Area 51 – Declassified Documents

COLD OPEN: This is a declassified document from the Central Intelligence Agency, released to the National Security Archive in 2013. It's a comprehensive history of the U-2 and OXCART programs, spanning from 1954 to 1974. The document provides a detailed account of the development, testing, and operations of these high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft. PROVENANCE: The document was released through the Freedom of Information Act, with the approval of the Central Intelligence Agency. It was published in 1992 by the History Staff of the Central Intelligence Agency, with the title "The Central Intelligence Agency and Overhead Reconnaissance: The U-2 and OXCART Programs, 1954-1974." The document is available on the National Security Archive website. THE DOCUMENT: The document begins by discussing the need for high-altitude reconnaissance in the early postwar period. It describes the early attempts at aerial reconnaissance, including the use of balloons and other aircraft. The authors then detail the development of the U-2, including its major design features and the establishment of the U-2 funding arrangements. "Chapter 1: Searching for a System" describes the Air Force's search for a new reconnaissance aircraft, including the Lockheed CL-282. The chapter also discusses the CIA's involvement in the project and the concerns about the danger of a Soviet surprise attack. "Chapter 2: Developing the U-2" provides a detailed account of the U-2's development, including its major design features and the development of the camera system. The chapter also discusses the hiring of U-2 pilots, pilot training, and the final tests of the U-2. "Chapter 3: U-2 Operations in the Soviet Bloc and Middle East" describes the deployment of Detachment A to Lakenheath and the move to Wiesbaden. The chapter also discusses the first overflights of Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, as well as the end of the bomber gap. "Chapter 4: The Final Overflights of the Soviet Union, 1959-1960" provides a detailed account of the final overflights of the Soviet Union, including the use of radar-deceptive "dirty birds." "Chapter 5: U-2 Operations After May 1960" describes the U-2 operations in Latin America, including the support for the Bay of Pigs invasion. The chapter also discusses the U-2 operations in Asia, including the use of Detachment C and the Indonesian revolt of 1958. CONTEXT: The document provides a comprehensive history of the U-2 and OXCART programs, highlighting the significant contributions of these aircraft to the development of overhead reconnaissance. The document is a valuable resource for historians and researchers interested in the history of intelligence gathering and the development of advanced aircraft. OUTRO: This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. A declassified document, released through the Freedom of Information Act, providing a detailed account of the development and operations of the U-2 and OXCART programs. For more information, visit the National Security Archive website at nsarchive.org. The full document is available on the website, along with other declassified documents. Visit storyflo.com for more episodes of Declassified.