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.
21 Sec, et NOf'Oft~ Chapter 1 .. ~: ... . . :-.·~·~ .' ~~~f':.:l-f.Je.) \': . •.. g,.,au£ • Soviet Myasishchev-4 bomber (the Bison) The Air Force Intelligence Systems Panel Even before the publication of photographs of the Bison· raised fears that the Soviet bomber force might eventually surpass that o f the United States, the Air Force had already established a new advisory body to look for ways to implement the main recommendation of the BEACON HILL Report-the construction of high-flying aircraft and high-acuity cameras. Created in July 1953, the Intelligence Systems Panel (ISP) included several experts from the BEACON HILL Study Group: Land, Overhage, Donovan, and Miller. At the request of the Air Force, the CIA also participated in the panel, represent«!d by Edward L. Allen of the Office of Research and Reports (ORR) and Philip Strong of the Office of Scientific Intelligence (OSI).31' The chairman of the new panel was Dr. James G. Baker. a re search associate at the Harvard College Observatory. Baker had been involved in aerial reconnaissance since 1940, when he first advised the Army Air Corps on ways to improve its lenses. He then estab lished a full-scale optical laboratory at Harvard-the Hrnrvard University Optical Research Laboratory-to produce high-quality "' Mc:moram.lum for Rolxrt Amory. Jr.. Dt::puty Direclor. lnlelligence from Edward L . Allen. Chief. Economic Research. ORR and Philip G. Strong. Chief. Operation:s Staff. OSI. "Meeling of lhe Intelligence Systems Panc:l of th.: Scientific Advisory Board. USAF:· 26 Augusl 1953. OSI (OSWR) records. job 80R-0l 424. bo:< I (S). Seeret
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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.