Documents / Official release
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.
“Hill”15 pages
208 secret 1\JoFonra Chapte r 5 DOC/ Marshall S. Carter Washington for California and did not return until 14 October. Air Force control of the Cuban overflights became official on l 2 October, when President Kennedy transferred "responsi bility, to include com mand and control and operational decisions. with regard to U-2 re connaissance overflights of Cuba" from the CIA to the Department of Defense.05 The Air Force then aske:d to borrow two of CIA's U-2Cs. The Acting DCI. Lt. Gen. Mairshall S. Carter. US Army. reacted strongly to the Air Force takeover of a major CIA operation. At one point he remarked, " I think it's a hell of a way to run a railroad. It's perfectly obviously a geared operation to get SAC in the act." 16 In a series of conversations with high-ranking Air Force and administra tion officials, Carter argued against changing command and control of the flights at such a crucial cimi::. T he Agency operation, Carter pointed out, was already in place aind working well, whereas the Air Force lacked experience in controlling U-2 overflights, particularly with the U-2C. which was not in the Air Force inventory. Carter also emphasized that Air Force pilots lacked experience with the more powerful J75 engines in the U-2C. He told Roswell Gilpatric, "To put in a brand new green pi lot just because he happens to have on a blue suit and to completely disrupt the command and control and commu nication and ground support system on 72 hours· notice to me doesn 't make a God damn bit of sense. Mr. Secretary." " DDCI Carter admit ted that the Air Force's cover story was probably better than the CIA's but suggested at one point. "Let's take one of my boys and put him in a blue suit. •· •~ Realizing. however. that the pilot would probably have to come from the Air Force. Carter concentrated his efforts on trying to convince DOD and administration of ficials to conduct an orderly transition by allowing the CIA to continue i ts operation for a few weeks using an Air Force pilot, and the Air Force gradually ta.Icing over command and control. Carter's efforts were i n vain. The Air Force insisted on immediate control of the operation, and administra tion officials were unwilling to become involved in what they " Memorandum for DC C McCone from McGeorge Bundy. "'Reconnaissance Overflights of Cuba:· 12 October 1962. DCI records. job 80-B-1676R. bo:( I 7. folder I 8 (TSJ. •· Telephone conversation between DOC I Ca11er and McGeorge Bundy, 13 October 1962. DCI records. job 80-B-1676R. boll 17. folder 18 (TS Co<leword). ' ' Telephone con versation between DOC I Caner and Roswell Gilpatric, 12 October 1962. DCI records. job 80-B-1676R. box 17. folder 18 (TS Codeword). " Telephone conversation between DOC I Carter and G<!n. William McKee. 12 October I 962. DC I recorti~. job 80-8-1676R. bo.\ 17. folder 13 (TS Cod.:word). See,et
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Official release, from the pursue collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. 406 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.