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
288 6eeret NQI-Omj Chapter 6 In-flight refueling of the OXCART projects belonged to the Office of Special Activities, headed by Col. Jack C. Ledford, who now had the title of Assistant Director for Special Activ it ies. These project management changes in the ClA had no immediate impact on the OXCART project because the air craft was still in the development stage, handled mainly by the con tractors. Moreover, a good deal of continuity was provided by officers who had served for a numbe:r of years with the U-2 program and were now involved with OXCART: James Cunningham, the Deputy Assistant Director for Special Activities: Col. Leo Geary, the A ir Force's project officer for the two aircraft; and John Parangosky, who oversaw the day-to-day affairs ,of the OXCART project. OXCART'S FIRST FLIGHTS With new sealant in its fuel tanks, the prototype OXCART was ready to take to the air. On 25 April 1962, test pi lot Louis Schalk took "ar ticle 121" for an unofficial, unannounced tlight. which was an old Lockheed tradition. He flew the cratft less than two miles at an alti tude of about 20 feet and encountered considerable problems because of the improper hookup c,f several controls. These were promptly repaired and on the next day, 26 April, Schalk made the official 40-minute maiden fl ight. After a beautiful takeoff, the air craft began shedding the triangular fillets that covered the frame work of the chines along the edge: of the aircraft body. The lost Sec,;ret
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Official release, from the pursue collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. 406 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.