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.

48
Sec, et NOFORN
Chapter 2
U-2 at testing site before
attachment of wings and
tail assembly
that they could be recovered and reused. The aircraft landed on its
front and back landing gear and then gradually tilted over onto one of
the wingtips, which were equ ipped with landing skids.1
)
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CAMERA SYSTEM
By December 1954, Kelly Johnson was at work on drawings for the
U-2's airframe and Pratt & Whitn•:!Y was already building the J57 jet
" For the design ft:atures of the U-'.! in early 1955. see R. F. Boc:hrne. Summary Report:
Reconnaissance Aircraft. Lockheed Aircraft Corpor.ition Report I04'.!0. 28 January 1955.
pp. 7-9. OSA Records. job 74-B-6-l5. box I (S).