What did the declassified documents reveal?

Declassified presents a document from the United States Intelligence on China, CI zero zero four two nine. This declassified C-I-A record reports on the U-S-S Pickerel's reconnaissance patrol of the China coast in nineteen-fifty. The mission was to detect any Chinese Communist movement to invade Taiwan. This document can be found at vault.fbi.gov. This record, originating from the C-I-A, was released through the Freedom of Information Act and is publicly available as part of a larger collection of U.S. intelligence on China. The declassification authority for this document remains unspecified in the public record. It can be accessed through the Black Vault archive. The document is titled, “U-S-S Pickerel S-S five two four Serial zero zero two, four August nineteen-fifty. Special Mission Report of Reconnaissance Patrol off Amoy and Foochow Areas of China Coast to Report Any ChiCom Movement to Invade Taiwan.” The report states: From: Commanding Officer To: Chief of Naval Operations Commander Task Element five seven point zero three Commander Seventh Fleet Commander Naval Forces Far East Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet Subject: U.S.S. Pickerel S-S five two four Report of Reconnaissance Patrol of China Coast. References: ComSubDiv five one OpOrder No. three dash five zero of eighteen July nineteen-fifty. ComSubPac letter R dash nine of one October nineteen-forty-nine. Enclosures: Subject Report. Track Chart. One. In accordance with references (a) and (b), enclosures one and two covering the operations of this vessel with the Seventh Task Fleet in Far Eastern waters during period three July to three August nineteen-fifty is forwarded herewith. The narrative details the journey. Monday, three July nineteen-fifty. Eleven hundred. Underway from Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, T.H. enroute Yokosuka, Japan in accordance with ComSubPac OpOrd eighteen dash five zero of twenty-eight June nineteen-fifty. Made leisurely trip through the island chain conducting daily drills, deep dives, snorkel tests and general drills. Blessed with perfect weather, light winds and following seas, cruising was never more pleasant, thanks most of all to a swimming call at least once daily. Monday, ten July nineteen-fifty. Crossed longitude one hundred sixty degrees E and passed into operational control of ComNavFe and C-T-E five seven point zero three. Wednesday, nineteen July nineteen-fifty. Zero seven five zero. Underway from Naval Base, Yokosuka, Japan for patrol area in accordance with C-T-E five seven point zero three OpOrd three five zero in company with Greenlet. Pickerel, with Catfish, shares the honor of being the first submarine to make a patrol in this war which is not a war, or more properly, peace which is not a peace. One four two seven. Released escort and headed for patrol area in Formosa Straits. Weather very dirty with heavy swells. Gale warnings have been predicting approaches of typhoons Grace and Flossie…

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-011Declassified

Filed NOV 6 · 2026Runtime 1 min

CIA Declassified Presents A Document From The United States Intelligence On China

U.S. public record · FOIAUpdated November 6, 2026

intelligence-vault

◆ BLUF — The short version

Declassified presents a document from the United States Intelligence on China, CI zero zero four two nine. This declassified C-I-A record reports on the U-S-S Pickerel's reconnaissance patrol of the China coast in nineteen-fifty. The mission was to detect any Chinese Communist movement to invade Taiwan.

Date: NOV 6 · 2026
Release: Declassified · U.S. public record (FOIA)
Source document: View the primary source document

↯ Dispatch — press play1:00

0:001:00

↯ Share

X in r/

Episode notes

View the primary source document

Questions about this case

What was CIA Declassified Presents A Document From The United States Intelligence On China about?: Declassified presents a document from the United States Intelligence on China, CI zero zero four two nine. This declassified C-I-A record reports on the U-S-S Pickerel's reconnaissance patrol of the China coast in nineteen-fifty. The mission was to detect any Chinese Communist movement to invade Taiwan.
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.

intelligence-vault

Related cases

✉ Dispatches

A short dispatch when a new file is released — narrated, answer-first, and linked straight to the primary source. No spam; unsubscribe anytime.

↯ Subscribe to the feed

RSS feed Browse all cases

CIA Declassified Presents A Document From The United States Intelligence On China

Questions about this case

Related cases

United States Navy Record, Revealing Early Reconnaissance Operations Near China

From Vault.fbi.gov, This Is A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Daily

NSA From Declassified, This Is An Examination Of A Declassified N.

CIA From Declassified, This Is An Intelligence Report On The Situation

Today, We Examine A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record

Questions about this case

Related cases

United States Navy Record, Revealing Early Reconnaissance Operations Near China

From Vault.fbi.gov, This Is A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Daily

NSA From Declassified, This Is An Examination Of A Declassified N.

CIA From Declassified, This Is An Intelligence Report On The Situation

Today, We Examine A Declassified Central Intelligence Agency Record

Get the next declassified case in your inbox