What did the declassified documents reveal?

This episode of Declassified presents a memorandum from March sixteenth, nineteen-fifty, concerning Soviet personnel in Shanghai. This declassified C.I.A. record discusses intelligence regarding potential air attacks and military strategy in the context of the Chinese Civil War. You can find this document on The Black Vault, at documents2.theblackvault.com. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act by the Central Intelligence Agency. The original declassification authority and specific F.O.I.A. case number are not immediately cited in the public archive entry, but the document is publicly available as part of a collection of U.S. intelligence on China. The record originates from a classified C.I.A. file. The memorandum, marked for use within G-2 only, is subject Soviet Personnel, Shanghai, dated sixteen March, nineteen-fifty. From: General Willoughby. To: Colonel Fortier. Info: Colonel Lacey. Action required: One. This looks very much like an air attack on Hainan and Formosa. This is the same pattern as was practiced in Spain in the Civil War. Two. Check to be made of this would be to advise the Formosa Chinese G-2 through the Mission to keep on the lookout for Russian planes and to make a special reconnaissance of this airfield. This could also be done by a member to General Chu, with whom we have friendly relations. A follow-up memorandum dated March eighteenth, nineteen-fifty, from T/INT to G-2, states: One. Reports pertaining to Soviet personnel and deployment in China have been and continue to be covered in the Daily Intelligence Summary. Two. Regarding paragraph three: Since there is a possibility that correspondence with the Nationalists might fall into Communist hands and cause embarrassment to this headquarters, it is recommended that General Chu Shih-ming, Chief of the Chinese Mission, be informed of this matter verbally and that he, in turn, pass the information to the Chinese Nationalists. On several occasions, T/INT has provided General Chu with pertinent information concerning China. This approach could serve as a means of obtaining additional information from this source. Three. Permission to arrange a conference with General Chu for the above stated purpose is requested. The Black Vault’s archival summary notes that the document discusses intelligence on Soviet involvement and potential air attack patterns, drawing parallels to the Spanish Civil War. It also highlights concerns about the security of information sharing with Nationalist Chinese forces. This is what the public record looks like at its most ordinary. For more declassified documents, visit storyflo.com, and find this document at archive.org/download/us-china-intel-CI00327/CI00327djvu.txt.

Why was this case declassified?

This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The originating source document is linked on this page so the citation chain is auditable.

Case File · ARCHIVE-004Declassified

Filed NOV 11 · 2026Runtime 1 min

CIA This Episode Of Declassified Presents A Memorandum From March Sixteenth

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated November 11, 2026

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◆ BLUF — The short version

This episode of Declassified presents a memorandum from March sixteenth, nineteen-fifty, concerning Soviet personnel in Shanghai. A. record discusses intelligence regarding potential air attacks and military strategy in the context of the Chinese Civil War. com. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act by the Central Intelligence Agency.

Date: NOV 11 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

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This episode of Declassified presents a memorandum from March sixteenth, nineteen-fifty, concerning Soviet personnel in Shanghai. This declassified C.I.A. record discusses intelligence regarding potential air attacks and military strategy in the context of the Chinese Civil War. You can find this…

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What was CIA This Episode Of Declassified Presents A Memorandum From March Sixteenth about?: This episode of Declassified presents a memorandum from March sixteenth, nineteen-fifty, concerning Soviet personnel in Shanghai. A. record discusses intelligence regarding potential air attacks and military strategy in the context of the Chinese Civil War. com. This document was released under the Freedom of Information Act by the Central Intelligence Agency.
Why was this case declassified?: This material entered the public record through the U.S. declassification and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. Storyflo narrates it directly from the public release.

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