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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Chapter 5
Project TACKLE Peripheral Missions. 1969- 1974 Display of downed detachment
H U-2s in Peiping
Fiscal Year Missions
1969
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974
9
14
19
23
31
17
Once the United States began seeking a rapprochement with the
People's Republic of China. Detachment H U-2s came under more
and more restrictions. Soon after the impending visit of President
Richard M. Nixon to the PRC was announced, U-2 missions were
ordered to stay even farther away from the mainland: 25 nautical
miles instead of the previous 20. During the months of February and
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