or is to
participate in the critique will receive a copy of the critique
report. Each of these persons probably will have items which
must be reported on, after the critique. The Chief of the
Operations Division is to be notified whenever any corrective
action has been taken on items which are brought up in the
critiques.
Lt. Colonel -USAF
IDEA/OD/OSA
Distribution:
#1 - C/OD/OSA
#2 - D/FA/OSA
#3 - WS/OSA
#4 ID/OSA
#5 - CS/OSA
#6 - D/TBCH/OSA
#7 MD/OSA
#8 - SS/OSA
#9 - IDEA/OD/OSA
25X1A
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