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.

Secfei NeF8AN
Chapter 5
218
A lthough the plane was equipped with a camera. it carried no film
Lhasa, Tibet, November 1959 and did not have a full load of fuel, which made it considerably
lighter than an operational U-2C. As a result, the plane reached
76.400 feet-the highest altitude achieved by any of the original U-2
aircraft. In the process. however, the aircraft consumed more fuel
than was called for in the test fligh t plan, causing the engine to flame
out during the return to base. The pilot then made an emergency
wheels-up landing at a glider-club strip near Fujisawa. south of
Atsugi .
The crash did not cause any injuries or serious damage 10 the air
craft, but it did bri ng unwanted publicity to the U-2 program. Much of
the publicity resulted from the actions of Detachment C's security
unit. whose conspicuous Hawaian shirts and large pistols drew the