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

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.

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Secret i'JOF'OfUd
Chapter 1
division in Baltimore, headed by Lt. Col. Joseph J. Pellegrini. had to
approve all new reconnaissance aircraft designs. Pellegrini·s unit
reviewed Leghorn's design and ordered extensive modifications.
According to Leghorn, Pellegrini was not interested in a special- pur
pose aircraft that was only suitable for covert peacetime reconnais
sance missions, for he believed that all Air Force reconnaissance
aircraft shou ld be capable of operating under wartime conditions.
Pellegrini therefore insisted that Leghorn ·s design meet the specifica
tions for combat aircraft, which required heavily stressed airframes,
armor plate. and other apparatus that made an aircraft too heavy to
reach the higher altitudes necessary for safe overflights o f the Soviet
Bloc. The final result of Leghorn's concept after its alteration by
Pellegrini ·s staff was the RB-57D in I 955, whose maximum altitude
RAF Canberra Mark-PR3
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