Documents / Official release

CIA-UAP-003, The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance; The U-2 and OXCART Programs, 1954-1974

Central Intelligence Agency · 1954 · 406 pages · text from the file's own layer

This is a Secret History Staff monograph by Gregory W. Pedlow and Donald E. Welzenbach of the Central Intelligence Agency, published in 1992. It gives a history of the CIA's manned overhead reconnaissance program from 1954 to 1974, covering the development and operation of the U-2 and the A-12 OXCART aircraft. It covers overflights of the Soviet Union, the 1960 downing of Francis Gary Powers, and later operations. One section is titled "U-2s, UFOs, and Operation BLUE BOOK."

From the source:Release of 2026-06-12 This CIA History Staff document chronicles the complete history of the U-2 and OXCART (A-12) high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft programs from 1954 to 1974, detailing their development, operations over the Soviet Union and other targets worldwide, the famous downing of Francis Gary Powers in 1960, organizational reforms following that incident, and the eventual transfer of operations from CIA to Air Force control. A more redacted version of this document has been available on CIA's public website.

  • p. 143 …Air Force contract to evaluate ra dars, EG&G operated a small testing facility at Indian…
  • p. 244 …Then in August 1964, following the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, the Air Force assumed responsibility for…
  • p. 381 …232 Indian Springs, Nevada 274. 130, 132 Indonesia 211-212, 214,319 Indonesian Air Force 212…
132
Saaret NOF6ftl'II
Chapter 3
Wreckage of Article 34 1,
2 April 1957 .
12 April 1957 article in the Chicago Daily Tribune was headliined,
"Secrecy Veils High-Altitude Research Jet; Lockheed U-2 Ca.lied
Super Snooper." 76 •
Because of its large wingspan. an out-of-control U-2 tended to
enter a classical flat spin before ground contact. This slowed descent
and actually lessened the impact. If there was no fire after impact, the
remai ns of crashed U-2s were often salvageable, as was the case with
the wreckage of article 34 1. Kelly Johnson 's crew at the Skunk Works
used the wreckage, along with spares and salvaged parts of other
crashed U-2s, co produce another flyable airframe for about
$185,000.77
The U-2's abi lity to survive a crash in fairly good co1ndi
tion should have been noted by the Development Projects Staff for
consideration in its contingency plans for a loss over hostile terriItory
because the equipment on board the aircraft could easily compromise
the weather research cover story.
The loss of one of Lockheed's best test pilots. as well as the pro
totype " dirty bird" U-2, led Kelly Johnson to suggest that Lockheed
install a large boom at the Indian Springs radar test facility. Using the
,. Accident folder. cr-ish of 2 April 1957, OSA records (S).
" Lockheed contracts. OSA Records (S).

Not linked to a story yet.

About this file

Official release, from the pursue collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 406 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.