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.
“Cooper”12 pages
211 Sec,et NOfORN Chapter 5 other means. Although by late 1962 photographic satellites had be come an integral part of the overhead collection program, only U-2s could provide the highly detailed photography that photointerpreters needed to spot the early stages of work on missile sites. Attempts had been made to photograph Cuba with satellites, but to no avail because the satellites' normal orbits placed them over Cuba at the wrong time of day, after clouds had formed. U-2s Over South America Agency U-2s again conducted operations in the Western Hemisphere in December 1963. The Directorate of Plans had requested photo graphic coverage of Venezuela and neighboring British Guianm be cause of guerrilla acti vities conducted by a pro-Castro movement inside Venezuela. Supplies for this movement appeared to be coming across the border from British Guiana. On 30 November 1963, the NSC Special Group approved overflights of the British Guiana Venezuela border to determine the scope and rate of buildup of guer rilla forces. The Special Group stipulated that the entire effort w:as to be conducted without the knowledge of either the British or the Venezuelans. Within three days, several Detachment G aircraft and pilots de ployed to Ramey AFB. Puerto Rico, from which they made: six flights over the border areas between 3 and I 9 December 1963 in an operation known as SEAFOAM. The results of the effort were in conclusive, and the task force returned to Edwards AFB on 22 December. z, U-2 OPERATIONS IN ASIA Detachment C and the Indonesian Revolt of 1958 U-2 operations in Asia began even before the end of overflights of the Soviet Bloc. By 1958 the Eisenhower administration, although very reluctant to approve U-2 flights over or near Soviet and East European borders, was not averse to using the spyplanes in the Third World, where radar detection was unlikely. Thus. in the spring of 1958, Agency U-2s from Detachment C conducted a major reconnais sance effort over Indonesia. Operation ROBIN HOOD. '' OSA History. chap. 16. pp. 35-36 (TS Codeword). 6ee,et
Not linked to a story yet.
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.